Margaretenviertel

Urban vibrancy, nostalgic Viennese flair, a creative and relaxed atmosphere – these contrasts define the neighborhood that stretches along Margaretenstraße in Vienna’s fifth district. Designer shops, traditional taverns, wine bars, trendy cafés, and architectural gems rub shoulders here. This walk invites you to stroll, spend time and explore.

Your tour of discovery through the neighborhood begins where the neighboring Freihausviertel ends. From there, head away from the city center along Margaretenstraße all the way to Margaretenplatz. We will of course include a few detours and passing glances along the way.

Ice cream, porcelain, and high-end fashion

To get us started, Castillo’s Eis & Bar is an enticing prospect with its creamy house-made ice cream and excellent drinks. The true summer hit is the combination of both worlds – gelato mixed with alcohol creates wonderful ice cream cocktails, which are the house specialty.

Just a few steps further from the city center, the lovingly curated shop feinedinge* presents delicate porcelain – handmade in Vienna, true specialties for design enthusiasts.

Two doors down, Elfenkleid shows how modern romance can be captured in fabric with elegant, beautifully tailored dresses from an Austrian designer duo. Their evening and wedding dresses are highly sought after. Just visiting the showroom will make any fashionista’s heart skip a beat.

1 3

Shop from inside — At feinedinge*, you’ll find handmade Viennese porcelain. – © Robert Marksteiner

Elegant white dresses in the Vienna shop of the Elfenkleid label — At Elfenkleid, the name says it all. Fashion design made in Austria. – © WienTourismus/Julia Rotter

Hand with red-painted nails holding an ice cream cone with three scoops, photographed in Vienna — Stop for ice cream on Margaretenstraße: try Castillo’s Eis & Bar at number 42 or Veganista at number 51. – © WienTourismus/Julia Rotter

Gourmet meets concept store

At Margaretenstraße 44, Babo & Lenz blends culinary delights with curated finds: bistro, shop, wine store, and delicatessen are all under one roof. Sample high-quality regional wines – their fermented and pickled vegetables are our gourmet tip.

Right next door, Unikatessen lures visitors with fashion from up-and-coming young designers, selected vintage pieces and rare accessories – it’s a concept store as unique as the neighborhood itself: individual, versatile, inspiring: a little universe of beautiful things.

Ice cream fans get a second chance at Veganista (No. 51): Vienna’s first entirely vegan ice cream parlor is known for its unusual flavors like matcha and blueberry-lavender and for its commitment to sustainable production. “Ice to meet you” is the welcome message that visitors see as they enter.

Directly opposite is the MeinklangFarm Shop (No. 58) – a culinary insider tip for anyone who wants to eat or shop authentic, biodynamic and locally-sourced produce. This combination of general store, bakery and farm kitchen offers fresh vegetables, meat from Angus cattle and Mangalitza pigs, as well as freshly baked sourdough bread every day. The cozy bistro serves seasonal dishes, from breakfast to dinner, accompanied by natural wines such as the ‘Graupert’. In our video series Hungry for More, star chef Lukas Mraz joined British celebrity chef Thomas Straker in the episode No Leftovers to explore Vienna’s interpretations of nose-to-tail and farm-to-table concepts – and was thoroughly impressed by Meinklang.

1 3

Man slicing ham at the Babo & Lenz delicatessen in Vienna — Babo & Lenz is a genuine insider tip for connoisseurs. This place is everything in one: bistro, wine shop, delicatessen. – © WienTourismus/Julia Rotter

Meinklang Farm Shop — At the Meinklang farm shop, everything is of the highest quality – fresh, biodynamic, and local. – © Meinklang Hofladen

Trendy, rustic, cinematic

Just a few steps further, the laid-back Café Propeller invites you to sit back, relax and soak up the atmosphere. The venue stands out for its welcoming vibe, lots of old wood, large windows (once the displays of a former shop), a relaxed Sidewalk café and a menu that suits any time of day. Many people also just stop by for a drink at the minimalist bar. Sometimes Café Propeller is buzzing with energy – and that’s exactly what makes it so special.

A short detour takes you to Ziegelofengasse 37, where the rustic tavern Zum alten Fassl impresses with its brick charm and hearty Viennese cuisine. The place is also a pilgrimage site for Falco fans. The pop star was a true Margareten native, living not far from here at what was then Ziegelofengasse 26 – and for a time also here, in his local pub. The sign on the façade provides information:

FALCO lived in this house from 1974 to 1982. This is where he wrote his first international hit, “Der Kommissar.”

The Zum alten Fassl tavern scores highly in terms of quality in all respects. In summer, be sure to take a look at the green outdoor dining area: pure idyll in the courtyard.

Back on Margaretenstraße, a true highlight for film lovers awaits: the Filmcasino (No. 58), a repertory cinema with original 1950s interiors, a cine-bar (worth a visit even if you’re not catching a film!), and a handpicked selection of movies in their original language. One of Vienna’s most beautiful cinemas! Another recommendation for film buffs: with the Before Sunrise Walk in ivie, the city guide app for Vienna, you can stroll through the city following the movie’s footsteps and discover eleven filming locations.

1 5

Evening view of the Filmcasino entrance in Vienna with neon lighting — For film lovers: the Filmcasino, an arthouse cinema from the 1950s. – © WienTourismus/Julia Rotter

View from inside Café Propeller on Margaretenstraße in Vienna towards the outdoor seating area — Café Propeller is a relaxed hotspot in Margareten. – © WienTourismus/Julia Rotter

Innkeeper inside the Zum Alten Fassl restaurant in Vienna-Margareten — “Zum Alten Fassl” is a quintessential Viennese tavern. Summer tip: the hidden garden terrace. – © WienTourismus/Julia Rotter

Hand holding white lace fabric at the körbchen shop on Margaretenstraße in Vienna — The Vienna lingerie atelier körbchen focuses on sustainable production in Margareten and its own unique designs. – © WienTourismus/Julia Rotter

Two women strolling across Margaretenplatz in Vienna — A stroll on Margaretenplatz. – © WienTourismus/Julia Rotter

Wine and Margareten lace

The popular Pub Klemo Wine Bar (No. 61) invites you to sample your way through their world of wines. Up to 100 wines by the glass are available, ranging from typical Viennese varieties like the Wiener Gemischter Satz to international selections. There’s also housemade pasta and cold dishes such as cheese, quiche or antipasti.

At No. 80, the Vienna lingerie atelier körbchen surprises with sustainable, comfortable lingerie designed by Victoria and Elisabeth themselves. All the lace lingerie, loungewear and swimwear is lovingly produced in Margareten, and the shop still houses a small sewing workshop on the upper floor.

The heart of Margareten

You’re now arriving at Margaretenplatz, the historic center of the district where a small farmers’ market takes place every Thursday. Café Karl may have only a few seats, but serves excellent coffee from Vienna’s Koun roastery. A distinctive feature on Margaretenplatz is the freestanding cube clock, which lends the scene an almost cinematic quality, complete with a view of Margaretenhof. This is an elegant and architecturally unique private residential building. Theater architects Ferdinand Fellner and Hermann Helmer (who also designed the Ronacher, Volkstheater, and Wiener Konzerthaus) conceived this blend of apartment building and cottage concept between 1884 and 1885. Tip: Take a peek through the beautiful wrought-iron gates into the alley, accessible only to residents, that surrounds the courtyard. It’s dark, green, and enchanting here, as if time stood still.

1 4

Street scene with a green park area and benches at Margaretenplatz in Vienna — The small yet charming heart of the Margareten district: Margaretenplatz. At Café Karl, you’ll find exquisite Viennese coffee! – © WienTourismus/Julia Rotter

Street scene at Margaretenplatz in Vienna with market stalls and a parked bicycle. — Only on Thursdays: a small farmers’ market at Margaretenplatz. – © WienTourismus/Julia Rotter

The Margaretenhof, a multi-story private residential building in the late historicist style from 1884/85 with a brick facade and towers. — The Margaretenhof, built in 1884/85, is an architectural gem. This multi-story residential building was constructed in the late Historicism style. – © WienTourismus/Gregor Hofbauer

Tree-lined private street surrounding the Margaretenhof in Vienna — A peek through the keyhole into the private alleyway that surrounds the Margaretenhof. – © WienTourismus/Julia Rotter

Dining in the Quadrat

Margaretenplatz is also home to the Schlossquadrat – a complex of former estate buildings that now houses four restaurants. If you love burgers, stop by the colorful Café Cuadro. The Silberwirt serves classic Viennese cuisine in what might be the coziest courtyard in the district, surrounded by typical Pawlatschen (open galleries running around the inner courtyards – a distinctive Viennese feature). At Pizzeria Margareta, you’ll enjoy Italian classics, while stylish Gergely’s delights with top-quality steaks.

Further down Pilgramgasse, you’ll find the charming Budapest Bistro (serving breakfast all day, including vegetarian and vegan options), before making a detour to the trendy hotspot Thell Restaurant & Bar . The interior is stylish, with creative drinks and international cuisine served to a vibrant crowd until after midnight. Thell is arguably Vienna’s ultimate in-spot – and has been for 50 years.

1 6

Guest garden in the inner courtyard of the Silberwirt — The Schlossquadrat is host to four restaurants, including the Silberwirt inn with its idyllic garden. – © Silberwirt

Street scene with greenery on Margaretenstraße in Vienna — View from Margaretenplatz onto the Schlossquadrat with Trattoria Pizzeria Margareta. – © WienTourismus/Julia Rotter

Inside the trendy restaurant Motto — A detour leads to Thell, a cosmopolitan hotspot with a nightclub, globally inspired cuisine, cocktails, and international DJs. – © Motto

Three women at the bar of Motto — Turn night into day at Thell. – © WienTourismus/Julius Hirtzberger

View of Zeinlhofergasse in Vienna’s Margareten district with its consistently uniform facades — What’s special about Zeinlhofergasse: this cul-de-sac was meticulously designed in 1886 by the architect duo Fellner & Hellmer. – © WienTourismus/Julia Rotter

Interior of Café Rüdigerhof in Vienna with booth seating and large windows — Café Rüdigerhof dates back to the Art Nouveau era, and inside you can still feel the flair of the 1950s and 60s. Quintessentially Viennese! – © WienTourismus/Julia Rotter

Vienna’s most beautiful street?

Zeinlhofergasse provides an architectural finale to this walk, in the style of late historicism: it has a reputation for being the most beautiful street in Vienna – in any case, it’s one of the city’s few thoroughly designed streetscapes. The aforementioned architects of the Margaretenhof, Fellner and Hellmer, worked here in 1885/86. The result is harmonious: a cul-de-sac with a charming, courtyard-like feel, lined with historic houses and front gardens where the scent of roses lingers.

One final detour takes you down to the Wienzeile, to the legendary Café Rüdigerhof (Hamburgerstraße 20). This over one hundred-year-old, listed Art Nouveau café is both a trendy retreat and a meeting point, serving Viennese cuisine. Inside, the aura of the 1950s and 60s defines the atmosphere, while outside, the large garden shaded by old maple trees is a perfect spot to linger.