Neubau is definitely the hippest district in Vienna, where new concepts and lifestyles abound. Thanks to this openness, Vienna's most exciting food, dating and pop-up scene has found a home here.
Nestled between Mariahilfer Strasse and Lerchenfelder Strasse, the Gürtel and the MuseumsQuartier, Neubau, Vienna's 7th district, is an urban jewel full of creative energy, historic buildings and culinary hotspots just waiting to be discovered.
More than 31,500 people live here, yet Neubau is the third smallest district in Vienna -–only the 6th and 8th are smaller. And while we're on the subject of small: Here, above the MuseumsQuartier, on the corner of Burggasse and Breite Gasse, you will also find the smallest house in the city. At 14 square meters, the building that houses "Schmollgruber's Uhrenhaus" is smaller than most sheds.
Anyone strolling through Neubau quickly realizes that every part of the district has its own personality. While the area around Spittelberg is characterized by narrow streets and historic buildings, Schottenfeld boasts a cosmopolitan flair and a diverse gastronomic scene, perfect for culinary forays and spontaneous discoveries.
For example, Collina am Berg, where the main focus is on game: Within just a year, Tono Soravia and his team have become one of the most creative restaurants in the city. For those who don't want game, another signature dish is their excellent pork belly porchetta. For a few months now, there have also been special promotions such as "Fried Chicken & Bubbles" or "Porchetta & Pet Nat".
Vegetarian gourmets get their money's worth next door at the Tian Bistro, which is run by star chef Paul Ivic. Their Sharing Chef's Garden serves vegetarian and vegan dishes family style. An equally charming restaurant can be found directly opposite, the Amerlingbeisl. The outdoor seating is particularly impressive: an lively inner courtyard where you shaded by vines where you can indulge to your heart's content. The cuisine – modern European – serves Viennese classics such as schnitzel or goulash, but also seasonal ravioli or dumplings with egg. Those in the know swear on their Soho sandwich with portobello, pickled onions and truffle mayonnaise.
Zollergasse is where romantic hopefuls meet up between hip bars with a hint of Italy, getting aquainted after making contact via Tinder, Bumble and the like. Particularly popular for such first dates are Café Europa, Ganz Wien, Liebling and St. Art – especially in summer, where you need a reservation to get one of the coveted tables. However, Zollergasse is much more than just Tinder romance. A little further on, the city's premier fishmonger, Fisch Brac shows that excellent cuisine with a Mediterranean flair has a place here. Specializing in freshly caught fish from Dalmatia, they even have a lunch menu. In addition to prawns, anchovies and the like, there are also Croatian wines, cheese from the island of Pag and other delicacies on offer.
For fans of street food, Neubaugasse is the place to be: XO Grill is the home of – allegedly – the best smash burgers in Europe. Sourcing their meat from old dairy cows from the foothills of the Alps, they let it rest in the dry ager for seven weeks before mincing. In addition to a great selection of natural wines, there are also regular collaborations with top chefs such as Konstantin Filippou, who created an XO Beef Gyros last year.
Of course, Neubau doesn't just thrive on food, but also on exceptional drinks – and has a lot to offer in that respect. The Dachboden, the bar of the 25hours Hotel, serves its own artistic creations such as the Pomme Thé Glac" while also offering one of the best views over the city. Those who prefer something more down-to-earth will be happy at Café Kandl: Over 300 wines are available here, with a clear focus on natural wines.
Coffee fans will get their money's worth at Café Comet on Kirchengasse, where they roast their beans on site. A few meters further down, another highlight awaits: the Atlas Bar & Kunstgalerie on Neustiftgasse, which not only serves outstanding wines, but also delicious snacks: you won't get enough of the cheese and kimchi toast or the eggplant tartare.
But Neubau would not be Neubau without contrasts. While Spittelberg tends to be charming and quirky, Schottenfeld has a modern, easygoing, international side. One of the culinary highlights in this neighborhood is definitely the Gasthaus Grünauer on Hermanngasse, a classic of upscale Viennese dining culture. Known for its excellent goulash, the restaurant is now run by the third generation. Just a few corners away is Herr Karl, a charming delicatessen perfect for anyone who likes to browse and discover new taste sensations.
Just a few blocks away you'll find Rinkhy Delikatessen Bar, which originally started out as a small restaurant at Zieglergasse 37 that specialized in premium canned sardines. Today, Rinkhy operates on a larger scale, with an extended menu ranging from bœuf bourguignon and oysters to exquisite wines and creative cocktails. The mural of an octopus on the ceiling is just as eye-catching as the range of fresh, high-quality delicacies. And for those who like things a little quieter: their former premises reopened in July last year, serving a fine selection of Austrian delicacies reminiscent of the charm of a traditional Heurigen.
In their small, purist restaurant Stadler & Thomas on Burggasse, Konstantin Stadler and Andreas Thomas combine sophisticated Austrian cuisine with Mediterranean influences, ranging from yeast dumplings with pointed cabbage to pulpo carpaccio. In addition to creative tasting menus, their legendary Wiener Schnitzel is always on the menu.
And then there is Eyal Shani, the King of cauliflour. His restaurants have patrons waiting in line from Paris to New York, and you can also enjoy his signature oven-baked cauliflour in Vienna – at Seven North on Schottenfeldgasse. Of course, the other dishes leave nothing to be desired and no stomach growling.
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