We have only had the opportunity to visit Vienna once — for just a few days in 2016 — and in that time we visited two restaurants and ate steak. I am sure there are many others I can recommend after future trips, and we do plan to make them.
We arrived on the Eurocity 30 after an eight-hour train journey from Venice, celebrating our first anniversary and my birthday. At Hotel Bristol we were handed glasses of champagne in a wood-paneled lounge and seated beside a crackling fire while jazz played softly overhead. It was the perfect immersion into the City of Music. You can read about every day of that stay in our full Vienna review on ReviewTrip, Vienna: Our Imperial Itinerary, part of our Inaugural European Rail Odyssey.
The Straßenbahn — Vienna's tram ring, the easiest way around the city
Vienna is a beautiful city with a rich history — full of gorgeous architecture spanning back centuries. We found the people to be friendly and eager to communicate. The Straßenbahn is a tram that runs in both an inner and outer ring in the city. It is an easy and affordable way to get just about anywhere. No need for Uber.
Our hotel concierge secured us 24-hour public transport tickets, and tickets can also be purchased online, at underground stations, tobacconists, or on board the tram for an increased rate. Because we could get on and off as much as we wanted, we rode the Straßenbahn around the Ringstraße, past the Vienna State Opera House and the parliament building, and explored the Hofburg Palace complex, the former winter residence of the Habsburg emperors.
Where We Stayed
We were lucky to spend our first two nights at the beautiful Hotel Bristol — directly across the street from the world-famous Vienna State Opera House. Taking the tram was perfect as there is a stop right outside the front door.
Our top-floor suite was a capsule of 19th-century grandeur, with ruby and light green striped wallpaper, a marble-clad bath, leather wingback chairs and a vintage record player stocked with classical albums. In the morning we threw open the French doors to the sound of opera singers rehearsing in the Opera House across Kärntner Straße. It was a private concert, enjoyed over morning coffee.
Restaurant Plachutta · Vienna
Plachutta · Vienna · Tafelspitz, the classic Viennese boiled beef
On the first day, we had reservations at Plachutta. It is an authentic Austrian restaurant with typical Viennese dishes.
Tafelspitz, Viennese boiled beef, was a favorite of Emperor Franz Joseph, and it arrives at the table in a gigantic setup of pots on a burner. The presentation was impressive, but for us the flavors were surprisingly subtle. Read our full Plachutta Wollzeile review for the details.
Gasthaus Wild · Vienna
Gasthaus Wild · Vienna
Stadtpark · Vienna
The final night was spent at the Vienna Marriott. This is a modern area of the city with construction being done and just across the street from a beautiful park — Stadtpark. The tram does not run as close to this hotel which required more walking.
We set out on foot and — a stroke of luck for us — we stumbled upon Wild. The restaurant has been in business over 100 years. It has a casual atmosphere and the staff was superb.
At Gasthaus Wild we had one of the best carpaccio dishes we have ever eaten, made of wild boar, followed by an ostrich filet with wild berry compote. Read our full Gasthaus Wild review to see why it was one of the best meals of the trip.
More to See in Vienna
Between meals we visited St. Stephen's Cathedral, a Gothic cathedral dating back to the 12th century, and window-shopped along Kärntner Straße in the Golden U. We also took the U-Bahn out to Schönbrunn Palace, the sprawling former summer residence of the Habsburgs. We were a few weeks too early for the Christmas market on the palace grounds, which is a great reason to return in the holiday season. On our anniversary evening, Gerstner K. u. K. Hofzuckerbäcker turned one glass of Schlumberger sparkling wine into a relaxed night of people-watching with a view of the Opera House.
Looking Back
We loved Vienna so much that we hoped to return during our 2019 trip, but the distance was too great, so we visited Salzburg instead. That trip showed us the difference between the two cities: Salzburg's old town is best seen on foot, while Vienna is vast and the Straßenbahn is essential. The contrast between the traditional Tafelspitz at Plachutta and the ostrich filet at Wild perfectly summarizes Vienna: strict, deep tradition and exciting, world-class modern refinement. We would definitely travel back and stay longer. For our complete day-by-day account, read Vienna: Our Imperial Itinerary on ReviewTrip.
Explore more of our steak journey across Austria and Europe — or read our full Vienna itinerary on ReviewTrip
Originally published 2021 · Redesigned 2026