Who: Bernar Venet, Sculptor Where: Le Muy, France When I…
A perfect day in Vienna
What: Places to go and Insidertips
Where: Vienna, Austria
I just came back from Vienna and I can only say: what a wonderful and beautiful city. Especially now during the Christmas season it seems like a magical atmosphere you cannot get rid of. Strolling over the Christmas markets in front of historical backdrops like the town hall or castle Schönbrunn, warming oneself up at café Central or café Landtmann whilst drinking a hot chocolate (of course with cream!), marvelling at the festively decorated streets Herrengasse or Graben … Vienna offers a lot more than that. I will tell you my favourite tips.
For breakfast go to the Donau. The café ‚Motto am Fluss‘ is perfect for every late riser – you can have breakfast until 4 pm and meanwhile enjoy the view on the water of the river. The foundation for my upcoming day: scrambled eggs with homemade bread and yummy-guacamole.
From there I start my shopping tour: I’m heading towards the big streets like Tuchlauben and small side streets around the Stephansplatz. It’s a must see, also because of the impressive lightening. Tip: have a look at boutique ‘Inked’ with labels like Helmut Lang, Rag & Bone, Vince or Vanessa Bruno.
At Albertina you can see the Edvard Munch exhibition until the 24th of January 2016 (later more). Even the Habsburger Prunkräume (the Habsburg’s rooms) can be compared with an opulent orgy and are a great alternative to the Sissi apartments in the Hofburg, where you’ll always find long queues.
After so much art I need a snack. No, I’m NOT going to opposite Café Mozart or in the neighbouring Café Sacher: I choose the Tirolerhof, a true insider tip and one of the last institutions under the coffee houses, in which one will meet true Viennese people. Including grumpy waiters.
Apropos: my Viennese friend Yella recommends the tiny restaurant ‚Zum Johann‘ at Lerchenfelderstraße, the demarcation line between seventh and eighth district. There, ex-advertiser and passionate man-in-the-kitchen Gregor Panis serves delicious small dishes, including small talk and meetings with the regular guests. And of course everyone is from Vienna. Tip: call and order in advance.
My trip continues by walking into the seventh district, the home of the youngsters and those young at heart in chic old buildings. Here you’ll find trendy cafés and restaurants, nice little shops and a harmonic Christmas market at Spittelberg that goes around Stift- and Gutenberggasse. I stroll through the Burggasse and discover Eva-Maria Thalhammers pop up-store at Gutenberggasse, who presents antiques and beautiful things in shabby-chic atmosphere until the end of December.
At Westbahnstraße I find the Epicerie ‘Un Jour en France’ and the boutique ‘Comerc’ and so I end up in another café – yes, this is how it works when you’re in Vienna – the ‘Toma tu Tiempo’ with a Spanish menu and a small, cosy oven.
The day ends like it started. Nearly. Because then I go to ‘Motto’ again. But this time I go to the newly renovated restaurant-dependence in the fifth district. Dining in ultra-chic ambient, drinking and dancing (later in the evening), elegant, hip people. The food (for example the curry with vegetables and bio-chicken or the three falafels) is simply delicious, although the service could be better. It was still a wonderful evening in a marvellous city. BvH
Having the honor
Vienna, only you …
… Shall be the city of my dreams
Just a perfect day!
Contacts:
Café Motto am Fluss
Franz Josefs Kai 2
1010 Wien
(Between Marienbrücke and Schwedenbrücke)
www. mottoamfluss.at
Motto
Schönbrunner Straße 30
1050 Wien
www.motto.at
Boutique Inked
Bauernmarkt 15 & 16
1010 Wien
www.inked.at
Albertina
Albertinaplatz 1
1010 Wien
www.albertina.at
Tirolerhof
Führichgasse 8
1010 Wien
Zum Johann
Lerchenfelderstraße 104
1080 Wien
www.zumjohann.at
Toma tu Tiempo
Zieglergasse 44
1070 Wien
www.tomatutiempo.at
Un jour en France
Westbahnstraße 9
1070 Wien
www.unjourenfrance.at
Westbahnstraße 9
1070 Wien
www.unjourenfrance.at
Featured pic by Motto