Vienna/Josefstadt

Josefstadt is Vienna's smallest district, with many former noble palaces built in the 18th and 19th centuries by noble families. Today it is a heavily-populated and well-to-do residential area.

The underground lines is available on the eastern border and the on the western. The trams 2 and 5 and the bus 13A cross Josefstadt.

Architecture

• Palais Auersperg

  phone: +43 1 40 107
  address: Auerspergstrasse 1
  The palace was built in the early 18th century, and expanded in the late 18th century under the ownership of Prince Adam von Auersperg. Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach drew up the first plans; later designs are attributed to Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt. In 1945 the Austrian resistance group O5 (meaning OE = Oesterreich) met here. Historically it has always been a center for music, hosting many celebrations and balls. Today various events are organised here.

• Palais Damian

  address: Lange Gasse 53
  The palace changed hands frequently, with each owner making their own adaptations to the building. The central sections date from the early 18th century, while the second floor was a later addition.

• Palais Schönborn

  address: Laudongasse 15-19
  This impressive Baroque palace was built in 1706-1711 following the designs of Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt. It houses the Museum of Folk Life and Folk Art (Museum für Volkskunde) (see listing below).

• Palais Strozzi

  address: Josefstädter Strasse 39
  The palace was built in 1702, and once had a garden that extended to Pfeilgasse. Renovations in 1996 led to the rediscovery of old paintings dating to the period of the building's construction.

Religious buildings

• Piarist Church

  address: Piaristengasse 43
  The Baroque church Maria Treu was probably designed by Lukas von Hildebrandt. The church has eight chapels and is decorated with frescoes made by Franz Anton Maulbertsch. It is considered as an important religious building of its time. In 1949 it was elevated to Basilica minor.

Museums and galleries

• Wiener Schuhmuseum

  phone: +43 1 514 50-2354
  address: Florianigasse 66
  The only museum of its kind in Austria, with displays focusing on the history of shoemaking.

• Österreichisches Museum für Volkskunde

  phone: +43-1-406 89 05
  address: Laudongasse 15-19
  Founded in 1895 and housed in the Schönborn Garden Palace, this museum is dedicated to preserving the traditional folk art of Austria and of central Europe, with rotating exhibits as well as a permanent display. There is a museum library and gift shop onsite, and guided tours are available in German, English, and Slovak.

• Kletterzentrum ÖGV

  phone: +43 1 720 005 005
  address: Lerchenfelder Str. 28
  A small climbing gym inside Vienna has walls in an indoor court, in the cellar, and more upstairs. The gym offers courses for various ages and climbing experience, with highly-motivated trainers and climbers. The boulders are known to be very demanding on endurance, and there are some special circuits set up upstairs. Every autumn they organise a friendly boulder competition.

• Theater in der Josefstadt

  phone: +43 1 42700 300 (tickets)
  address: Josefstädter Straße 26
  Opened in 1776, this is the oldest continually-operating theater in Vienna. At its reopening following a remodeling in 1822 Beethoven directed his commissioned piece Die Weihe des Hauses (The Consecration of the House). Since 1858, it has focused exclusively on theater, and music is no longer performed here. Famous cast members have included Johann Nestroy, Otto Schenk, and Klaus Maria Brandenauer.

• Vienna's English Theatre

  phone: +43 1 402 12 600 (box office)
  address: Josefsgasse 12
  The oldest English-language theatre in continental Europe. Tickets can be purchased online.

There are several specific shops in the Josefstadt to be found, especially for high quality local Austrian products.

• Essenswert

  phone: +43 699 140 43 164
  address: Schlösselgasse 20
  The seasonal products are to be ordered online until Tuesday morning and can be picked up on Fridays. The shop sells special bread, vegetables, cheese and wines.

• muso koroni

  phone: +43 1 402 47 70
  address: Josefstädter Straße 33
  Vegan clothing and accessories.

• Potstill

  phone: +43 664 118 85 41
  address: Strozzigasse 37
  The shop offers a huge selection (1000 different single malts), with good advice on choosing whisky. It also offers interesting or not so common whiskey-chocolate combinations.

• Vinoe - Die Niederösterreich-vinothek

  phone: +43 1 402 09 61
  address: Piaristengasse 35
  The shop sells a variety fine wines from Lower Austria, including from the regions of Wachau, Langenlois, and Retz. They really know their selection – don't hesitate to ask for recommendations.

Josefstadt offers good food in the listed restaurants below for various budget.

Budget

• Tunnel

  phone: +43 1 947 57 20
  address: Florianigasse 39
  Student's place. Nice breakfast, live music every day starting about 21:00.

• Puerta del Sol

  phone: +43 664 423 38 38
  address: Lange Gasse 52
  One of the best tapas bars in Vienna. Both the cold and warm tapas are excellent, and one can choose from amongst 90 wines.

Mid-range

• Curry Insel

  phone: +43 1 4069233
  address: Lenaugasse 4
  Sri Lankan restaurant with a good range of vegetarian dishes. Free WiFi.

• Deli Bluem

  address: Hamerlingplatz 2
  The vegan restaurant cooks local ingredients.

• Il Sestante

  phone: +43 1 402 98 94
  address: Piaristengasse 50
  This Italian restaurant serves pizza fired in a stone oven. It has a nice view of the Maria Treu plaza, with outdoor seating in the summer.

• Konoba

  phone: +43-1-9294111
  address: Lerchenfelder Strasse 66-68
  The delicious aromas of garlic and grilled fish invite the passerby into this Croatian seafood restaurant.

• Prinz Ferdinand

  phone: +43 1 40 29 417
  address: Bennoplatz 2
  An Austrian Beisl that serves good food and even some vegetarian options.

Splurge

• Sakai

  phone: +43 1 729 6541
  address: Florianigasse 36
  Hiroshi Sakai, previously the chef of Unkai, opened this Japanese Kappo restaurant in 2013. Diners can choose from multiple courses, or enjoy the sushi brunch on Sundays. Particularly recommended are the agedashitofu, dashi and kani toujimushi, all served in small handmade porcelain dishes. The diverse menu varies seasonally, offering a great impression of the breadth of Japanese cuisine.

• Schnattl

  phone: +43 1 405 34 00
  address: Lange Gasse 40
  For more than 25 years the restaurant has been serving Viennese and international cuisine of a high standard.

• Speisekammer

  phone: +43 680 440 63 38
  address: Tigergasse 31
  A small new fancy underground restaurant, with a rotating roster of young chefs who prepare freely-improvised dishes. A special feature is the surprise menu (Überraschungsmenu), where you can choose the ingredients of your meal, but not the manner of preparation.

During day there are several cafés to choose from and during night interesting club.

Cafés

The Cafés in Josefstadt are mostly visited by Viennese locals as this district is not so touristy. Nevertheless with Café Eiles or Cafe der Provinz and Café Florianihof it features both a very traditional or also very young and modern ones that are worth the visit.

• Cafe der Provinz

  phone: +43 1 9442272
  address: Maria-Treu-Gasse 3
  Cute little coffee place sells mostly organic products. Serves breakfast, gallettes, and crêpes.

• Café Eiles

  phone: +43 1 405 34 10
  address: Josefstädter Straße 2
  This café has been operating since 1840, when the building was completed. The interior dates from the last redesign in 1933.

• Café Florianihof

  phone: +43 1 402 48 42
  address: Florianigasse 45
  A very popular café that has been redecorated. It serves good food with many vegetarian options for fair prices and typical Austrian desserts like "Topfen-knöderl" or "Powiderl-Tascherl". Free Wi-Fi. Most of the places are non-smoking.

• Café Merkur

  phone: +43 1 990 54 13
  address: Florianigasse 18
  On Saturdays and Sundays offers breakfast almost all day. Due to its good prices it is a popular hang-out for students. Has Wi-Fi access.

• Kaffeemodul

  phone: +43 680 2228039
  address: Josefstädter Straße 35
  A tiny coffee gem in Vienna, easily overlooked by passersby, with very skilled baristas.

• People on Caffeine

  address: Schlösslgasse 21
  Hidden away in a former Catholic sacristy, this café offers fair trade and special roasted coffee. Serves espresso and many of the newer filtered coffee styles.

Nightlife

As Josefstadt is a residential area most of the night life (disregarding the collegiate Tunnel) is on its border at the Gürtel. B72, Chelsea and the experimental Rhiz clubs play a big part of Vienna's night life.

• Gürtel

  address: Josephstädter Straße
  Many bars and music-oriented venues are under the elevated subway tracks.

• B72

  phone: +43 1 409 21 28
  address: U-Bahn Bogen 72, Josefstadt
  The bar also serves as a venue for hip hop and modern music concerts.

• Chelsea

  phone: +43 1 407 93 09
  address: Lerchenfelderguertel/U-Bahnboegen 29-31
  Serving a wide range of international beers, this popular place is often fully-packed.

• Rhiz

  phone: +43 1 409 25 05
  address: U-Bahn Bogen 37–38
  Rhiz promotes experimental music for an alternative audience; it's well worth checking out the online program of upcoming concerts. This bar tends to be particularly smoky.

Although primarily an upscale and traditional residential district, Josefstadt is a good choice for accommodation for both tourists and business travellers, as it is centrally located and almost all the main sights in Vienna are within walking distance.

Budget

Mid-range

• Hotel Graf Stadion

  phone: +43 1 4055284
  address: Buchfeldgasse 5
  The house was built in the Biedermeier Epoche style in 1824/1825 and is registered as a historic monument; it has been run as a hotel since 1897. 39 singles and doubles with bath with shower/WC, hair dryer, clothesline, SAT-Flatscreen-TV, radio, telephone and free WLAN in the entire hotel.

• Mercure Josefshof Vienna

  phone: +43 1 404 19
  address: Josefsgasse 4-6
  The hotel is located on a quiet side street. It provides free Wi-Fi and has a small basement garage for cars.

• The Levante Laudon

  phone: +43 1 407 13 70-0
  address: Laudongasse 8
  Rents apartments on a quiet street behind the city hall (Rathaus). All apartments have a usable small kitchen; the two-room apartments have separated living rooms and bedrooms. Perfectly suitable for families.

• Hotel Zipser

  phone: +43 1 404 54-0
  address: Lange Gasse 49
  The Jugendstil hotel in the centre of Vienna is a family-run business, and offers special rates for families.

Splurge

• The Levante Parliament

  phone: +43 1 228 28 - 0
  address: Auerspergstrasse 9
  The centrally-located boutique hotel has a beautiful atrium and the Nemtoi Restaurant-Bar. Has free Wi-Fi, as well as fitness and spa rooms.

• Innere Stadt is the central town district.
• Neubau is an inner district to the south.
• Alsergrund is an inner district to the north.
• Vienna/Outer West lists outer districts to the west.