Does anyone have suggestions for a nice restaurant in Vienna where my wife and I can have dinner on Christmas Eve? I realize that many restaurants in Vienna aren't open on Christmas Eve and of those that are, many are in luxury hotels with prices to match. I also know that even though Christmas Eve is 2½ months away, bookings for that date may already be getting scarce; I've tried several recently and come up empty. By "nice" I mean Goldilocks nice--not too fancy, not too basic. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Posted by
Arlington, WA
52 posts
Following this! Same boat here, been looking for a place both for Christmas Even and Christmas.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23968 posts
Unfortunately, your first two statements summed it well. You may be able to catch an early dinner on Christmas eve -- say 4pm but by six or so, things really do shut down. Our experience from a few years ago was to have dinner around 3, 4pm after having visited the local grocery store and laid in a good supply of cheese, fruit, bread, wine, etc. for our Christmas dinner in the rooftop garden of our hotel. That was the advice of our local guide that day. The only thing we saw open on Christmas day were the restaurants associated with large hotels. And they were packed. We did not see any small local restaurants open. And it was the same for New Year's Day. The attitude towards the holidays is very different than the US. Good luck.
PS We had heard that sometimes oriental and middle eastern restaurants were open. We didn't see that but we were not looking for them either.
Posted by
Republic of Texas / U.S.A. / Magyarország / Budapest
24363 posts
Everytime this question gets asked I read the "not much" responses I am amazed becaus there are fewer open in the city in which I live, but its not terrible. But maybe I live here so I just know vs a tourist and "internet impressions". Usually I just tell people come here and eat, but this time I looked a bit in Vienna. Wow, I was wrong, it is a bit bare on choices. BUT, here is a list. I checked three at random and they had open reservations: https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Restaurants+Open+Christmas&find_loc=Vienna%2C+Wien
Posted by
OP
13 posts
Thanks for the suggestions. Your responses confirm what I suspected, that it'll be a pretty good trick finding a place to have dinner out. I think when all is said and done it's probably just easier to get a bite in the hotel's lounge or at one of the nearby Christmas markets.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23968 posts
Our experience, again, is that the Christmas markets close fast and early on Christmas eve but it may vary more. When we were in Prague over New Years one year the markets were still open. Another time, when we were in Munich over Christmas the markets started closing around noon on Christmas eve and by 6 pm many were physically gone. But the beer halls were open even on Christmas day -- they were packed with families.
Posted by
Vienna, Austria
5970 posts
Many of the Christmas Markets have their last day on Dec. 24. By 1 pm, they will start to shutter. For those that are open until New Year, they will also close quite early on Dec. 24.
These places MAY be open on 12/24. You'll need to write or call.
Meissl und Schadn - https://meisslundschadn.at/en/xmas-in-vienna/
Das Boothaus - https://www.dasbootshaus.at/christmas
Elissar - https://www.elissar.at/johannesgasse/#about
Griechenbeisl - https://www.griechenbeisl.at/menu/
Posted by
OP
13 posts
I looked at the three restaurants you suggested, Emily, and made a reservation at Elissar, nice looking Lebanese restaurant with good reviews close to the Vienna Opera House and only about a 15-minute walk from our hotel. Just the ticket! Many thanks for the suggestion.