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Top ten places for gourmet dining in Vienna

There are times when a Leberkässemmel from your favourite sausage stand just doesn't cut it. Perhaps you have an important date lined up - but where's the best place to splash out on for an evening of fine dining? Barbara Cação recommends ten high end restaurants in Vienna for an evening to remember.

Published: 19 May 2015 11:20 CEST
Top ten places for gourmet dining in Vienna
Le Loft. Photo: Sofitel Vienna Stephansdom
 
The two Michelin star realm of gourmet chef Silvio Nickol beams you straight to the top of culinary excellence. The exquisitely modern restaurant at luxury temple Palais Coburg blends its interiors with its cuisine. This is a fabulous place for gourmets hungry for new taste experiences, for example wild char with asparagus, caviar and linseed oil; dove with Jerusalem artichoke, watercress and morel; and rhubarb with fennel, sour cream and sorrel. Tour the impressive wine cellar if you have time.
 
Address: Coburgbastei 4, 1010
 
 
Photo: steirereck.at
 
The stalwart holder of two Michelin stars has lost none of its zest over the years. Last year, the extended and refurbished park restaurant finally adapted its interiors to reflect the quality of its food and drink. Master chef Gerd Reitbauer keeps re-inventing Austrian cuisine and re-introducing forgotten vegetable types (for example beta sweet carrots). Steirereck excels in blending the elegant with the humble – ever had fried pigeon with mangold and litchi tomatoes, or lobster with wheat, oats, cabbage and lemon?
 
Address: Am Heumarkt 2A/ inside Stadtpark
 
 
Three generations of a long-established Viennese family decided to go nuts with their food. The result is a gourmet restaurant with extraordinary creativity. Think and eat out of the box, for example with their ‘no risk no fun’ menu, boasting marinated lamb with pumpernickel, mackerel with camomile or Iberico pork with udon noodles. The interiors of the restaurant set in down-to-earth Brigittenau have undergone various phases of refurbishment and have settled on a cool but friendly style.
 
Address: Wallensteinstrasse 59, 1200
 
 
It's hard, according to some local food critics, for Le Loft’s chef to match the undeniable wow-effect of the restaurant’s stunning vistas. Set 75 metres above ground on the 18th level, the restaurant of Hotel Sofitel Vienna Stephansdom has had mixed reviews. (Although I like to believe that things have changed since my last visit in 2012). The menu seems alluring for the seasoned gourmet – crispy chicken skin with green asparagus and Madeira; venison with black salsify and mushroom; celeriac in salt crust and goat yoghurt. Ready to dive in?
 
Address: Praterstrasse 1, 1020
 
 
Since its inception last year as part of luxury hotel Palais Hansen Kempinski, gourmet location Edvard has catapulted itself to one of the most popular high-end eateries in the city. If you love Austrian cuisine (with some Mediterranean elements) but hunger for an unconventional approach make yourself comfortable in Edvard’s tasteful green and white restaurant. Recommended dishes range from ‘pork from head to toe’ and cod with caponata and black rice, to quail with morels and Jerusalem artichoke.
 
Address: Schottenring 24, 1010
 
 
Long known as an insider tip in trendy Leopoldstadt, restaurant Vincent has been attracting the public attention it deserves. Its original international cuisine is complemented by local ingredients such as Viennese snails by snail farmer king Andreas Gugumuck, asparagus from Marchfeld and local wild rooster. You can choose to feast in the traditional wood panelled main restaurant or the modern winter garden.
 
Address: Grosse Pfarrgasse 7, 1020
 
 
Photo: konstantinfilippou.com
 
Like Mraz&Sohn, Konstantin Filippou pours his horn of plenty over those open to a new taste experience. The Austro-Greek gourmet chef blends differently flavoured ingredients from Austrian and Mediterranean cuisine to tickle your senses. Cod and pork belly mix with char caviar; veal tongue flirts with oyster, kimchi and radish; vanilla cream embraces beetroot, apple, rhubarb and cumin. Expect a mind boggling meal.
 
Address: Dominikanerbastei 17, 1010
 
Walter Bauer
 
Did I mention Leberkäse? Don’t be fooled if you see it on Walter Bauer's menu. As a tradition, Walter Bauer’s one Michelin star eatery serves a high-end interpretation of that Austrian street food as an amuse bouche. A little more glamorous but still solidly traditional are the interiors, the menu and wine list. Walter is a good place for lovers of modern Austrian food who relish professionally presented familiar tastes.
 
Address: Sonnenfelsgasse 17, 1010
 
 
Well established Dom Beisl is a good place to splash out on modern Viennese cuisine and wine. Master chef Thomas Wohlfahrter collaborates closely with sommelier Hermann Botolen and regional producers. You’ll likely redefine your take on classics like veal head, freshwater fish, and chocolate cake. Some reviewers were disappointed by the price and quality of some of the more traditional dishes – such as the organic Wiener Schnitzel with cucumber salad (€25,50) – so make sure you fully tap into Dom Beisl’s creative side to get the most for your money. 
 
Address: Schulerstrasse 4, 1010
 
 
The Japanese gourmet restaurant at Grand Hotel has the reputation of being the best Japanese in the city. Enjoy super fresh Sushi, Sashimi, grilled meat and seafood (Teppanyaki), and Tempura in particularly subtle taste combinations, beautifully presented. The traditional fine dining Kaiseki menu is served in the evenings. Get a special Chef’s Sushi at Unkai’s downstairs sushi bar every first Monday of the month.
 
Address: Kärntner Ring 9, 1010
 
Native Viennese Barbara Cação is the author of Vienna travel guide Vienna Unwrapped and runs a tourism blog about her home city.

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RENTING

‘Betriebskosten’: What are the extra costs renters must pay in Austria?

Renting an apartment in Austria means you’ll have to budget not only for the rent, but other somewhat hidden monthly costs and expenses.

Published: 30 April 2024 11:29 CEST
'Betriebskosten': What are the extra costs renters must pay in Austria?

Understanding operating costs or the specific expenses landlords or property agencies charge renters, is crucial for staying on top of your monthly payments when renting a place in Austria. These extra costs, known in German as Betriebskosten, are strictly regulated by Austria’s Tenancy Act. 

Here are the operating expensses that are chargeable to tenants, according to the MieterHilfe Public Association:

  • Water/wastewater and costs of leak testing, plus excess consumption due to burst pipes, but does not include disproportionate additional consumption for commercial operations;
  • Rubbish removal (and also clearing out floors and cellars);
  • Clearing out abandoned property;
  • Pest control, with costs such as extermination and periodic inspection or removal of pigeon droppings. Installation of pigeon screens is not included;
  • Sweeping fees (chimney sweep);
  • Electricity for lighting and communal facilities, such as the stairwell, but also replacement of light bulbs, fuses or switches;
  • Insurance premiums for fire, liability and water damage;
  • Insurance premiums for glass breakage and storm damage provided that more than half of the tenants have agreed to this being passed on;
  • Management fee (there is a set administration fee per square metre of usable space and building construction year)
  • House cleaning, including wages and social payments if there is a caretaker, plus materials; 
  • Public charges, unless there is a prohibition on passing them on – offsetting of property taxes is permitted;
  • Ongoing operating costs for communal facilities (lift, heating, playground, green areas, common rooms, etc.).

However, costs such as maintenance and repair work can never be charged under operating expenses.

The same goes for any ‘disproportionate additional costs or consumption due to commercial operations ‘, which refers to costs that are significantly higher than what would be considered normal for residential use or costs that are incurred due to the operation of a business within the rented property. 

READ ALSO: Tenant or landlord – Who pays which costs in Austria?

Vienna’s association for tenants MieterHilfe has a calculator that uses average values to show whether the Betriebskosten you pay are comparatively low, medium or high. The association notes, however, that even low values could be considered unauthorised billing in some cases. In contrast, high values could be correct – the calculator only shows if you are paying too much compared to other properties in the city.

You can check the values HERE. You will need to know either the total usable area of the building or the usable area of the flat and the operating cost share—this information is usually shown in a payment statement you receive from property management. 

What if I believe I am being unfairly charged?

If you think you are paying too much, but the charges are legal – such as for water electricity etc, then you would need to raise this issue with property management. They could take measures to save on operating costs, such as replacing old light bulbs with more energy-efficient ones or setting lights to a timer instead of a traditional light switch, for example.

There are many possible reasons for high or low values, according to the City of Vienna. For example, you may pay comparatively low for water one year because of a small number of residents, while the following year, there are leaking sanitary facilities and a burst water pipe that raises costs.

Buildings with many communal areas and green spaces often tend to have higher operating costs, especially for water, electricity, and housekeeping. 

However, things are different if you think you are being unduly charged—that is, there are charges in the operating costs that do not belong there, such as unapproved construction repair.

READ ALSO: Renting in Austria – The key things foreign residents need to know

If you are unsure of the costs, there is a significant deviation from average prices for no particular reason, or you believe that you are being charged for something not legally admissible as an operating cost, you could have a free check carried out by MieterHilfe or a tenant protection organisation. 

If there is a suspicion of unauthorised billing that cannot be dispelled between tenants and the property management company, this will be clarified at the arbitration board. The arbitration board is an independent body that mediates disputes between tenants and landlords. It is a point of contact before the courts in case of difficulties or legal disputes, and its decision is legally binding.

Property management companies and landlords must settle the operating costs for the previous year by 30 June at the latest and disclose them to tenants. This deadline is set to ensure that tenants have sufficient time to review their cost statements and raise any concerns before the new rental year begins. All expenses must be itemised in the statement, providing transparency and allowing tenants to see exactly what they are being charged for.

They are obliged to provide tenants with a detailed summary of the statement and the invoice documents. If the operating costs per square metre exceed €2, a more detailed review is recommended, according to the City of Vienna.

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