When planning my 2025 spring trip to Germany and Austria, I knew what to expect in terms of food in Munich, but I wasn’t familiar with Viennese cuisine, aside from the coffee and apple desserts. To my surprise, I discovered many similarities between the two – a shared love for sausage, schnitzel, and potatoes. One key difference is that while those in Munich prefer rousing beerhalls, here in Vienna you’ll instead find elegant coffeehouses playing Mozart’s greatest hits.
Despite the similarities in the traditional dishes, I found that Vienna offered more options for those following vegetarian and pescetarian diets (I’m a veggie who occasionally eats fish). Many menus featured seafood options and vegetarian-friendly dishes that went beyond just a bunch of vegetables on a plate.
I was in Vienna for just three days and an evening, only two days of which were spent traveling solo. As such, I did not get the chance to fully explore Vienna’s dining scene and missed out on visiting the Naschmarkt, the city’s main outdoor market. In my recent travels, I have grown to love outdoor markets, since I can generally find delicious, affordable meals and coffee while browsing stalls filled with local produce and crafts.
Popular restaurants in the city center, near sites like the Hofburg Palace and St. Stephen’s Cathedral, tend to fill up, so reservations are recommended. Also, be mindful that smoking is permitted in outdoor dining spaces; if this is a concern, request a table inside.
Unlike the United States, tipping is not “strongly suggested” in Vienna. In many restaurants, when paying with a credit card, there may be no option to leave a tip on the receipt. In these cases, I recommend providing the tip in cash and, if possible, handing it directly to the waitstaff.
Huth Gastwirtschaft
To mark the end of Rick Steves’ Best of Munich, Salzburg, and Vienna tour, the group was treated to dinner at Huth Gastwirtschaft, a traditional Austrian restaurant. It is located near the city center, not far from the famous Stadtpark, Vienna’s equivalent to New York’s Central Park. Since our tour group consisted of 25 people, we were seated in the restaurant’s wine cellar rather than the regular dining area, which was a mixed experience. While dining in a wine cellar is a unique experience, I found the space rather dim (I’m not a fan of dark restaurants) and a bit small for a large group. The regular dining space, in contrast, had more natural lighting, and it was more spacious.
While the atmosphere was less than stellar, the food was delicious and a highlight of the evening. To start the meal, I opted for the Asparagus Cream Soup, as asparagus was in season and I had enjoyed all my asparagus-related dishes to date. We were given the option of two entrees, Viennese Beef or Filet of Pike Perch. Based on my pescetarian diet, I chose the fish, which came with mashed potatoes and vegetables. For dessert, we were treated to Plum Jam Turnover. The soup was creamy without being overly rich, while the fish was flavorful and perfectly cooked. The only issue with the dish was that the “vegetables” turned out to be three small pieces of veggies, not an actual side. The turnovers were flaky, and the accompanying stewed plums were very tasty. Aside from the food, the service was also a positive, with the waitstaff being very attentive and mindful of those with food allergies.
Travelers looking for a low-key dining experience with great food should consider Huth Gastwirtschaft. The restaurant is centrally located, offers a handful of reasonably priced dishes, and features vegetarian and pescetarian options.
Restaurant Danieli
Towards the end of my trip, a couple who had been on the tour invited another fellow solo traveler and me to join them for dinner. They shared that others on the tour had highly recommended Restaurant Danieli, an Italian restaurant in the city center, a short walk from St. Stephen’s Cathedral. I said yes because who can go wrong with Italian food and great company! What I expected to be a quick dinner turned into an incredibly memorable evening, filled with laughter, amazing wine and food, and hours-long conversation.
This is a restaurant I strongly recommend for those seeking a special dining experience in Vienna because the service, atmosphere, and food were on point. The interior walls are covered in rustic brick, and the restaurant is adorned with chandeliers, greenery, mirrors, and paintings. Stepping into Restaurant Danieli is like being transported from imperial Vienna to a city in Italy. The dining room where we sat had a glass ceiling, which enhanced the atmosphere.
The gentleman of the group decided to treat the table to a delightful starter – a 3-tiered appetizer that featured prosciutto with melon, burrata, and shrimp and asparagus. I decided then that this special meal needed more than my regular glass of water, and I ordered a Limoncello d’ Amalfi, which was a great upgrade. For the entree, I selected a pan-fried salmon fillet that came with mushroom risotto and oven-roasted cherry tomatoes. I ended my meal with a slice of chocolate torte, accompanied by fruit, ice cream, and whipped cream. With the starter, I just tried the burrata, and it was exceptional. My fish was perfectly seasoned and cooked, and the risotto was one of the best I’ve eaten. As for the dessert, it was simply divine. The meal was pricey but definitely worth the splurge (thank you to the tourmate that paid for the starter)!
Türkis
After two and a half long weeks of travel and a fair share of cold, rainy days, I was looking for simple comfort food on the last day of my trip. I stopped by the hotel front desk to ask for suggestions for a place that offered takeout and vegetarian options, and the young lady highly recommended Türkis. Türkis is a chain restaurant serving traditional Turkish fare with several locations across the city. I stopped by the one near my hotel, which was across from St. Stephen’s Cathedral.
Walking into Türkis reminded me of my trips to Egypt – the decorations, the aroma of the food, and the hospitality of the wait staff. As I walked in, a young man promptly provided a menu when I mentioned I was interested in takeout and then explained some of the options. The menu is extensive, so there is something for everyone – from falafel and lamb to schnitzel and kebabs. I absolutely love falafel, so I ordered the falafel plate, which came with a salad, hummus, and haydari (a Turkish yogurt dip). I also ordered a lentil soup and a coffee. The falafel plate was substantial, with perfectly crisp falafel and flavorful dips. It was my first time having haydari, and I really enjoyed it. The lentil soup was the perfect dish for a freezing, rainy day in Vienna. It was hearty, well-seasoned, and not heavily salted, unlike some of the soups served in U.S. restaurants.
I recommend Türkis for those interested in a simple, flavorful meal and in need of a break from Viennese cuisine. And, surprisingly, despite its location, many menu items were reasonably priced, making Türkis a good choice for travelers seeking affordable dining near the city center.
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