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Barguide 2024: The best cocktail bars in Austria

Nikolaus Mautner Markhof

There are many details that give away the quality even before the first sip. Fine wood, jazzy music and a cocktail menu that lists punch bowls as a matter of course. Heinz Kaiser and his team know all about "liquid intake" in both large and small doses. They're also great with rum, as in the "Kaiserin".

Salzgries 19, 1010 Vienna, Austria

With the addition of the bar (for Champagne and rare whisk(e)ys), the exceptional pub is entering its second decade. Minimalism is the trump card. Metaxa, oregano and a few drops of Sarmakinas olive oil are used to create a fascinating drink. It is an example of how anything is possible apart from compromising on quality.

Buchfeldgasse 7, 1080 Vienna, Austria
Josef Cocktailbar

The strong team performance under the aegis of Philipp Ernst is constantly developing the bar further. The greeting from the old homeland, Signatures with exclusively Styrian ingredients, was the best proof of this. And the now iconic espumas are still a favourite in cocktail Vienna. In short: a "modern classic".

Sterngasse 1, 1010 Vienna, Austria
The Sign Lounge

Discover the most unusual cocktails and play music bingo at the same time? At Kan Zuo, this is no contradiction. The atmosphere can be loud, the menu must be witty and there has been no shortage of exquisite creations since this wonderland opened its doors almost 20 years ago. Bob Dylan would say: "Forever young"!

Liechtensteinstraße 104–106, 1090 Vienna, Austria
The Bank Bar im Park Hyatt

The guiding theme, not to say the guiding index, has remained the same under the new bar team: Financial topics are creatively translated into seasonal cocktail menus - most recently with the five investor types, for example. "Innovation", "Independence" and "Opportunities" are not just capitalised as cocktail names. Great bar food!

Bognergasse 4, 1010 Vienna, Austria
Hammond Bar

The bar menu is a colourful carousel, with two creative fire spirits behind it, Laura Peez and Sigi Schot. In addition, there are signature cocktails from the entire team, often with pop-cultural mischief or art-historical allusions as garnish. An open, inclusive and, above all, damn good place to drink.

Taborstraße 33, 1020 Vienna, Austria

You wouldn't immediately recognise from the Tyrolean appearance that one of the most unusual bars in the country is waiting behind. Even the "Zwetschken Bellini" or the "Rote Bete Colada" - as good as they are - do not prepare you for Andi Hotter's treasure: the gigantic realm of spirits in which he masterfully navigates.

Zellbergeben 28, 6277 Zell am Ziller, Austria
D-bar im Ritz-Carlton Hotel Vienna

The cocktails are at least as impressive as the glamorous ambience of the "D" aka "Discovery" bar. The high quality and professional bartenders turn every signature drink into the perfect guest experience. One of the flavour highlights: "Isla Verde" with rum, avocado, coconut, wasabi and whey.

Schubertring 5–7, 1010 Vienna, Austria

The bar's fifth birthday showed just how international the team's friends are. The fruit wines, for which David Barbist has a knack, are a USP. Chef Kostas Karvounis complements the tinkerer as an always cheerful host. Together they bring individualistic ingredients to life (also visually appealing).

Meraner Straße 6, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria

Damir Bušić delves deeper and deeper into the world of Tyrolean flavours to fuse them with international recipes. The most recent example: the taming of the infamous "Krautinger", which only the master himself could achieve. If you want to entrust your own diary with unusual drinking adventures, you have to go to the Diary!

Adolf-Pichler-Platz 2, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria

It turned out exactly as Peter Friese had dreamed. The diversity of the Italian gastronomic experience in democratic form came to Vienna. Panini and small pasta dishes, but also "Garibaldi" and "Sarti Spritz". An orange slice served in a tumbler accompanied by the signature card of David Penker's team. Much love!

Seitzergasse 6, 1010 Vienna, Austria
Bruder

One of the favorite places of the Viennese hipsteria, because not only the kitchen can be creative, casual and extremely tasty: Behind the bar, too, the focus is on home-made and home-prepared food.

Windmühlgasse 20, 1060 Vienna, Austria

The duo "JoJo" Luger and Attila Szelhoffer know just as much about discussing Hungarian apricot brandies and anime as they do about mixing. The broad pop-cultural arc is translated into the glass, and the remodelling gives this exceptional mixology an even finer setting. A great place without any pretence, but full of class!

Schallmooser Hauptstraße 10a, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
Fabios

The restaurant and bar at this top Italian restaurant and trendy meeting place share a basic concept: quality down to the last detail. Every cocktail is therefore finely tuned, every ingredient well thought out. Non-alcoholic is now also a top priority - the "Garden Sprizz" with flint tea, cucumber, mint and cranberry is even perfect for lunch.

Tuchlauben 4–6, 1010 Vienna, Austria