The 10 Best Restaurants in Hietzing, Vienna

This restaurant, which is located just opposite the zoo and Schönbrunn gardens, has a sizeable beer garden for summer lounging. The menu features mainly traditional Austrian cuisine, with all the touristy favourites on the menu, including Schnitzel, Strudel and Rindsuppe. Known for its generous portions, it is a great place to head to if you’ve had a long day wandering the surrounding sights.

Hidden away in the gardens of Schönbrunn Palace, this conspicuous cafe and restaurant is designed in 1950s style and is one of the lesser-known haunts in the palace’s grounds. The veranda is perfect for sitting on a summer’s evening, as the cafe looks out from a vast, grassy mound and catches the last of the sun as it sets. Food served includes many Austrian classics with a contemporary twist, such as the pancake-style dessert called Kaiserschmarrn.

Getting seafood in Vienna may seem like an unusual choice, seeing as Austria is landlocked, but this Croatian restaurant named after the capital Split is the place to go if fish is your favourite dish. There is a great range of seafood, as well as meat and veggie options.

Ristorante da Salvatore serves traditional Italian food in a cosy environment. As well as a range of pasta and pizza dishes, there are specialities such as grilled fish and meat, and some indulgent Italian desserts. Although the restaurant is on the small side (with room for around 24 people), this only adds to the quaint and traditional feel. Be sure to sample some Italian wine, of which there is plenty, alongside your meal.

This small yet sweet Japanese restaurant is conveniently located nearby the main attractions in this district – the city zoo and Schönbrunn Palace. Their bento boxes make for a great lunch or dinner option, with its neatly organised array of Japanese food, including rice, the option of both meat and vegetarian dishes, sushi pieces and some fresh fruit for afters.

In the backstreets of Vienna’s famously tourist-filled neighbourhood of Hietzing, home to both the Schönbrunn Palace and the city zoo, Waldemar is a departure from the traditional cafés with their strict formalities and dainty cakes. The interior is minimally modernist with italic neon lettering on the concrete walls and thoughtful details, such as the jugs of tap water on the tables laced with mint or stems of rhubarb. The menu follows suit when it comes to contemporary vibes, with a weekend special of pancakes with maple syrup, berries and Greek yogurt.

This is a hidden gem, tucked away in the backstreets of Hietzing. Although inconspicuous, the tempting smells from the kitchen will likely draw your attention. The cooks make a large pot every day, usually a curry or casserole, and the interior is very simple and intimate. The health food store stocks a good selection of vegan ingredients.

Enjoy one of Vienna’s most celebrated cakes at one of the city’s most traditional and grand cafés. The Sachertorte at Dommayer is very simple, remaining as true as possible to the original recipe. Dommayer is one of the city’s most prized coffee houses, renowned for its dedication to holding up conservative Viennese values. Located around the corner from Schönbrunn Palace, it is a lovely place to grab a coffee and a slice of Sachertorte after a day spent wandering the Imperial grounds.

Traditional pizza made Neapolitan-style is this restaurant’s speciality. There is a generous menu, featuring “Pizze Bianche”, “Pizze Rosse” and even sweet, dessert pizzas made with Nutella. It is located nearby the lush, green nature reserve, the Lainzer Tiergarten, making it the perfect spot for a meal after a long walk.

Viennese wine taverns, locally known as Heuriger, are cosy places in which to enjoy a seasonal glass of Austrian wine and traditional food. Wambacher is located a little further up the road than some of those that surround the palace gardens. However, it is definitely worth the tram ride. As well as a summer garden, with rows of benches for large groups, there are two indoor buildings for the colder months.