Our Vienna-based editor Alexander Lupersböck reveals his ten favourite classics and new arrivals in the Austrian capital, from alternative to chic - without claiming to be exhaustive, but with a feel-good guarantee.
Despite all the prophecies of doom: wine is booming in Vienna, but wine fans are demanding new discoveries and alternatives - not only in the style of wine, but also on the menu. And they've got them: The scene of "wine bars" with international offerings and good food in Vienna has seen a few new additions in recent years. Whether shabby chic or elegant, one thing is always important in Vienna: the cosy, personal and casual. Going out can be anything here, just not uptight. That's why you feel like a regular from the very first visit to most of the pubs.
The concentration of wine bars in Neubau, Vienna's seventh district between Westbahnhof and Museumsquartier, is striking. This centre of the creative scene - also disrespectfully referred to by some as "Bobo Hell" - is a good breeding ground for trying out new things. This can also be seen in the particularly lively bar scene.
The Fuhrmann, Reznicek, Sattlerei and O'Boufes are not wine bars but restaurants and are therefore not described in detail here, but are highly recommended. Fine cuisine and a huge selection of wines guaranteed.
HeunischandHeirs
Landstrasser Hauptstraße 17, 1030 Vienna
Mon - Sat 3 pm - 01 am
Now a fixture at the crossroads between a well-stocked wine bar and fine dining in a sober yet cosy atmosphere. Large selection by the glass. Only one bottle of each wine on the menu is available, so it can happen that you run out of something. However, with 2,000 items, you will always find something suitable with expert help, from classics to alternative wines from all over the world. The focus remains on Europe with its breathtaking variety. Dishes range from simple cold platters with excellent basic products to elaborate and inexpensive hot dishes, honoured with three toques.
Espresso Burggasse
Burggasse 57, 1070 Vienna
Mon - Fri 7.30 am - midnight, Sat 11 am - 5 pm
The ambience is somewhere between Italy and Istanbul, with a dash of Viennese coffee house. It is a family-run meeting place, whose "Schanigarten" is very popular in the warmer months. In addition to breakfast, daily changing hot dishes and snacks such as toast and focaccia, alternative and natural wines from well-known and unknown winegrowers are on offer. The relatively large selection of wines from neighbouring countries that still seem exotic, such as the Czech Republic (tasted: a cuvée from Blaufränkisch + Riesling!), Slovakia and Hungary, alongside Austria, Germany and Italy, is striking. The bottle prices are fairly calculated. It doesn't get more seventh district than this.
Alexander Lupersböck
Burggasse 36, 1070 Vienna
Tue - Fri from 6 pm
A few steps further into the city centre, the Winerebellions have set up shop in a former flower shop. Around 40 wines from Austria, Germany, Italy, Spain and France are displayed in the wine cabinet, while the charming Cathy Steinlechner explains and helps guests with their selection: "I am the wine list". In the meantime, you should have a few tapas-style delicacies such as calamari stuffed with chorizo or crispy shrimp roll prepared for you. For dessert, we had hay-smoked espuma with caviar - salty-sweet and exceptionally delicious. The wines come from well-known (Dönnhoff) and lesser-known winegrowers, here they are open. However, sticking to your mobile phone and taking photos is not a good idea here. Booking is recommended as the restaurant is very small.
Cafe Kandl
Kandlgasse 12/2, 1070 Vienna
Tue - Sat 6 pm - 01 am
Cosy and modern. Around 300 wines on the menu, the majority of them from the alternative corner as well as some rarities. They come from Austria, France, Italy, Spain, but also from Georgia. The service is competent, the faux gras - not foie gras, but a paté of mushrooms and radicchio on brioche - has addictive potential. The prices make for a chic clientele. The courtyard garden opens in summer.
Wine scandal
Lindengasse 1, 1070 Vienna
Mon - Fri 4pm - midnight, Sat 2pm - 11pm
Top sommelier Moritz Herzog has been running the natural wine shop "Weinskandal" for ten years and was then able to take over the R&Bar (pronounced: Rundbar) in the seventh district - Vienna's creative centre. The focus is on natural wines - what else? - and Spanish-influenced small dishes. After all, one of the protagonists used to work at the legendary Bar Brutal in Barcelona. The food is above average, but not overly creative, and the wines encourage discovery. Because, according to Moritz Herzog: "Just cloudy alone is not enough". Even conservative wine drinkers will be happy here - even if only for a few hours.
Alexander Lupersböck
Fleischmarkt 16, 1010 Vienna
Mon - Thu 6 pm - midnight, Fri - Sat 5 pm - 1 am
Friso Schopper imports 100 champagnes from 30 small winegrowers to Austria himself. In contrast to other champagne kontors in Vienna, there are also small dishes such as anchovies, beef tartare by Juan Amador or truffle salami in a parmesan coat, as well as a small selection of still wines. In Focus However, the champagnes take centre stage, where you can make real discoveries. It doesn't always have to be the prestige cuvée...
Pub Klemo
Margaretenstraße 61, 1050 Vienna
Mon - Sat from 5 pm
How good when a wine shop is attached: Not only can guests choose from up to 100 wines by the glass, but every bottle from the wine shop opposite can be drunk in the bar for an extra ten euros. I haven't counted exactly how many wines there are, but they come from more than 100 producers from all over the world and in all styles. So there really should be something for everyone. In addition to cold cuts and cheese, you can choose from several hot dishes - the homemade pasta in particular is always a recommendation. The fact that mature wines are also served by the glass and themed tastings are regularly organised here makes Pub Klemo stand out from the crowd. A wine education centre. Booking is highly recommended due to the small size of the bar!
UngerandKlein
Gölsdorfgasse 2, 1010 Vienna
Mon - Sat 4pm - midnight
It's a well-known fact that taste is debatable, but "Unger und Klein" describes itself as the most beautiful wine bar in Vienna. However, the unusual architectural approach and the changing works of art make it difficult to disagree. And as a wine bar, the "Unger und Klein" is a veteran that looks just as fresh as it did on its first day, which was quite some time ago. The wines come from Austria, Italy, France, Spain and Portugal. There are also a few bottles of natural wine on board. Snacks in the style of tapas and hot dishes of the day provide a base. And because Helmuth Unger and Michaela Klein are very busy, they have opened an authoritative coffee and wine bar in Herrengasse in the first district and are planning another location in one of the city expansion areas behind the main railway station.
MAST
Porzellangasse 53, 1090 Vienna
Wed - Fri 12 - 2 and 6 - 10 pm, Sat -Sun 6 - 10 pm
Genuine and pure flavour - in wine and food. Organic is standard, natural wines In Focus and there are no jellies or foams in the dishes. The eponymous sommeliers Matthias Pitra and Steve Breitzke focus on Austria and France, but are open to all wines that they themselves like - and there are over 1,000 of them. Their work has been recognised by the Michelin Guide with the "Bib Gourmand" and a green star.
Alexander Lupersböck
Urban-Loritz-Platz 5, 1070 Vienna
Mon-Fri 18:00-23.30
The wine list is manageable with around 150 items (but: who really needs more?), but varied with wines from some well-known winegrowers, but also many insider tips from Austria, France, Italy, Germany, Spain and Hungary. Chef Maria Feißt doesn't even want to deny a certain weakness for Sicily. The small dishes could best be described as Italo-Asian fusion, stimulatingly fresh and finely and intensely flavoured. The prices are so fair that it's a pleasure to savour them. The Azzurro is well booked almost every day, so it's better not to go there at random.