7 of Vienna’s best fish and seafood restaurants

Reserve? Do it. Do it. Do it now. Reserve a table, here.

Chances are low you will randomly stumble across the restaurant Sopile. It’s definitely one of these places you have to know about before you go. So hey, lucky you! Here we are telling you all about one of Vienna’s tastiest fish restaurants. The Istrian restaurant is authentic, serving the ‘real’ Istrian kitchen from Croatia and Serbia. And this means their fish is prepared in the typical Istrian way – mostly in a olive oil, parsley and a garlic marinade. The owners claim they don’t attempt to impress the Austrian clientele, but rather try to bring to town the genuine Istrian kitchen they’re proud of. From our experience, owner’s that speak with such confidence about their cuisine, have good reason to. Sopile is definitely not for anyone seeking a fine dining seafood experience, but if you are looking to indulge in something your Oma make if she was from Croatia, or parts of Serbia, this country-style, rustic restaurant is the perfect dinner spot for you. Also, in knowing their talent and what they do well, Sopile do it very well. They make seafood simple and tasty, from calamari, to perch, sardines, and much more.

We recommend… other than the delicious pasta with squid ink and calamari, the fig parfait desert made from dried figs and grapa. Warning: once you start, you won’t be able to stop!

Get a god damn good #delinskideal at Sopile, here.

Reserve? If you don’t you may end up eating a Filet fish at McDonalds. Sad. Reserve a table, here.

Vikas is a wonderful modern fish restaurant located in the city centre of Vienna, serving mostly fish from Croatia made in a ‘fairly’ Croatian way by the very Croatian chef. We were immediately treated with humuor by the friendly staff at Vikas upon arrival. They were also helpful when advising us on what wine goes well with what fish. Since we had a hard time deciding what we’d like to eat, we tried a bit of everything recommended by the chef. We ended up with a pile of delicious seafood in front of us, filled with octopus salad, tuna tartar with avocado, marinated sea bass with saffron risotto, tomato pasta with shrimp, tuna with a sesame crust and wasabi purée, crispy octopus with artichokes, and desert. Oh, and bread, and wine.
You can eat your way through a three, or six course, menu at Vikas, which will be definetely full of inventive seafood creations. If you do choose to go al a carte, try to keep some space after in that stomach of yours for desert, because the fruit sorbet is so worth it.
The restaurant offers a lunch menu for €11,90, which consists of a main dish of calamari, or fish, accompanied by a soup, or salad (seasonal). The best seller at Vikas is the Branzino (sea bass) baked in a salt crust. Also a hit are the schupfnudeln (thick dumpling noodles) Croatian-style pasta, with mushrooms and shrimps. In the summer, you can feast outside in the pleasant schanigarten. Check out the menu, here.

Get a god damn good #delinskideal at Vikas, here.

Reserve? you’re living in a country where people reserve their grave spot. So, that’s a yes. Reserve your table, here.

Are you looking for a quality fish restaurant serving Dalmatian (Dalmatia is a narrow belt of the east shore of the Adriatic Sea) specialties, which is both away from the tourist track and won’t break the bank? Than look no further. Kaj is an insider tip, a hidden jewel of a fish restaurant in the 2nd district, which manages to be both close to Praterstern, but a world away from the trendy hipster-imbued restaurants cropping up on Praterstraße.
Up and running for 15 years, the restaurant has the charm of an old Viennese eatery – a Stammlokal, if you will. The charm is in the fact that the restaurant is kept simple. We’re told most of the regulars do away with the menu and simply order whatever the creative chefs have cooked that day. The restaurant has fresh fish transported from Zadar three times a week, and we can assure you, it’s delicious.
Kaj also serves the ubiquitous lunch menu for an affordable 8.90€. The restaurant owner, Miro, is one of the most laid-back in the business. If you’re very nice, he might even share a glass or two of Croatian white wine with you.

We recommend… the fluffy mango ‘nockerl’ are a real treat, and the Croatian Riesling will rival anything Austria has to offer. Don’t leave before you’ve had a glass!

Get a god damn good #delinskideal at Fischrestaurant Kaj, here.

Reserve? Do it the name of love … for food. Reserve your table, here.

As you walk into Konoba Pescaria, you breathe in aromas that will carry you on a stroll down memory lane to that seaside village on a Dalmatian island where you used to go as a kid and eat calamari for breakfast. Having opened 15 years ago, this family-run restaurant serves traditional Croatian dishes from Dalmatia. The family came to Vienna from Dubrovnik, and as Mr. Goran, the owner, will gladly explain, the idea to open a restaurant struck during a drunk evening with his father. We kinda’ wish everyone’s drunk ideas would turn out as successful (and tasty) as this one.
The setup is simple, really: Goran and his father serve (at least during the weekends), while the mother is doing the magic in the kitchen. They get the fish three times a week from Croatia. Meanwhile, everything from the décor to the wine list aims to transport you to the seaside in Dalmatia. And even if the sea is miles away, we swear we can smell it while we’re here! Or perhaps that’s the seafood on our plate.
The staff behind Konoba Pescaria puts quality before quantity, and if you turn up saying you want to eat, but you’re in a hurry, they’ll smile and reply, “sorry, but that’s not how we do it here”. So reserve yourself some time and take your taste buds on a mouth-watering journey. Even though the menu features some meat, we recommend you skip it and go straight for the fish dishes. And nothing says fish better than a sea bass baked in sea salt crust (which also happens to be the restaurant’s signature and most popular dish). And while the fish is what you came for, we strongly suggest you don’t overlook the deserts.

Get a god damn good #delinskideal at Pescaria Konoba, here.

Reserve? That’s like asking if you should really pop that pimple on your back – do it, do it now! Reserve a table, here.

Tucked away between the stalls on Viktor Adler Markt, Sezai Fischtraum is serving up a dreamy selection of seafood. The first thing we notice is the open kitchen. A selection of fresh fish and seafood on ice is on display. Sezai, the friendly owner, greets us at the door and shows us to our table. An aperitif is served, and we’re handed a menu with a selection large enough to make us gasp for air through our new-found gills. Nibbling on fresh bread and olives, we have a hard time just picking an appetiser. Thankfully, our waiter suggests having a bit of everything. There’s something deliciously fishy about the cold appetiser plate: fresh tuna, salmon and a sprinkle of caviar make us merry as a fish in water. The main course for two has delicacies such as octopus, salmon, and cod served with roasted potatoes and fresh veggies.
The setting will make you feel like you’re floating on a cozy ship, with windows all around that are perfect for people-watching. We liked that there are only ten tables, making the experience all the more intimate, while the tables being lined with linen give Sezai a touch of elegance. You won’t be found wanting for anything, with the waiting staff both friendly, helpful and quick in keeping your glass full.
Make sure to reserve room for dessert. The chocolate souffle with ice cream is just perfect to share with your first mate. Ok, so how many sea-related puns did you find in this review above?

We recommend… asking your waiter to surprise you with the day’s catch! Or, you can pick your fish from the display case to then watch the chef prepare it.

Get a god damn good #delinskideal at Sezais Fischtraum, here.

Reserve? Yes, but maybe do it in the voice of your favourite character from Finding Nemo for kicks. Reserve your table, here.

This place will reel you in with it’s romantic ambience (read smartly dressed waiting staff, white table cloths and candles on table) and have you hooked as soon as you try the lightly grilled scallops in the truffle sauce. Aurelius is a more affordable alternative (espeically for a restaurant in the 1st district, yet doesn’t skimp on the service or quality. This attracts mostly business clientele and is a more grown-up kind of affair so when you’re in the mood to wear your grown-up pants out, Aurelius is an option. Choose from one of the fresh fish lying on the bed of ice as you enter (at 70c/10g), or a mixed seafood plate which comes with a generous serving of tiger prawns, crab, scampi and a tasty garlic sauce.
The slightly spicy tuna tartar was a surprising highlight on the plate, while the rest of the seafood is lightly seasoned – just enough to not smother the natural flavours of the seafood.

Get a god damn good #delinskideal at Aurelius restaurant, here.