11 Local Brands Austrians Love
From experimental chocolate to the Viennese’s favourite coffee brand, here are some local brands that Austrians adore. Discover them for yourself and you’ll understand why…
Zotter Chocolate
Most Austrians will agree that Zotter Chocolate is one of the best brands when it comes to sweet treats. This experimental chocolatier has experimented with some highly unusual chocolate combinations, including cheese, tequila with salt and lemon and raspberry, coconut and trout. It is widely available at most good supermarkets around Vienna so be sure to sample some if you’re visiting.
1. Ceramics from Gmunden
Manufactured in Gmunden, a lakeside town in Upper Austria, the company that produces these green and white striped earthenware dates back to the 1400s. They continue to produce the ceramics to the original design today, and they are extremely proud of their heritage.
Gmunden Ceramics, Keramikstraße 24, 4810 Gmunden, Austria, +43 7612 7860
This herbal, sweet carbonated drink Almdudler, is hugely popular with Austrians and was founded in Vienna in the 1950s. The bottles depict a traditionally clad couple, giving it a quintessential Austrian vibe through and through.
2. Meinl’s Jam
Store
Julius Meinl’s is Vienna’s answer to London’s Harrods – an elegant department store in the heart of the city selling a sleek spread of Austrian gourmet food and treats. Meinl’s fruit preserve is one of many exclusive Austrian goods that the store sells, and among the most sought after by locals and tourists. It’s created using natural sun-ripened fruits, supplied by the best farms throughout Europe and carefully selected, picked and processed. Flavours range from traditional apricot to tangy cranberry.
Julius Meinl’s, Graben 19, 1010 Wien, Austria, +43 1 532 3334
JULIUS MEINL AM GRABEN | © Kai Bergen
3. Mühlbauer Hats
Shop
Hat-maker Julianna Mühlbauer opened a small shop in the Viennese suburb of Floridsdorf in 1903 and went on to conquer the fashion world. Fans of the Austrian brand include Brad Pitt, Meryl Streep, Madonna and Yoko Ono, and Mühlbauer is renowned around the world for its distinguished quality. Although many styles can be found in shops in other countries, some exclusive pieces can only be picked up in Vienna.
Mühlbaue, Seilergasse 10, 1010 Wien, Austria, +43 1512 2241
4. Lobmeyr Crystal
This glassware company was founded in the 1800s and later co-developed the first electric chandeliers. Although Lobmeyr products are available worldwide, there are many exclusive pieces that you can only pick up in their flagship store in Vienna.
Lobmeyr Crystal, Kärntner Str. 26, 1010 Wien, Austria, +43 1512 0508
Mozart Balls (Mozartkugel)
Wrapped up in foil featuring the famous composer’s face, with red for milk chocolate, blue for dark, these smooth chocolate spheres containing a marzipan centre are the quintessential Austrian treat. Find them in almost every good supermarket around Austria. They can also be found in the café dedicated solely to the chocolate balls in Salzburg, the composer’s homeland, where the treats were originally created.
5. Manner wafers
Wrapped in Wes Anderson-style strawberry pink, these are another of Austria’s prized and best-selling sweet treats. The tasty bite-sized Neapolitan hazelnut wafers have become a kind of status symbol of the Viennese. Created in 1898, by Josef Manner, the recipe of hazelnut cream, chocolate, and the wafer has remained the same since birth, however, the company has since expanded their repertoire and there is now a range of products. Pick them up at most supermarkets or at the Manner store in Vienna’s Stephansplatz to see for yourself why they’re so popular.
Manner Shop, Stephansplatz 7, 1010 Wien, Austria, +43 1513 7018
A tram advertising Manner Wafers | © Su–May / Flickr
Red Bull
This Austrian company was set up in 1987 and is now mammoth; the famous energy drink is currently the most popular of its kind in the world, selling billions of the recognisable red and blue cans every year.
6. Stiegl
Brewery
Stiegl Bier has its brewery in Salzburg and is one of the most popular brands of beer in Austria. Its eye-catching, red and white branding makes it instantly recognisable.
Stiegl Bier, Kendlerstraße 1, 5020 Salzburg, Austria, +43 50 14920
Alt Wien
As Vienna is famous for its kaffee haus (coffee house) culture, it would be wrong to miss out an Austrian brand of coffee. This iconic company is loved by the Viennese and is served at many cafés around the capital.
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