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.

Show all pictures

1 /of 3

3 pictures

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.

Show all pictures

1 /of 3

3 pictures

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.

Show all pictures

1 /of 5

5 pictures

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.

Show all pictures

1 /of 4

4 pictures

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.

Show all pictures

1 /of 6

6 pictures

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.