Cafes, Pubs & Bars in Vienna For Beer, Coffee and Refreshing Drinks
Throughout Vienna, there are many good options for bars, pubs and cafes to stop for a break while exploring the city. This post concerns itself with places where I enjoyed a drink rather than dining out. My usual modus operandi is a cold beer with the occasional coffee. This guide covers central pubs, neighbourhood bars and some Viennese cafes for coffee and cake.
As well as bars and cafes, there is a good selection of restaurants in Vienna for local food and, during the summer months, some really good beer gardens. Many places for drinks in Vienna are dog-friendly, and we visited with Henry, our dog.
Pubs and Bars in Vienna
Some pubs where I enjoyed a beer or two while sightseeing in Vienna.
Gasthaus Quell
In the Reindorf area of the city is Gasthaus Quell, a neighbourhood pub-restaurant. I visited here a few times for a beer or two. They have a lovely traditional interior and a few outdoor seats. Their Schwechater beer was good and refreshing. Gasthaus Quell also serves many Austrian classics on their menu, including Tafelspitz, schnitzel, and goulash.
Marktbeisl Schwendermarkt
A great find for me was Marktbeisl at Schwendermarkt which was an early opening and cheap pub and quite friendly. They had a good selection of bottled and draught beers and had a real local feel. The vibe was friendly, and I found it a good stop for a chill while staying in this part of Vienna. Note: This was a cash-only place, just the way I like them.
Zattl Wirtshaus
A nice place that I enjoyed drinking at was Zattl Wirtshaus. Zattl Wirtshaus has both indoor and alfresco dining options. We enjoyed sitting outside here in their garden, which had nice views in a quiet area. They have an excellent beer and food menu featuring many popular Viennese dishes. I found the service here great and enjoyed my visit.
Hopferl Wien
Another nice Austrian restaurant in the city centre is Hopferl Wien, a short walk from AM Hof. They have options for indoor and outdoor dining. I sat in the courtyard and really enjoyed it. They have a diverse beer and food menu, including many Austrian dishes. For beer, I enjoyed their Ottakringer Helles, a nice, refreshing drink and perfect for a break from sightseeing.
Cafe Alex
Cafe Alex was a cool find while out buying kebabs on Sechshauser Str., a more risque place near our accommodation. This was a rough-and-ready neighbourhood bar with a lively vibe in the evenings. The clientele seemed to be locals, who were quite friendly. They had a good selection of beers in bottles and some on draught. On my visit, it was cash only.
Cafes in Vienna
As well as pubs and bars, there are some handy and decorative cafes in Vienna; these are the ones that I’ve enjoyed on my many visits to the city.
Café Restaurant Maximilian
Near the Votivkirche is Café Restaurant Maximilian, a nice place for a drink. They have a nice covered outdoor seating area and a pleasant indoor area. They provide at-the-table service in both, and I found the servers friendly. For drinks, I enjoyed some Ottakringer beer for a welcome break while exploring the Ringstraße. They also serve an extensive range of coffee, cakes and an interesting lunch menu.
Café Dommayer
Near the Angel’s Gate (Engelstor) of Schönbrunn Palace and the Hietzing underground station is Café Dommayer. This is a pretty posh place for coffee and cake with a lovley interior and garden.
They specialise in cakes, pastries and coffee however on my visit I had a beer. This was rather elaborate Trumer Pils served on a silver tray with a doyley, not my usual style but fuin with it. The servers here were friendly, spoke good English and were attentive.
Cafe Restaurant Raimund
While exploring the museums at Maria Theresien Platz, I popped into Cafe Restaurant Raimund for a drink and to rest my legs. They had outdoor seating on the road with views of Volkstheater. They provided table service, and I enjoyed a few glasses of Zipfer, a crisp beer. They also serve coffee, main meals and cakes, so it is a good stop depending on your needs.