7 new cool places in Vienna that you absolutely must try this spring

A very cool Art Nouveau building in Vienna’s 5th district has been filled with a very cool pop up bar with a very cool concept since late February. What used to be a cabinet marker’s shop has played the role of an afterwork bar that sports a decrepit and noble looking interior that looks something like a haunted mansion. The bar will close next week (on April 2), and the vintage furniture will be auctioned off, so if you like the chair you’re sitting on, you can take it home with you. If you haven’t checked this out yet, you better be quick!

Where: Stubenring 18, 1010 (behind Mercado)

Opening times
SUN–TUE: closed
WED–SAT: 7pm–2am

We’re not going to tell you too much about this hot new place as it’s a speakeasy and a speakeasy bar is always best experienced for the first time without any existing knowledge or pictures in your head. All we’ll tell you is that this place is one of the newest speakeasy bars in town that has set up its operation behind the Latin American inspired restaurant, Mercado, on Stubenring. Expect Latino vibes in Clandestino, plus, we’ve heard it first-hand from those that know their cocktails – the craft cocktail stuff happening behind the bar here is impressive. Looking to impress a date anytime soon with your insider knowledge, this is the place you take them.

Website: www.clandestino.at

Where: Schiffamtsgasse 8, 1020

Opening times
MON–FRI: 9am–11pm
SAT: 10am–11pm
SUN: closed

Plenty of cafes come and go in this town, and now and again, one opens up that you just know will become a beloved permanent part of the city’s fabric – La Vitrina is one of these. This airy and bright new cafe/cultural space in Vienna’s 2nd district is stuffed with friendly and fun vibes. It’s infused with Latin American touches (without the kitsch), including a little shop at the entrance selling colourful handmade Mexican wares. The creators are calling it a multicultural space where Latin American and Austrian culture comes together. The owner, Carlos Quesada Villalobos, is a cultural fellow who is on a mission to bring the flavours and culture of Mexico, Costa Rica and Peru to Vienna in his new cafe. This includes the menu, which boasts dishes from these countries. Spanish lessons and film screenings are also planned to be amongst the vibrant cultural program playing out here. 

Website: www.facebook.com/lavitrina.at

Vienna’s daytime cafe game, places where to cosy up with a coffee or grab a fresh and inventive lunch, just keeps getting better with little spots like Nook opening up. The place is effortlessly good looking (even though it’s styled to look that way), while their cakes look as pretty as they are tasty. And the coffee, the breads and other small cafe bites are enough reason to get your cute little ass out to this cute little cafe in the 13th district.

Named after a small town in Naples at the base of a volcano, NOLA – The Italian, is brought to you by the same people behind the Levante chain. It’s the newest of the new Italian restaurants in Vienna claiming to be serving up fresh Napolitano fare, from pastas, to pizzas, seafood and all kinds of other classics of the Italian kitchen. Espresso shots at the bar are encouraged, while their homemade pasta is worth checking out. And they’re claiming they’re the ideal spot for a lunch break if your time is scarce as they’ll serve you up fresh Italian dishes for a midday menu price.

The famed Belgian beer bar, Delirium Cafe, has moved into Vienna’s first district under an arched roof cave. While it’s not like the original in Brussels which boasts an epic 2,000-plus beer selection, it is a treat for craft beer lovers, nonetheless. Choice still abounds with 13 of Delirium‘s beers on tap brought directly from their brewery, and dozens of other bottled Belgian beer, including some obscure brews. The food menu is full of un-hipsterised (no avocado here, except in the veggie burger) honest pub grub, with a brilliant line-up of noteworthy burgers, alongwith the other greasy comfort food favourites, like BBQ chicken wings, a pulled pork burger, a club sandwich – you can guess the rest. Read the full review, here.

Another Bao Mr Figar? Wow (sorry, we couldn’t help ourselves). The tentacles of the Figar cafe & eatery empire have reached into Vienna’s 2nd district with the 2nd of their Bao bun eateries opening on Taborstrasse a couple of weeks ago. With plenty of offices around the place, we have no doubt it will be a regular lunch spot for the business crowd, while the little Asian version of the burger is enough to attract all sorts. The insides of this place are as neat and slick as our Auntie Hilda’s sock drawer (she’s one sharp dresser and irons her socks– you get the picture). The buns are brilliant, made fresh and apparently healthy. The tantalising menu includes some tasty bun combos like the crispy chicken with a lime-child-mayonnaise zing. 3 of them will cost you 9€ so it won’t take you long before you get through the menu and work out your favourites.