What to Eat in Vienna: Traditional Viennese Food You Must Eat in Vienna

I love the food in Vienna!  There are so many choices when deciding what to eat in Vienna so I tracked down some of the best traditional Viennese food that you simply must eat in Vienna.  In this Vienna Food Guide, I’ve picked out my favourite traditional Austrian dishes as well as some of the best places to eat them, so you know exactly what to eat and where to eat in Vienna!  And i you’re looking for some Vienna food experiences then I’ve found some corkers for you too, from a market & food tour in Vienna to a cooking class and lots of tasty treats!

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Know Before You Go to Vienna

Before travelling to Vienna, make sure you book accommodation and popular attractions ASAP as hotels and tickets can sell out.

🛌 MY FAVOURITE ACCOMMODATION IN VIENNA:

$$ Hotel Kaiserhof Wien – close to Naschmarkt with excellent reviews and decent rates.

$$ Boutique Hotel Das Tigra – historic hotel in the building where Mozart once stayed

$ Wombat’s Vienna Naschmarkt Hostel – fantastic hostel with private and shared rooms

⭐ TOP 3 VIENNA ACTIVITIES TO BOOK IN ADVANCE:

1. Upper Belvedere Museum & Permanent Collection Entry Ticket

2. Mozart and Strauss Concert in Schoenbrunn

3. Performance Of The Lipizzans At Spanish Riding School

What Food is Vienna Famous For?

Vienna is the capital city of Austria, so traditional Austrian food plays a major part in the cuisine you’ll find in Vienna.  Traditional Austrian dishes like Wiener Schnitzel and Sacher Torte chocolate cake are the most famous foods in Vienna, but there are plenty of other tasty things to eat in Vienna besides those.

Austria was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, so the food here shares similarities with its modern neighbours of the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia.  Some dishes that you find in Prague or Budapest are popular in Vienna too, with hearty meat dishes, in particular pork often taking centre stage.

What to Eat in Vienna: Wiener Schnitzel

This surely has to be top of any list of what to eat in Vienna, and one of the top things do in Vienna as well.  Also written without the space in Austrian German, Wienerschnitzel is one of Austria’s national dishes and is a thin veal cutlet which has been beaten flat, then breaded and pan-fried. 

In Vienna, Wiener Schnitzels vary in size and are often large enough for two people to share. Usually served with a slice of lemon and boiled potatoes or potato salad, with a good Wiener Schnitzel the meat is tender and the crumb crispy, making it my favourite Viennese dish. 

Although traditionally made with veal, pork schnitzel is very common, and often cheaper than the veal version.  In some restaurants in Vienna, you can also find chicken schnitzel but veal or pork is my favourite.

Wiener Schnitzel - What to eat in Vienna - must eat in Vienna
Wiener Schnitzel – What to eat in Vienna

Where to Eat the Best Wiener Schnitzel in Vienna

Almost every restaurant in Vienna has schnitzel on the menu, but Figlmüller serves one of the best wiener schnitzels in Vienna.  It is HUGE and easily serves two people.  There are several Figlmüller restaurants in the city, and they are often packed with tourists and locals but it is worth the wait. 

Traditionally a specialist in coffee, I also have to mention Café Central, because I loved the wiener schnitzel here.  It was perfectly cooked, tender on the inside with a crispy coating and simply served with a wedge of lemon and herbed boiled potatoes.  Yum!

Vegan & Vegetarian Schnitzel in Vienna

If you are vegetarian, don’t worry you can also try a veggie-friendly version of the classic schnitzel in Vienna.  Head over to Das Agustin or Landia to try a vegetarian schnitzel and other tasty meat-free options including a vegan wiener schnitzel at Das Augustin made from organic seitan.

What to Eat in Vienna: Sachertorte

The classic Austrian dessert, Sachertorte is a chocolate sponge cake, topped with a thin layer of apricot jam and smooth chocolate.  It is often served with a dollop of whipped cream.  The cake was first created by Franz Sacher, who was instructed to create a new dessert for Prince von Metternich in 1832.

Alongside the Wiener Schnitzel, this is definitely the most famous food in Vienna, and one of the most popular as who doesn’t like a good chocolate cake??

Sachertorte - What to eat in Vienna - must eat in Vienna
Sachertorte – A chocolate cake you must eat in Vienna

Where to Eat the Best Sacher Torte in Vienna

The Sacher Torte caused a ‘cake war’ when both Café Sacher and Café Demel entered into a lengthy legal fight over whose right it was to own the label of ‘the original Sachertorte’. In the end, both sides agreed that Hotel Sacher could say they have “The Original Sachertorte” and Demel uses Eduard-Sacher-Torte to decorate their cakes. 

Both are supposed to be excellent, although the one I tried in Café Sacher was a little dry and not my favourite – especially after queuing to sit down and paying a premium for the pleasure. 

The Sacher Torte at Café Demel, on the other hand, was delicious; moist and chocolatey.  I managed to get a seat here on my second visit – there is almost always a queue outside but you can go inside and order your cakes to go which saves you a lot of time! 

The Sachertorte I tried at the excellent Vollpension (photo above) was also beautiful.  I loved the concept behind this cute cafe, which hires retired people who want to share their delicious recipes and earn an income to keep them afloat.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: A Vienna 2 Day Itinerary

What to Eat in Vienna: Tafelspitz

Tafelspitz is a dish of boiled beef, served in a vegetable broth with horseradish and/or applesauce, and usually potatoes.  Figlmüller is also famous for this Austrian dish, but I tried it here and have to say that I preferred the wiener schnitzel.  This was a favourite food of the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph but to me, the beef was a little boring, so I ended up leaving some of mine and chowing down on the schnitzel instead! 

I later learned that the broth which comes with the beef should be eaten before the beef, so perhaps that makes a difference.  Either way, if you like beef then it is a great option to try, let me know what you think!

Tafelspitz from Figlmuller - What to eat in Vienna - must eat in Vienna
Tafelspitz from Figlmuller – What to eat in Vienna

What to Eat in Vienna: Goulash

Similar to the goulash in Hungary and the Czech Republic, goulash is a thick meat stew usually made with beef and flavoured with paprika, tomato, and other spices.  I had gorged myself on goulash in the Czech Republic so I didn’t try it on my first visit to Vienna but did try it next time on an Urban Adventures food tour

In Vienna, goulash is usually served with potatoes, bread rolls or the smaller Austrian dumplings (Semmelknödel).  It had a thick sauce with some chunks of meat.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: A Food Tour in Prague Czech Republic

Must-Eat Dish in Vienna: Pork Knuckle

Vegetarians, look away now!  If you need pork in your life, make it a pork knuckle.  These huge pieces of meat are actually pork knee and are served on the bone, but the meat is so tender it’ll practically drop off.  They are definitely large enough for two people, especially with a side dish of potato or cucumber salad and a beer! 

I had this one from Schweizerhaus beer garden in Prater Park and it was epic!  Crunchy fat and tender pork which melts in your mouth. What more could you ask for?  Perhaps a doggie bag to take home the leftovers!

The enormous pork knuckle from Schweizerhaus
The enormous pork knuckle from Schweizerhaus – A dish you must eat in Vienna!

Potato Salad – Erdäpfelsalat

I hesitated to include this dish in my Vienna food guide, the humble potato salad, but you can hardly avoid it in the city!  This popular side dish is served at almost every meal so you probably will end up trying it one way or another anyway! 

It is delicious though, much better than the British style potato salad which is just covered in mayonnaise, the Austrian potato salad is made with slices of boiled potatoes which are flavoured with onions and a sauce made from vinegar, mustard and a little broth to make a vinaigrette type dressing.  It might look boring, but it is delicious!

A dish of Austrian Potato Salad - Vienna Food Guide
A dish of Austrian Potato Salad – Vienna Food Guide

What to Eat in Vienna: Coffee & Cake

I am not a coffee lover myself, but coffee culture in Vienna is HUGE!  There are cafés and coffee houses all over the city, and Viennese people love to pop in and enjoy a nice coffee every chance they get.  A Wiener Melange (Viennese Blend) coffee is very similar to a cappuccino, a small espresso served with half steamed milk and topped off with milk froth. 

I still don’t really understand the difference between a cappuccino and a melange, but maybe you can ask for both and do a taste test!  Viennese coffee is often accompanied by delicious cakes, like the Sachertorte, strudel, and any assortment of cakes, pastries and sweet delicacies.  The cakes at Café Central were divine!

An incredible chocolate & hazlenut creation at Cafe Central - What to eat in Vienna - must eat in Vienna
An incredible chocolate & hazelnut creation at Cafe Central – A definite must eat in Vienna!

What to Eat in Vienna: Apple Strudel

Austrians definitely have a sweet tooth.  Apple strudel is one of the most famous deserts in Austria, and all around this part of Europe.  Made with pastry stuffed with apples, raisins, and flavoured with cinnamon and a sprinkling of sugar, apple strudel, or apfelstrudel as it is called here, makes for a great dessert, or as a sweet snack with your coffee. 

If you’d like to see how apple strudel is made, I’d recommend joining a cooking class so you can learn all the secrets from an expert and recreate it at home.  Cafe Residenz at Schönbrunn Palace used to do 20-minute ‘Strudel Shows‘ demonstrating the art of strudel-making, but that sadly closed in January 2024, so this schnitzel and strudel cooking class is a good alternative.

A large portion of apple strudel and hot chocolate at the Strudel Show in Vienna
A large portion of apple strudel and hot chocolate at the Strudel Show in Vienna

Kaiserschmarrn – Pancake Chunks

You might usually expect pancakes to be served whole, either as a thick flat round pancake, or perhaps as a thinner rolled-up version.  However, this typical Austrian dessert of sweet fluffy pancakes is actually dished up in chunks, usually topped with powdered sugar and a plum compote or vanilla sauce.

The name Kaiserchmarrn (sometimes written as Kaiserchmarren) literally means Emperor’s Mess is another nod to the Emperor Franz Josef who loved this Viennese dessert too!  There are several urban myths as to the origin of the name and the dessert, from a nervous baker serving a ruined dessert to the Emperor, to a fussy wife who wanted to lose weight but whatever the origin it is delicious and one of the best foods to try in Vienna.

Kaiserschmarrn - sweet fluffy pancake chunks topped with powdered sugar - delicious Vienna Food You Must Try
Kaiserschmarrn – sweet fluffy pancake chunks topped with powdered sugar – delicious Vienna Food You Must Try

What to Eat in Vienna: Tichy Ice-Cream Dumplings

I’d seen adverts for these on signposts all around Vienna but I hadn’t realised exactly what they were – until I took a food tour in Vienna.  Then we paid a visit to Tichy, a classic ice cream parlour which serves up incredible ice-cream sundaes and their famous dumplings.  The dumplings are balls of hazelnut ice-cream with a fruity apricot centre, coated in fine breadcrumbs – which may sound a little strange, but they are delicious!  

Tichy ice-cream dumpling - Viennese Food you must eat in Vienna!
Tichy ice-cream dumpling – Viennese Food you must eat in Vienna!

What to Eat in Vienna: Cheese & Wine

It hadn’t occurred to me that there was good cheese in Austria, I think spending too much time in Latin America I forgot how much we Europeans LOVE cheese.  I tried a (mostly) Austrian cheese plate at Käseland in the Naschmarkt and was a very happy bunny indeed.

A yummy cheese plate from Kaseland - What to eat in Vienna - must eat in Vienna
A yummy cheese plate from Kaseland – What to eat in Vienna

And what goes better with cheese than wine?  Just outside the city is the Wachau Valley, where you can take Wachau Valley Winery Biking Tour or go by car to explore the wineries in the Danube valley.  Dürnstein, Wissenkirchen and Spitz are all popular stops along the trail.

You might like these wine tours:

 

The Best Cheap Eats in Vienna

Wiener Würstel (Viennese Sausage)

Oh yes, Austrians love a good sausage, and Vienna is no different.  On pretty much every street in Vienna, you will find fast food places selling various types of würstels – the best kind of Austrian street food.  Unlike typical hotdogs in the US or UK, würstel sausages in Vienna are served sliced, with a generous dollop of mustard and/or ketchup, with a couple of slices of bread or a roll on the side. 

A cheap & meaty treat, würstels are great to grab on the go.  You can also get spicy or cheesy sausages too.

Viennese Wurstel - What to eat in Vienna - must eat in Vienna
Viennese Wurstel – A must eat in Vienna

Open Sandwiches

If you want something lighter than a typical Austrian meat-fest then open sandwiches are perfect.  Buffet Trzesniewski have several shops around Vienna, including one at the Westbahnof station where you can buy sandwiches in a box to take with you on the train. 

Buffet Trzesniewski’s sandwiches all have a base of egg mayonnaise with a wide range of toppings from crab to paprika and truffle.  If your German is anything like mine you can get away with pointing at the ones you want!  The sandwiches are €1.20 each or 6 for €8. 

Another popular option for open sandwiches is Duran Superimbiss which don’t all have the egg mayo base, or the more upmarket Zum Schwarzen Kameel (Black Camel).

What to Eat in Vienna - Open sandwiches from Buffet Trzesniewski
What to Eat in Vienna – Open sandwiches from Buffet Trzesniewski

Turkish & Middle-Eastern Food

There is a large community of Turkish people in Vienna, and their cuisine now forms a staple part of Viennese cuisine.  The huge Naschmarkt is one of the best places to find falafel, hummus and kebabs, to either take away or eat in.  I ate at the extremely delicious Neni and loved everything we tried!

Colourful Hummus at Neni in the Naschmarkt - What to eat in Vienna - must eat in Vienna
Colourful Hummus at Neni in the Naschmarkt – What to eat in Vienna

Manner Wafers

This isn’t a traditional dish as such, but you really have to try these!  Manner has been making their bite-size Neapolitan wafer biscuits since 1898 and they are as much a part of Viennese food culture as the schnitzel.  They are crunchy wafers layered with a creamy chocolate and hazelnut spread, and they are seriously addictive! 

You can buy them in most shops and supermarkets, and there is a special Manner shop next to St Stephen’s Cathedral and at the airport.

Manner wafer biscuits - What to eat in Vienna - must eat in Vienna
Manner wafer biscuits – What to eat in Vienna

Vienna Food Tours & Foodie Experiences

There are plenty of foodie experiences to enjoy traditional Viennese food while you are in Vienna.  I usually love to do food tours, so I think next time I’m in Vienna I’ll give one of these a try!

 

If you don’t fancy a full food tour, there are other ways to enjoy a Vienna foodie experience, including a strudel show!

 


Looking for more things to do in Vienna? Check out the most popular tours and activities in Vienna that you might be interested in:

 

 

Where to Stay in Vienna

Like many cities, you pay a premium for staying right in the city centre, and you get a lot more for your money staying just outside the centre.  I love being around the Naschmarkt food market as it is close to town and you are right next to the market for tasty food whenever you want it!  

Hotels in Vienna

There are a lot of hotels in Vienna to choose from, but most in the city centre are quite expensive. 

  • Hotel Kaiserhof Wien is close to Naschmarkt and gets excellent reviews while offering decent rates. 
  • However, if you are coming to Vienna for a special occasion and want to splurge then the Hotel Sacher is tough to beat for luxury and location! 
  • Check availability at all hotels in Vienna on Booking.com

BOOK YOUR HOTEL IN VIENNA

Hostels in Vienna

I stayed at Wombat’s Vienna Naschmarkt hostel, which is a fabulous option for backpackers and budget travellers, with dorm rooms and private rooms available.  You can read my full review of Wombat’s Naschmarkt here. 

Wombat’s Vienna Naschmarkt is right next to the Naschmarkt which is Vienna’s largest market, and a great place to get a bite to eat any time of the day.  There is a bar where you can meet other travellers, and an all-you-can-eat buffet breakfast for a couple of euros extra, which is well worth it to fill up for a day’s sight-seeing.  It is clean, safe and a short metro ride or 20 minutes’ walk to Stephansplatz in the centre of Vienna.  You can book directly on their website here or check out the reviews on Hostelworld here

Alternatively, you can check out all of the hostels in Vienna here.

BOOK YOUR HOSTEL IN VIENNA

Airbnb in Vienna

There are plenty of options for Airbnb in Vienna like this beautiful apartment close to Naschmarkt and Kalskirche, or this private room in a family home is perfect for solo female travellers. 

Have you been to Vienna?  Which food did you enjoy – any other dishes that people must eat in Vienna?  Where is your favourite place to eat in Vienna?  Let me know in the comments below!

Like this post?  Pin it to read later:

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This post was brought to you as a result of the #wombatsTraveller blog trip, created and managed by iambassador in partnership with wombat’s CITY HOSTELS.  However, as always, all opinions are my own and I maintain full editorial control of the content published here on Tales of a Backpacker.

12 thoughts on “What to Eat in Vienna: Traditional Viennese Food You Must Eat in Vienna

  1. Ryan K Biddulph says:

    The coffee and cake looks delightful Claire. Especially with Wagner the Wombat hanging out with you! Delicious food all around. Rocking post.

  2. Claire says:

    Hi Rebekah! That’s awesome, I’m so glad you find this useful! I’m actually going back to Vienna next week and I can’t wait to eat all of this again! I’ll be staying at the Wombats again too, it is such a great location 🙂 Thank you for reading and for your lovely comment – safe and happy travels! xx

  3. Rebekah says:

    This blog post was my bible when I went to Vienna a couple of weeks ago! Thank you so much. I went to the apple strudel show and I really appreciated the veggie schnitzel tip – I actually got to try schnitzel at Landia which was excellent. It was nice not to have to miss out. Also, I tried the Sachertorte at Cafe Demel in the hope it was less dry than the one you had at Cafe Sacher and it was superb.

    I stayed at Wombat’s Naschmarkt on your recommendation as well! Thanks for helping make my trip ace 🙂

  4. Danial says:

    The Sachertorte looks really decadent & I love how colorful its history is with all the “food wars” behind the scenes.

  5. Stacy says:

    Perfect timing for our upcoming trip to Vienna. Thanks for the great ideas – I’m pinning this and will share on G+ and Twitter too!

  6. Chantell Collins says:

    I really shouldn’t have read this while drinking coffee because now I realise that I am missing Sachertorte ! How delicious does that look? In fact all the desserts look amazing! You have got some great food photos here

  7. Kathy says:

    Wow that schnitzel looks amazing. Thanks for all the great tips. I don’t have Vienna on my list of places to go to anytime soon, but I always enjoy a great food posts. Definitely bookmarking this. Thanks for sharing.

  8. Rhonda Albom says:

    This all looks amazing. I had no idea apple strudel was from Austria, although it is one of my favorites, as is wienerschnitzel.
    I also am admiring the hummus tower – that is such an interesting way to serve it.

  9. Tamara says:

    OMG YES! I love food posts, it makes me so hungry haha. From this list, apple strudel definitely is my favorite. I love it, combining it cream and vanilla ice cream, yummie! Also, I’m Always a big fan of Wiener schnitzels.

  10. Kimmie Conner says:

    WOWOWO I had no idea Vienna was such a foodie’s paradise! With main dishes, desserts, and even middle eastern food?! Dang, looks like I have to plan a trip!

  11. Lori says:

    OMG I’m drooling. The Weiner Schnitzel, of course. But that hazelnut dessert looks so amazing. I can just taste it from here 😉 I was a bit surprised by the Middle Eastern mezze but I guess it makes sense, and I bet it’s a nice departure when you’re in Vienna. Everything looks delish!

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