Designer Terence Conran’s hotel is reminiscent of a high-end Nordic ski lodge (all blond wood and recessed lighting). Thoughtful touches such as cozy reading nooks give the rooms a homey vibe.
The former aristocrat’s town house has 45 rooms and suites, nine of which are courtesy of Italian architect Matteo Thun. Black-tiled bathrooms and dark, sexy wallpaper are a few highlights.
A palace turned hotel for the 1873 World’s Fair is known for its grand traditional suites as well as an at-the-ready concierge staff who will secure last-minute opera tickets or dinner reservations.
Guests of this eco-hotel are welcomed into a lobby that pays homage to the Wiener Werkstätte, a decorative-arts movement of the 1900’s. Expect wood paneling, slipper chairs, and custom-made fauteuils.
Hotel Sacher is old-world opulence at its best (antique furniture; oil paintings; silk wall coverings). The first-floor Café Sacher has a glassed-in terrace that opens up during the summertime.
The Park Hyatt mixes old and new: deep-mahogany walls and coffered ceilings, slick gray-on-gray rooms, and streamlined furnishings. Don’t miss a dip in the indoor pool, a rarity for hotels in Vienna.
Four 19th-century mansions house Ritz-Carlton’s Austrian debut. There’s a Guerlain spa, a roof deck with 360-degree views, and spacious rooms decorated in rich fabrics.
Locals flock to this Jean Nouvel property, on the banks of the Danube Canal, and its 18th-floor bar, complete with a rotating, multicolored ceiling mural created by Swiss artist Pipilotti Rist.
The Gumpendorferstrasse is a mecca for design enthusiasts; head to Lichterloh for rare Midcentury Mitteleuropa furniture (Kalmar floor lamps; 1920’s chaises).
It seems every stylish Viennese woman owns a bag by leather maker Ina Kent; her line features slouchy hobos—in colors ranging from eggplant to distressed silver—that transform into clutches or totes.
You’ll find the city’s finest selection of emerging international talents at Nachbarin, including structural dresses by Antwerp-based Tim Van Steenbergen and silk jumpsuits from Véronique Leroy.
Works of art across all media dating back to the Middle Ages are on display at the Museum of Applied Arts. Head to Österreicher im Mak for local comfort food, such as pork goulash and veal schnitzel.
The boxy, white museum in the MuseumsQuartier arts complex has an outstanding collection of Gustav Klimtd and Egon Schieles.
The historic Belvedere district is home to this glass-and-steel archetype of Modernist architecture, home to a serious range of postwar Austrian art, from avant-garde exhibitions to retrospectives.
General manager Dominique Meyer produces a repertoire of world-class opera at the Staatsoper. Visit the main hall to see restored 19th-century frescoes before having a cocktail in the grand Tea Salon.
In 1898, Joseph Maria Olbrich built this exhibition hall to showcase works by the Secessionists, a group of artists who opposed traditional painting styles. A highlight: the Beethoven Frieze by Klimt.
Heinz Reitbauer’s restaurant in Stadtpark is a high-gastronomy play on traditional Austrian cuisine, with a rotating seasonal menu. Try the local trout paired with melon, cucumber, and pea shoots.
Below Heinz Reitbauer’s Steirereck is his more casual (but no less exciting) Meierei. The cheese boards, organized according to pungency and origin, are a revelation.
Gasthauses—or taverns—have long been known for staples such as veal schnitzel and Wiener Würstchen (sausages). Pöschl is among the best. In summer, tables spill out onto the Franziskanerplatz.
At his Michelin-starred restaurant, chef Konstantin Filippou cares less about flash than about quality, offering two six-course menus in a pared-down dining room. The snail ragoût is a standout.
A must-stop in the Naschmarkt with a line around the corner on Saturday mornings for to-go items such as freshly baked pita with black sesame seeds and zucchini-and-goat-cheese fritters.
At this former gasthaus, native ingredients are combined with Mediterranean flavors—the braised rabbit is served with preserved lemon, the St. Peter’s fish with olives and tomatoes.
In the first district’s historic Hotel Sacher, a black-tie-clad waitstaff serves flutes of champagne and glasses of Ottakringer ale in a grand dining room with plush banquettes.
Hidden above the Volkstheater, this Rote Bar has an 1890’s double-height ceiling and puts on shows ranging from international DJ’s to burlesque.
Looking to sample small-batch Viennese whites? Head to Palmenhaus, in the Burggarten, which sources wines from vineyards within the city limits.
Vienna is known for its underground electronic music, and there’s no better place to soak up the scene than at Chelsea, hidden beneath the Otto Wagner–designed arches of the Gürtel beltway.
Across from the MAK, you’ll find this slice of 1950’s nostalgia, with a large terrace and menu featuring regional dishes such as soused herring. A pianist serenades guests in the evenings.
A go-to spot for the city’s literati, Café Sperl has intimate, velvet-lined booths and is the ideal place to linger over the newspaper and a piece of Sacher torte.
For over a century, operagoers have been stopping in at this classic café to sample its famous apple strudel after catching a performance at the nearby Volksoper.
Start your morning with an espresso and steamed milk at this traditional Viennese café.
If you’re looking for gifts, head to this hybrid book, vinyl, décor, and coffee shop in the sixth district; the music is excellent and there’s a wonderful selection of vintage furniture.
In the second district, Muth is the new modern music house for the Vienna Boys’ Choir; the building is fantastic.
We love the Albertina, a museum in Vienna's first district, with its pieces by da Vinci and Cézanne and a photography collection that dates back to the 19th century.
For lunch, stop by this farm-to-table restaurant designed by Viennese firm Klune; try one of the salads.
After an evening at the theater, stop by Café Engländer for a glass of wine. It’s a wonderful place to meet up with friends.
This Rococo-style residence where the Hapsburg rulers used to vacation is a great place to visit in the summer. The best part is the Kronprinzgarten, with rare citrus fruit trees that smell heavenly.
Nothing is more relaxing than a walk through the French Baroque gardens on the grounds of the Belvedere, Prince Eugene of Savoy’s 18th-century summer retreat.
Zum Finsteren Stern specializes in updated regional classics such as tender chicken breast with parsnip-beet hash. Book a table in the cobblestoned courtyard outside the front doors.
A black-basalt world-class museum in the MuseumsQuartier that hosts rotating shows and has a floor dedicated to the 1960’s art movement known as Actionism.
