Food

Da Capo: One of the best Italian restaurants in Vienna

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A little while ago I was working in Vienna for a couple of months for my day job. One night, on my way back to the hotel from the office, I came across Da Capo restaurant in a quiet side street, about 2mins walk from St Stephen’s. It immediately struck me as a very nicely kept, cosy, but elegant establishment. I hadn’t had dinner yet, so this looked like a great option to fill my empty stomach. DA CAPO RESTAURANT VIENNA SPORTS A BIG MENU Under normal circumstances it would have been difficult to find a seat without prior reservation. Because of Covid this was an easy exercise. The friendly waiter greeted me and led me straight to a small table in the beautiful cellar vaults. There is also spacious ground floor seating with large windows and a beautiful terrace. I was so overwhelmed by Da Capo restaurant’s big menu […]

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Restaurant Paul in Vienna – a pear-driven, but not pear-shaped, fun evening

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During my recent stay in Vienna for my day job, I passed by Paul every day on my way to work. It was pretty much at the midway point: 5 minutes’ walk from my hotel near St Stephen’s, 5 minutes from the office near Wien Mitte. Ranking and Atmosphere As usual I had read up on all the local eateries way before my departure from London. So I was fully aware that Paul was at or near the top of almost all rankings out there. I don’t know what took me so long to visit. I waited nearly until the last week of my stay. Prior to that I mainly went for more traditional places, or, at times, for something foreign like an Italian or a Greek. I’m guessing that Paul simply does not fall into a category I typically choose. It is a level below proper fine-dining (another category […]

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Food

Weibel’s Wirtshaus in Vienna – Beautiful Beuscherl

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Weibel’s Wirtshaus happened to be more or less on my way from the office to my hotel. This was when I was working in Vienna for a few weeks end of last year. It is located in a small side street two minutes’ walk from St. Stephen’s. Hidden away from all the hustle and bustle of the big city. In summer, their small ‘Schanigarten’ or beer garden is popular, we hear. Michelin Guide Recommendation The Michelin Guide calls Weibel’s Wirtshaus “the archetypal Viennese restaurant.” It attests to a warm, friendly, rustic and snug atmosphere,” with “good, simple, traditional cooking.” On Tripadvisor it was awarded “Traveller’s Choice 2020.” The eatery is currently ranked a very respectable No. 218 out of over 3,700 restaurants. Pleasant Atmosphere, Great Service The warm, bright, friendly atmosphere immediately took me in. The cheerful waiter greeted me at the door. He led me to my table after […]

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Zum Weissen Rauchfangkehrer, Vienna – One of our Favourites in Town

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Having spent four or five days in Vienna nearly every year around New Year for seven or eight years, with several visits further in the past, I was surprised when I found out recently that there was supposed to be this famous, long-standing, traditional restaurant just a few steps away from St. Stephen’s that had escaped my culinary net so far: To the White Chimneysweep, or: Zum Weissen Rauchfangkehrer. I can only presume that one of my local contacts must have pointed me away from it. But why… was it that unfortunate Sissy joke I had made a few years ago? Or that argument about who does the best strudel, Bavaria or Vienna…? Note to self: keep mouth shut more frequently. One thing that is certain, is that the restaurant, founded in 1848, has an exceptionally proud history. Perhaps best known is the fact that it was the first restaurant […]

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Food

Dining in a giant wine cask or under antlers – Gasthaus Puerstner, Vienna

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Located in a grand (1900) turn-of-the-Century building where once the saddlers went about their business, the high-ceilinged rooms at Gasthaus Puerstner are covered in hand-painted wooden panels with rustic furniture and décor. In one room, aptly named the “Cask Room”, you can even be seated inside halves of giant wooden wine casks that have been attached with their bottom to the walls, what’s not to like. Each room has its own character. The Schankraum (“Front Desk Room”) in the entrance area next to the bar appears to attract a fair few regulars, some of whom seem like they have put up their tents here several decades ago, metaphorically speaking. Like most good restaurants in the centre of popular tourist destinations there is a very high percentage of tourists among the guests, which is fine in our book. We are not locals either, as it happens. A large number of positive […]

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