Vienna is a classic city, not a city of skyscrapers and high-rise buildings. Most residential buildings in the city do not exceed 5 floors in height. However, there are a few places, tall towers built in recent years, from which you can enjoy a wonderful view and observe the city from above. Fortunately, some of these tall buildings house restaurants, cafes, or bars where you can sit and experience Vienna from a different perspective. All the places on the list below are indoors, so even on winter days, you can visit them and enjoy the view without freezing. Some also offer outdoor seating and are especially suitable for warm summer days.
We have compiled for you the most worthwhile restaurants and cafes with exceptional views in Vienna, where you can capture the most beautiful landscape photos as a souvenir. Not all the places on the list are in the heart of the city, but don’t worry, Vienna has amazing public transportation, undoubtedly among the best in the world. You can easily reach the recommended places from all parts of the city by subway or tram.
Please note: Since these places are popular, it’s advisable to make a reservation in advance, especially during peak hours (evenings and weekends in particular). These places are also loved by locals, so they might be full after work hours or on weekends. Keep in mind that these places will be on the more expensive side of the scale.
10 Restaurants, Bars, and Cafes with a Beautiful View – Vienna’s Best Rooftops
If you don’t want to delve into the details of each restaurant or cafe, here’s a concise list of the 10 recommended places:
- NENI am Prater
- Aurora Bar im Andaz Vienna Am Belvedere
- Rooftop Garden im Ruby Marie Hotel & Bar
- Dachboden im 25 Hours Hotel
- Justizcafé
- Bar & Lounge im Meliá Hotel Vienna 57
- Oben
- Sky Bar
- Donauturm
- Das Loft (Central and highly recommended!)
Now, let’s elaborate on the 10 restaurants, cafes, and bars with beautiful views in Vienna:
1. NENI am Prater
Neni is a household name in Vienna. It’s a chain of Israeli restaurants owned by the Molcho family. There are several restaurants belonging to the chain throughout Vienna, and the famous bar next to the Danube Canal – “Tel Aviv Beach” – also belongs to this family. This particular restaurant is on the top floor of the Superbude Hotel, near Prater Park, Vienna’s amusement park. In the evenings, the view from it is of the amusement rides lit up with colorful lights. You can sit inside or on the outdoor terrace. The outdoor seating area is closed during the winter months. Besides the view, the food is also delicious, Israeli with an interesting twist (the tahini and ice cream dessert is highly recommended). Part of the restaurant is also a bar, so there’s a great selection of cocktails too. No festive dress code is required.
Additional Essential Information
- Address: Perspektivstraße 8, 1020 Wien
- Website: Neni.at
- Opening Hours:
- Monday to Thursday: 7:00 AM to Midnight
- Friday: 7:00 AM to 1:00 AM
- Saturdays: 8:00 AM to 1:00 AM
- Sundays: 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM
- Please note that the kitchen closes at 10:00 PM.
2. Aurora Bar im Andaz Vienna Am Belvedere
Image 2: View from Aurora Bar.
Aurora Bar is located on the 16th floor of the Andaz Vienna Am Belvedere Hotel (Hyatt Hotels chain). It’s in the area between Vienna’s main train station and the Belvedere Palace. The bar’s concept is the Nordic world, hence its name (Aurora = Northern Lights). The bar has an indoor area and a large terrace from which you can overlook the city and enjoy a truly impressive view. The place offers great “Nordic” cocktails and DJs who will liven up your evening with diverse music. The dress code is Smart Casual.
Additional Essential Information
- Address: Arsenalstraße 10, 1100 Wien
- Website: https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/austria/andaz-vienn a-am-belvedere/vieaz/dining
- Opening Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday: 5:00 PM to Midnight
- Friday and Saturday: 4:00 PM to Midnight
3. Rooftop Garden im Ruby Marie Hotel & Bar
The Ruby Marie Hotel is located on Mariahilfer Street, the shopping street, not far from Vienna’s Westbahnhof (Western Train Station). On the top floor of the hotel, there’s a uniquely styled terrace. Lots of plants, colorful furniture, sun loungers, and a serious chill vibe. You can come for a beer, a light meal, or a cocktail.
Additional Essential Information
- Address: Kaiserstraße 2-4 / Ecke Mariahilfer Straße 120, 1070 Wien
- Website: https://www.ruby-hotels.com/hotels-destinations/wien/ ruby-marie
- Opening Hours: Open daily from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM
4. Dachboden im 25 Hours Hotel
On the top floor of the 25 Hours Hotel, located near the Museum Quarter, there’s a nice bar with a homely atmosphere. The concept of the place is cozy and warm, aiming to make you feel like you’re in your living room at home. You can sit inside or outside and enjoy the view of the city center. This place is more suitable for a drink and a light snack; they don’t have a food menu but pride themselves on an exceptional gin drink menu. Quite frequently, the place hosts dance events, jazz nights, and performances by DJs from around the world.
Additional Essential Information
- Address: Lerchenfelder Straße 1-3, 1070 Wien
- Website: https://www.dachbodenwien.at
- Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday: 3:00 PM to 1:00 AM
5. Justizcafé
This simple cafe is located on the rooftop of the Palace of Justice. Its location is extremely central, right next to the Parliament building and Maria-Theresien-Platz. It can be an ideal spot for a coffee break or a light breakfast. From this cafe, you can overlook the buildings of the city center.
Additional Essential Information
- Address: Schmerlingplatz 10, 1016 Wien
- Website: https://justizcafe.at
- Opening Hours: Monday to Friday: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. In the evening, private events are held there.
6. 57Restaurant & Lounge im Meliá Hotel
The highest restaurant in Austria! It’s located on the 57th floor of the DC Tower in the 22nd district, across the Danube River. The view from it is undoubtedly exceptional – you can see the entire city, Danube Island, and even areas beyond Vienna’s borders. The place also operates a lounge with cocktails and music nights featuring local DJs. There’s a subway station right next to it, so you can easily reach the restaurant from the city center.
Additional Essential Information
- Address: Donau-City-Straße 7, 1220 Wien
- Website: https://www.fiftysevenrestaurant.at/57-restaurant
- Opening Hours:
- Tuesday to Friday: 5:00 PM to Midnight
- Saturday: 4:00 PM to Midnight
- Sundays: Open only from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM
- The kitchen closes at 10:00 PM. The lounge is open until 1:00 AM on Fridays and Saturdays.
7. Oben
A restaurant and bar on the roof of Vienna’s Central Library, not far from Mariahilfer shopping street. You can enjoy good breakfast and lunch, and in the evening, a variety of cocktails and a fun bar atmosphere. It’s a place with a young but tranquil vibe (at least during the day). There are both indoor and outdoor seating options.
Additional Essential Information
- Address: Urban Loritz Platz 2A, 1070 Wien
- Website: Oben.at
- Opening Hours:
- Monday to Wednesday: 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
- Thursday, Friday: 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM
- Saturdays: 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM
- The kitchen operates until 9:00 PM.
- Sunday: 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Open until 3:00 PM on holidays.
8. Sky Bar
In the heart of the Old City, above the Steffl shopping complex on Kärntner Straße, there’s a bar that directly overlooks Vienna’s Central Cathedral. You can eat, drink coffee, or sip a cocktail from their large selection of cocktails.
Additional Essential Information
- Address: Kärntner Straße 19, 1010 Wien
- Website: https://skybox.at
- Opening Hours:
- Monday to Saturday: 10:00 AM to Midnight (Kitchen open until 10:00 PM)
- Sundays and holidays: 12:00 PM to Midnight (Kitchen open until 9:00 PM)
9. Donauturm
The Danube Tower is an attraction in itself. The tower rises to a height of 252 meters, offering a 360-degree view of the entire area. The tower’s restaurant is at a height of 170 meters and slowly rotates so you won’t miss any part of the view. There’s also a cafe below the restaurant floor.
Additional Essential Information
- Address: Donauturmstraße 8, 1020 Wien
- Website: https://www.donauturmat
- Opening Hours:
- Wednesday to Sunday (including holidays): 11:30 AM to 10:30 PM
- The kitchen closes at 10:00 PM. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
10. Das Loft (Central and Highly Recommended!)
At the top of the Sofitel Hotel (now called SO/Vienna) in Vienna’s Jewish Quarter, you’ll find one of the places with the most beautiful views in the city. It’s a modern cafe/bar with an amazing and highly photogenic ceiling that will add to any Instagram story. While there’s no outdoor seating, the large windows will allow you to enjoy the wonderful view of the Old City. Das Loft is suitable for coffee and cake, a light meal, or cocktails in the evening. It’s worth arriving around sunset to see the Old City buildings in twilight! If you’re coming in the evening, it’s advisable to dress in a Smart Casual style.
Additional Essential Information
- Address: Praterstraße 1, 1020 Wien
- Website: https://www.dasloftwien.at
- Opening Hours:
- Breakfast is served Monday to Friday from 6:30 AM to 10:30 AM.
- On Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, breakfast is from 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM.
- Dinner is from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
- The bar operates from 4:00 PM to 1:00 AM (on Fridays and Saturdays until 2:00 AM).
- On Sundays, the bar opens at 5:00 PM.
Conclusion
Whether in winter or summer, the places on the list above will provide you with a unique experience and an excellent opportunity to take wonderful souvenir photos. If you’ve chosen a place that seems suitable, make a reservation in advance so you won’t be disappointed if the place is full. As we mentioned at the beginning, these places are quite expensive compared to other restaurants or bars in the city, so a full meal with drinks and cocktails can certainly be pricey. Of course, you can always just come for the view and photos and simply settle for coffee and cake or one cocktail in the evening.
A small bonus tip for those who read this far: Although we didn’t include this place on the list, if you go for a hike in the Kahlenberg mountain area, it’s worth stopping at the cafe at the top of the mountain. They have excellent cheesecakes, and the view is absolutely wonderful!
If you’d like to enjoy a full Viennese meal, you can read about Vienna’s best Schnitzel restaurants. Additionally, throughout the city, there are classic Viennese cafes with a local atmosphere. Read about 21 recommended Viennese cafes.
For those looking for more experiences in the city, you can join a classical concert in one of Vienna’s wonderful concert halls, taste local dishes with a culinary experience in Hebrew, watch the famous strudel show at the cafe in Schönbrunn Palace, or take part in an Austrian folklore dinner.
