My Favorite Things, Vienna Style

I have thoroughly enjoyed the past semester in Vienna, so much so that I wish that everyone could experience Vienna the way I did, however I know that cannot possibly happen. Therefore I am giving you a run-down of my favorite places to grab a bite (Remember to walk everywhere first!) that I am going to greatly miss. If anyone is looking for a personal tour guide when they make their trip to Vienna, feel free to let me know, I can even speak a little German!

Cafeteria on top of a movie theater
A hidden gem, you have to get an access card and go up the back of a movie theater, but once inside you are rewarded with quick service and deliciously priced Wiener Schnitzel. No I don't know if there is a more official name, so unfortunately you can't just google it, I guess you will need me to lead the way!

Naschmarkt

I can't talk about this place enough, it has everything from delicious restaurants serving plates of hummus to saurkraut and pickles in barrels big enough to sit in.

Did I mention the stands of olives...
and spices?
Oh and the flea market that appears once a week?








Trzesniewski
This name looks complicated, but its a good thing it's food isn't. This little open faced sandwich place serves all kinds of scrumptuos open faced sandwiches, which are small and cheap enough to get a couple and sample several different kinds.

Cat Cafe
This is all the rage in Japan and has been brought to Vienna. Cats wander freely as you sip your tea or coffee and you can even offer them a treat! If you want you can even give them a pet, but be careful, they haven't been de-clawed....

Das Mobel

A clean and modern cafe where you can enjoy a good breakfast bar and check your email at the same time. An enjoyable place to study with a laid back atmosphere.


 Corns n' Pops

As soon as I walked into this small cereal bar restaurant I knew that this was my place. You can chose between a make-your-own-muesli bar or chose one of their wonderful blends which they create for you and can be topped with fresh fruit, yum!

Le bol
Ok, so this is a French café in Vienna, you got me. However, it is a cozy place to go have a mint flavored water and one large and fantastic salad and people watch in the first district. The only thing that could possibly make this better is a waiting staff that speak German, French and English, oh wait...

We are prepared to eat

Kurt

You don't know me very well if you don't know that I adore yogurt in all its delectable forms. Naturally I have tried just about every frozen yogurt place in Vienna and have deemed this one to be a winner. Not only do they have unique flavors like Lavender, but the cups are biodegradable! For a traveling Ballardite, this was a wonderful relief.






Siebenstern brau
This local brewery is well known in Vienna, so it is generally crowded, but well worth the search for a free table. The food is typical, hearty Viennese and they have seven home brews including chili (if you are adventurous, but don't ever try to American chug that beer!)

Julian and Gwen and Blaine raise a glass, er mug

Giulia's Yogurteria
 

I found this place by chance on my way to a quiet reading spot and of course I had to go in. You can order frozen yogurt or grab a fresh cup to go. I ordered all natural yogurt with muesli, strawberries and topped with a mango sauce, a great nosh for reading a book in a calm square.











Pickwick's English books and movies

When I walked into this cafe for a cup of tea I was immediately depressed that I hadn't found it earlier. The walls were coated with a thick layer of bookshelves stuffed with books all in English. I then realized the stupidity of bringing my own book "just in case", haha. The downstairs is like a typical American video store and all in English again! You can borrow books, rent movies and eat some typical English or American food. If you are feeling lonely for America it's the perfect place. Or you can still feel Viennese by sitting down and staring down the cutsy couple in the couch opposite you (guess who did that).








Cafe Central
If you are looking for a typical Viennese café experience, look no further! While it is overpriced, you can get the full experience. I have been multiple times and have felt like this is what it must've been like during the early 1900s to be an aristocrat in Vienna, sipping overpriced melange, reading a newspaper and chatting with your neighbor for hours on end...

Need a break from the city life?

Hiking anyone?

Try going outside the inner city and experiencing Vienna in a calm way. If you have the time, take a line of public transportation out to the end and get out into the countryside. There you will find typical Austrian "Heurigans" or wine bars that are generally outdoors and sit just on the outskirts of the Vienna woods. If you are up for it, go for a quick hike in the woods to work up an appetite, there are plenty of well marked trails to chose from and then pop into the Heurigan afterwards for another hearty Austrian meal and a glass of wine.

Ready to get our strudel on

I hope I didn't miss any place, but if I did, it is up to you to explore on your own!