Vienna is a melting pot of cultures – and you can taste it on every plate. From roast pork and Turkish kebab to fresh Italian pasta, there’s something for everyone here. But if you're visiting the city for the first time, you absolutely have to explore traditional Viennese cuisine. It blends influences from the former Austro-Hungarian Empire – from Bohemia to Hungary – and brings hearty home-style dishes and refined desserts to the table alike. Whether at a traditional inn, a Heuriger wine tavern, or a classic coffeehouse: in Vienna, food is a living part of the culture.

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Starters

A classic Viennese meal often begins with soup: beef broth with various add-ins is a staple – rich and clear, served with semolina dumplings, liver dumplings, or sliced pancake strips (Frittaten). At Heuriger taverns and rustic pubs, you’ll find cold favorites like Liptauer – a tangy spread made from curd cheese – or saure Wurst, sausage with onions in a vinegar marinade. Also popular: herring salad with apple and beetroot or marinated Matjes herring. Blood sausage or Presswurst with vinegar and oil, topped with spicy raw onions, deliver that unmistakable Viennese flavor kick. If you prefer something warm, start with a small portion of Beuschel (ragout of heart and lungs) or homemade meatballs.

• Beef soup with semolina dumplings, liver dumplings, or pancake strips
• Spreads like Liptauer, and wild garlic in spring
• Herring salad with apple and beetroot
• Blood sausage

Main Courses

Traditional Viennese cuisine is all about meat. The Wiener Schnitzel is the ultimate classic: a thin, crispy breaded veal cutlet, traditionally served with potato salad.

Another favourite is the Tafelspitz – tender boiled beef served with apple horseradish, chive sauce, and a variety of vegetable sides. For those craving something heartier, a juicy onion roast beef (Zwiebelrostbraten) or a rich Viennese Saftgulasch, originally from Hungarian cuisine, will hit the spot.

A true Viennese tavern specialty is Beuschel – a ragout of veal offal – while Backhendl, crispy fried chicken, is especially popular at traditional Heuriger wine taverns. In the Prater, the golden-roasted Stelze (pork knuckle) at the Schweizerhaus is a culinary highlight: crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, served with mustard, coleslaw, and freshly tapped beer.

If you like your meals hearty and sweet, try the Germknödel: a steamed yeast dumpling filled with plum jam (Powidl), topped with poppy seeds and melted butter. Or go for the fluffy Marillenknödel, filled with ripe apricots from the Wachau region, drizzled with butter and sprinkled with sweet breadcrumbs – a summer classic.

Typical side dishes like potato salad with vinegar-onion dressing or marinated cabbage perfectly complement many of these dishes.

• Tafelspitz
• Wiener Schnitzel (veal)
• Cordon Bleu
• Backhendl
• Onion roast beef (Zwiebelrostbraten)
• Viennese Saftgulasch
• Beuschel
• Stelze (at Schweizerhaus in the Prater)

Sweet:

• Germknödel and Apricot Dumplings (Marillenknödel)
• Kaiserschmarrn

Desserts

Vienna’s dessert culture is the stuff of legends. At the top of the list is the beloved apple strudel, wrapped in delicate, paper-thin pastry and filled with apples, raisins, and a touch of cinnamon. It's a timeless classic, often served warm with vanilla sauce or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Equally iconic is the caramelized Kaiserschmarrn – a fluffy, shredded pancake that’s a firm favorite, whether enjoyed as a sweet main course or in a smaller portion as dessert.

The most internationally renowned of Vienna’s sweets is the Sachertorte – a rich chocolate cake layered with apricot jam and finished with a glossy chocolate glaze. But despite its fame, you’ll mostly find tourists queuing outside the Hotel Sacher – many locals actually find this cake a bit too sweet.

• Apple strudel
• Kaiserschmarrn
• Sachertorte
• Layer cakes like Esterházy slice, cream slice, raspberry torte

Coffeehouse Culture

Vienna’s coffeehouse culture is a UNESCO World Heritage and the soul of Viennese life. Whether it’s a Melange, Einspänner, or kleiner Brauner – coffee is celebrated here. In the famous coffeehouses like Café Central or Café Sperl, a mix of writers, tourists, and regulars gathers to read, talk, and savor.

With your coffee and newspaper come classic desserts – from strudel to Kardinalschnitte – all in an atmosphere that invites you to linger for hours. A Viennese coffeehouse is not just a place to eat and drink, but a living piece of everyday culture. For especially delicious cakes, we recommend Konditorei Oberlaa, which has several locations throughout the city.

Heuriger Culture

Vienna is the only capital city in the world with genuine wine production within its city limits – and you can taste it. At the foot of the Vienna Woods, nestled among vineyards and cobblestone lanes, you'll find a cherished piece of Viennese soul: the Heuriger.

These rustic wine taverns are where local vintners pour their own wines – most notably the distinctive Gemischter Satz, a true Viennese specialty. Unlike a cuvée, this wine comes from multiple grape varieties grown together in a single vineyard, harvested and fermented at the same time. The result: complex, well-balanced wines full of regional character. Other popular choices include Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, Welschriesling, or Zierfandler – crisp, dry, and perfect in summer.

To go with it: hearty fare from the buffet. Expect plates filled with Liptauer, blood sausage, Presswurst, or roast pork with dark rye bread and fiery horseradish. If you're in the mood for something warm, try the cumin roast, potato gratin, or crispy fried chicken.

• Good to know: “Heuriger” refers both to the wine from the current vintage and the tavern itself.
• Major faux pas? Ordering beer. At a Heuriger, it’s all about the wine.

Where to go?

Places like Grinzing, Neustift, or Stammersdorf are legendary – where Viennese city life blends with rustic village charm.

Heuriger Wolff
Since my godmother lives here, I absolutely have to recommend this Heuriger to you. Located in Neustift am Walde, this beloved spot with its own winery is a true Viennese institution. A leafy courtyard, spacious and maze-like dining rooms, and a cozy, rustic vibe make it a favorite hangout – for tourists, loyal locals, and even Vienna’s “Who’s Who.”

Viennese Restaurants

Figlmüller
Known as "the home of the schnitzel," Figlmüller has been serving traditional Wiener Schnitzel in impressive sizes since 1905. With several locations in the city center, it’s a must for anyone visiting Vienna.

Zu ebener Erde und erster Stock
This charming restaurant in the Spittelberg district offers modern Austrian cuisine in a historic setting. Its name is borrowed from the play of the same title by Johann Nestroy.

SIXTA Restaurant & Bar
Located at Schönbrunner Straße 21, SIXTA combines traditional Viennese cuisine with a modern touch. Guests especially appreciate the cozy atmosphere and warm, attentive service.