I thought I would share my top ten food experiences for Vienna. The places I list here are "tried and true," representing multiple visits over the course of time. I would love to see other local experts with deep knowledge put together a similar list for their city.
1. Cafe Sperl - Drink a melange and eat the Apfelstrudel. This cafe looks like what you think a Viennese cafe looks like. Grab a newspaper from the rack and pretend you read German. https://www.cafesperl.at/
2. Habibi & Hawara - Drink mint tea and eat the absolute best buffet of Middle Eastern/Austrian food, hands-down; four locations and a summer Sunday brunch pop-up at Strandbar Herrmann; intentionally hires asylum-seekers and refugees with culinary backgrounds. https://habibi.at/restaurants/
3. Mayer am Nussberg - Drink a glass of Sturm (new wine only available in early fall) and eat the cheese/meat platter. This hillside Buschenschank offers lounge chairs and a view, making it a nice rest area on your walk from Kahlenberg back into the city. https://www.mayeramnussberg.at/
4. Syrischen Imbiss - Drink something cold and eat whatever they are offering (this is authentic Syrian food, which is divine); located in the very exciting Yppenplatz/Brunnenmarkt area which is my favorite Saturday morning market in all of Vienna. On the corner of Gaullachergasse and Brunnengasse.
5. Figlmüller - Drink is unimportant as this place is all about the schnitzel (it lives up to its hype) and the potato salad. https://figlmueller.at/en/
6. Il Sestante - While the pizza here is great, it is really all about the outdoor location on a warm evening. Trust me. http://www.sestante.at/
7. Restaurant Pürstner - Our favorite Austrian restaurant. Not only is the food exactly what you want, but the decor is kitsch to the cuckoo. https://www.puerstner.com/welcome-to-puerstner/
8. Vollpension Cafe - The cafe feels like your grandmother's living room for a reason as it is entirely staffed by Omas (grandmothers) and Opas (grandfathers) who bake their traditional cakes daily. https://www.vollpension.wien/en/about-us/
9. Neni am Prater - full disclosure that I have only been once, but it is absolutely the best rooftop experience in all of Vienna, I promise (Note - I eat at the other Neni locations frequently). The food, which is Israeli, is exceptionally good and the cocktails do the job. https://neni.at/restaurants/prater/
10. Mamamon Thai Eatery - Why am I recommending a Thai restaurant? 1 - It is authentic and expertly made and 2 - you'll need a break from Austrian fare, I promise. https://mamamonthaikitchen.com/menu/
Bonus three - I dare you to complete this trifecta in one afternoon - lunch at Miznon, coffee at Diglas on Wollzeile and Pain au Chocolat from Paremi! https://www.miznonvienna.com/; https://wollzeile.diglas.at/; http://paremi.at/
Edited to add my favorite Würstelstands as no visit to Vienna is complete without a Käsekrainer and Ottakringer from 1) Bitzinger in front of the Albertina (giant rabbit on top); 2) the stand a Schwedenplatz; or 3) the stand at Hoher Markt. https://www.bitzinger-wien.at/de/w%C3%BCrstelst%C3%A4nde/bei-der-albertina/; https://www.wien.info/de/wuerstelstand-am-hohen-markt-126470
If you want to get more Vienna inspiration, I’d be happy to share my Instagram account info by private message.