10 unique restaurants in Vienna to take your parents when they come to visit

What started as a Heurigen (wine tavern) in an outer district, has become one of the most famous restaurants in the city since it moved to the city center in 1905, and it’s earned its name for their Schnitzels that are bigger than the plate they’re served on. And that’s partly what will impress your parents. Well…unless they’re vegetarian, or vegan. If this is the case, you should keep scrolling. As Figlmüller is all about the Schnitzel. And it’s got plenty of that Austrian charm and Gemutlichkeit that will get them feeling or warm and fuzzy on the inside.

Half of what makes this special is that you enter from a unassuming door in the cobblestoned city centre and then go down a steep staircase to get to it. On a cold winter’s night, there’s nothing like ending up down in the Esterhazkeller’s arched roofed cellar restaurant. It actually calls itself a Heuriger (wine tavern), so the wine here is well priced and damn good. They’ve also got the typical Heuriger buffet on offer. It’s damn old, as you’ll be able to tell when you’re down there. A lot of the bricks in the walls surrounding you were handcrafted in the 15th century.

Does a meal under a palm tree sound like something your parents would reply with a, ‘Oh, wow that sounds lovely.’ to? Well, this cafe housed in a glass house impresses all who take a seat amongst its plant life. The Palmenhaus can be a coffee and cake stop, or a sit down dinner spot – it works on both levels and it will no doubt have your parents talking about it well after they’ve dried their tears and are back home.

The monastry it’s housed in dates way back to 1698, and it’s interior is covered in its history. Dusty portraits are all over its walls, and the elaborate wood work throughout the place is enough something to marvel at. As to be expected, the heavy dishes of the Austrian kitchen are served up here. You and your parents will no doubt feel like you’re eating like kings and queens back in the medieval times. Oh, and if the dining room isn’t enough, wait ’til you jump on the hat museum and wine tour and they take you downstairs into the cellar. The cellars are a labyrinth, and in a part of this labyrinth of arched roofed tunnels, there’s a spot where you can try on all types of old fashioned hats. Yep, random, we know. However, after you’ve done the wine or Schnapps tasting, it won’t seem so random anymore, but rather like a whole lot of fun.

Were you aware that Vienna and snails have a long history together? We mean, eating snails. You can call it Escargot, if you prefer the fancy French word when thinking of eating these slimy little critters. Gugumuck is truly a fascinating place on the outskirts of Vienna. It does take a while to travel out here, but we think this adds to the experience. After all, you will be slurping up delicious escargot in a restaurant located on a snail farm. No joke. Gugumuck is one of Vienna’s only snail farms run by a guy named Andreas who’s very passionate about what he does.

It’s only open on specific days of the week, which you can check out on their website, and it’s often booked out months ahead so be sure to put in some planning if you think this is something that would make your parents go all bug-eyed with excitement.

This fine dining and novel experience includes a 6-course menu, featuring an array of flavourful snail-ccentric dishes, and some very good wine.

This is the restaurant where to book a dinner in with your parents if they’re not a fan of tourist-y joints drenched in Austrian kitsch, but they still want to get their Schnitzel fix while they’re in town. Located in the heart of the second district, Skopik und Lohn is New York bistro meets Viennese Gasthaus.

The tables are covered in starched white tablecloths, cutlery is shined and the waiters wear white dinner coats. Stark black painted lines zig zag and swirl across the restaurant, making you feel like you’re in an art installation. It is a fabulous contrast to the traditional tables and chairs.

Taking your parents here will make them feel like they’re part of the insider crowd, and that their experiencing a ‘trendy’ (trying to use parent talk here) side to the Austrian restaurant scene.

The place fills up quickly so try and make a reservation.

Ok, so this one is the obvious one, but it’s obvious for a reason. Everybody who walks through Cafe Central’s doors for the first time and catch a glimpse of the Emperor and Empresses portrait hanging on the wall, and the red velvet booths experience that Wow moment. They will also experience that wow factor gain when they start munching on one of those cakes lined up neatly in the cake cabinet.

As you may already know, or have assumed, this place owns some history, so to really impress them, read up on it before so you can throw out facts over cake or schnitzel. Otherwise, they’ve got a write up about it in their menu.

Be warned: there’s always a line out the front. If the lines too long and mum or dad are complaining, you can take them to Cafe Landtmann, or Demel, as Plan B.

Every city has one, and Vienna’s no exception – a restaurant towering over the city, giving off views from the point of view of the Gods…Ok, we’re exaggerating.The sweeping panorama of Vienna that you can catch in between views of the inventive Austrian cuisine on your plate is one of the best in the city, and will no doubt hit the mark with your parents.

We’re not exaggerating when we describe how the orange glow of the sunset does literally land on diner’s faces here. It’s all very ‘aaaahhhhh’ inspiring.

Set under a magnificent dome hall, this restaurant has been Instagrammed more often than you’ve photographed the back of your head to make sure your hair looks good from behind. And we’re assuming that’s a lot. Whether you want to pop in for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, the setting here will wow any visitor you bring here.

The menu’s got mostly Austrian dishes in there, including the likes of Schnitzel, and Gulasch, but they’ve also got some mediteranean touches in there. Anyway, the main thing you should turn up here for is the grand setting, with the grand echo that you can yell obscene words into if you feel like disturbing other guests for no good reason whatsoever.