Wondering what to eat in Vienna? This guide covers the best foods and cakes you should try in Austria’s capital, with recommendations for where to taste each specialty.
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What to eat in Vienna (cakes & other sweets)
Vienna is famous for its cafés and pastries. Below are the best Viennese cakes and sweets we tried and recommend — classic treats, where to taste them, and what to expect.
Kaiserschmarrn
Kaiserschmarrn is a shredded pancake served with stewed plums or jam and is a must-try in Vienna. It’s occasionally served with apples or apple sauce, but the traditional pairing is with stewed plums.
One of the best places we tried it was Demel. The pancakes are cooked to order, the plums are balanced in sweetness, and the inside is delightfully fluffy. If time allows, sit inside Café Demel to enjoy the historic interior — the shop dates back to 1786 — though it’s also available as street food when you’re on the go.
Banana cake
Café Landtmann’s legendary banana cake resembles a banana split in cake form, with layers of cake, chocolate mousse and fresh banana. It’s often in high demand and can sell out, but Landtmann delivers the cake to several cafés around the city, so you can also find it elsewhere.
We loved the banana cake at Café Mozart — it lived up to the reputation.
Chocolate mousse cake
Rich chocolate mousse on a crunchy base with a dark chocolate glaze — the chocolate mousse cake is widely available across Vienna. For a classic, traditional experience try it at Oberlaa, a renowned konditorei. Their version stood out among the best desserts we tasted in the city.
Sacher Torte
A trip to Vienna isn’t complete without Sacher Torte: a dense chocolate cake layered with apricot jam and coated in a glossy chocolate glaze. For the original, visit the Sacher Café inside the Hotel Sacher. The Blaue Bar, located in the hotel, is also a lovely spot to order a slice and an after-dinner drink. Because these venues are popular, reservations are recommended.
Cheese danish
While danishes aren’t uniquely Austrian, they appear in many Vienna bakeries. Öfferl’s cheese danish stood out as exceptional — a flaky pastry filled with a creamy cheese custard. Enjoy it at a table inside the bakery or take it to go and stroll to the Volksgarten rose garden near the Hofburg Palace.
Cheese strudel
Cheese strudel is a traditional Austrian dessert found on most café menus. Café Eiles served our favorite version, topped with shaved almonds. You can order it cold with whipped cream (and sometimes ice cream) or hot, immersed in a vanilla cream sauce — both versions offer different but delicious experiences.
Apple strudel
Apple strudel is another Viennese classic and is commonly served either cold with whipped cream and ice cream or hot with vanilla sauce. Café Landtmann served our favorite apple strudel on the trip.
Sisi Cake
The Sisi cake is elegant, combining chocolate cake, red currant jam, blueberry marzipan and Massa Ticino liqueur. For the best presentation, visit Café Gerstner at Palais Todesco, which also offers beautiful interiors.
Mozart Balls
Mozart Balls are small chocolate confections you’ll find in tourist shops and grocery stores around Vienna. They make a sweet souvenir to bring home.
Esterhazy torte
Esterhazy torte is a layered Hungarian walnut cake popular in Vienna’s coffee house culture. It features buttercream, layers of dacquoise with toasted hazelnuts, and a signature feathered glaze on top. We enjoyed a standout version at L. Heiner.
Vienna food guide (savory)
Viennese cuisine also offers hearty savory dishes. Below are savory specialties to try, with notes on where we enjoyed them.
Austrian Käsespätzle
Käsespätzle is Austria’s answer to mac and cheese: soft spätzle noodles tossed in melted cheese for a rich, comforting dish. It quickly became our favorite savory meal in Austria. Café Savoy served the best version we tried, with great balance between creaminess and cheesiness.
Schnitzel
Wiener schnitzel — a breaded, fried cutlet — is a Viennese icon. Traditionally served with a lemon wedge, creamy tartar sauce and lingonberry jam, schnitzel pairs wonderfully with potato salad. Figlmüller is widely regarded as serving the best schnitzel in the city; for the most authentic experience, reserve a table at their Wollzeile location.
Kartoffelsalat (potato salad)
Potato salad appears on many Viennese menus and is often served alongside schnitzel. Figlmüller’s version was a highlight and complemented the fried cutlet nicely.
Lingonberry jam
Lingonberry jam, popular in Central and Northern Europe, provides a bright tartness that pairs well with meats, potato salad and cheese boards. Figlmüller’s lingonberry jam was excellent, and local brands like Staud’s are easy to find in grocery stores if you want to bring some home.
Beef Goulash
Beef goulash — slow-stewed beef with paprika and spices — is a comforting, traditional dish often served in Vienna with a large bread dumpling. Café Savoy served our favorite version on the trip.
Local cheese & charcuterie
For cheese and charcuterie, head to the Naschmarkt. Kaeseland at the market serves boards and wine, and also sells cheeses to take away. The market is busiest on weekends, so reserving a table at Kaeseland is a good idea when possible.
Sausage & french fries from a sausage stand
A visit to a wurstelstand (sausage stand) is a quintessential Viennese experience. Order a sausage with fries and eat standing up for a true local moment. We enjoyed Zum Kaiser on Krugerstrasse for tasty sausages and fries.
Döner kebab sandwich
Vienna has excellent döner kebab, influenced by Germany and Turkey. District Kebab on Marc-Aurel-Strasse served an outstanding döner we returned to twice — simple shop, excellent flavor, and great fries.
Pizza
Italian food is well represented in Vienna, and we had some of the best pizza of our travels here. At Naschmarkt, Al Bacio served excellent pies — we loved the Diavola with spicy sausage. If you enjoy pizza, seek out local Italian spots for very satisfying results.
Where to stay in Vienna
- Hotel Sacher – a luxurious hotel home to the famous Sacher Café, located across from the Vienna State Opera.
- Hotel Imperial – a historic, elegant hotel on the Ringstrasse.
- 25 Hours Hotel Vienna – a more affordable, well-located choice near several museums.
Activities to book in Vienna in advance
- Belvedere Palace – home to an extensive Klimt collection.
- Schönbrunn Palace – a must-see royal residence.
- Vivaldi’s Four Seasons Concert – a beautiful classical music experience.
- Light of Creation immersive light show – an atmospheric performance inside the Votive Church.
- Spanish Riding School training & performances – watch the Lipizzaner horses in training or a full performance.
- Kunsthistorisches Museum – one of Vienna’s premier museums.
- Schlumberger sparkling wine tasting – sample local sparkling wine.
Read more about Vienna
- Romantic things to do in Vienna
- Where to go wine tasting in Vienna
- Light of Creation Vienna review
- Horse-drawn carriage ride experiences in Vienna
- Best cakes in Vienna
What to eat in Vienna
Which of these Viennese specialties will you try on your next trip?
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