Vienna al fresco: where to eat and drink this summer?

Planning a trip to Vienna this summer? This city deserves to be savoured to the fullest. Fine weather tempts Viennese locals to cool off beneath the tree canopy, in beautiful gardens, on terraces and outdoor seating areas — spots that any food lover will enjoy just as much. The Austrian Gault&Millau editorial team reveals where to find the hidden corners worth seeking out during the summer months.

Glacis Beisl 

A restaurant prized above all for its wine list, offering excellent traditional Viennese cuisine. How about a proper Wiener Schnitzel or Grammelknödel with sauerkraut and a glass of Riesling? In this beautiful garden, the food will taste even better. 

Glacis Beisl, Breite Gasse 4, 1070 Viedeň

Hotel am Brillantengrund 

Another gem — or rather, diamond — in the seventh district is the Hotel am Brillantengrund, affectionately nicknamed "Brilli". You'll be seated in the courtyard of a Biedermeier townhouse, surrounded by greenery and colour, enjoying the Filipino cuisine of Nanay Mangalino. From the Little Brilli Ribs — organic spareribs grilled over charcoal — to Kare Kare, a dish of green lentils in a creamy peanut sauce with pak choi and aubergine. 

Hotel am Brillantengrund, Bandgasse 4, 1070 Viedeň

Café Kandl 

If the cosy atmosphere of Café Kandl won you over in the colder months, come back in summer. That's when the sharp, contemporary cuisine and impressive wine expertise move out into the enchanting inner courtyard, full of plants and magnolia trees. 

Café Kandl, Kandlgasse 12, 1070 Viedeň

Restaurant Eckel 

Eckel has been a Viennese institution since 1901. Staff still greet you in uniform today, and in summer they'll guide you to the shaded garden restaurant, where you can comfortably while away even the hottest day beneath linden and chestnut trees. Order a drink, enjoy the cool breeze, and choose from a menu of classics and ever-changing seasonal specials. 

Restaurant Eckel, Sieveringer Straße 46, 1190 Viedeň

_{Restaurant Eckel © Stefan Fuhrer}

Old Danube (Alte Donau) 

The banks of this stretch of water are lined with restaurants of varying quality — and in summer they face the enviable problem of being constantly full on sunny days, which can sometimes affect standards. How to choose? Our Austrian colleagues recommend the Bootshaus restaurant run by the Querfeld family, or the establishment across the water, Zur Alten Kaisermühle. The true heart of the area, however, is the legendary beach restaurant Birner, where the waitstaff perform acrobatic feats balancing fully loaded trays across a busy road.

Clementine im Glashaus 

In an entirely different world from Birner, you'll find Clementine at the Palais Coburg. Its entrance through a luxury hotel makes it one of the most hidden garden terraces in the very heart of Vienna. The cuisine is accomplished, contemporary, and light. The Austrian Gault&Millau also warmly recommends breakfast here. 

Clementine, Coburgbastei 4, 1010 Viedeň

Gugumuck Gartenbar 

Andreas Gugumuck is best known for his snails. Few people know that his farm in Favoriten is also a wonderful place to stop for a meal. From June, alongside a variety of snail-based dishes (Snail & Chips, snail Leberkäse, smoked snails), you'll find a wide menu that vegetarians will love too. 

Gugumuck Gartenbar, Rosiwalgasse 44, 1100 Viedeň

Piaristenplatz 

The square in front of the Piarist Church could easily be somewhere in Italy — whether for its Mediterranean atmosphere or its culinary offering. Ristorante Il Sestante serves authentic Italian cooking, including Neapolitan pizza. Right next door, Treu am Platzl has established itself as a favourite brunch spot, with additional dishes and cocktails on offer throughout the day.

Karmeliterplatz 

Almost equally picturesque is the square in front of St. Josef's Church in the second district. Wine lovers will particularly appreciate Vinifero, where low-intervention wines dominate both the menu and the shelves. A few glasses of pét-nat or orange wine and you'll feel as though you're on a piazza in southern Italy. Just across the square, Tachles is home to what are probably the best pierogi in Vienna, along with all the charm of a classic Viennese tavern and beautiful greenery. And if that weren't enough, the beloved Veganista ice cream parlour is waiting for you here too.

Ulrichsplatz 

Anyone strolling along Neustiftgasse in search of a shady spot will find it at Ulrichsplatz. Café Erich - which also runs the nearby Ulrich - is an all-day destination: for breakfast, lunch, or an evening drink. A few steps further along is Bar Furore, which has no garden of its own but offers outdoor seating on the street and an impressive selection of aperitifs — the Negroni is a must!

Authors: Bernhard Degen & Derya Metzler