Vienna/Mariahilf

Mariahilf contrasts between the more raw areas around the Wien River where the Naschmarkt is. The district covers neighborhoods of bars and other popular bohemian and queer haunts along the Gumpendorfer Straße, and it borders Neubau along Vienna's most popular shopping street Mariahilfer Straße up the hill from the Gumpendorfer Straße.

The underground line is available to the north, the to the south and the to the north on the districts borders.

• Haydnhaus

  phone: +43 1 596 13 07
  address: Haydngasse 19
  Joseph Haydn spent the final twelve years of his life in this home, during which time he composed the oratorios The Creation and The Seasons. The house has been a museum since 1899, and careful restoration has included the small garden, which is now also open to the public.

• Haus des Meeres

  address: Fritz-Grünbaum-Platz 1
  A marvelous zoo, with a rain forest glasshouse, tiny apes, aquariums with sharks, and terrariums with reptiles and venomous snakes. Other highlights include an interesting exhibit of Mediterranean sea life and the aquarium's beloved sea turtle, "Puppi." The apes and birds are allowed to freely mingle with the visitors, but don't attempt to touch or feed them. It is in one of the surviving air raid defense towers from WWII, a so-called Flakturm. During wartime, the building provided fire control for Vienna's anti-aircraft artillery, housed some of the first radar equipment, and is designed to withstand a direct bomb hit, an earthquake, and wind speeds up to an overpressure of ten bar. Its former gun emplacements are now a platform on top affording nice views over the roofs of Vienna.

• Rahlstiege

  address: Rahlgasse
  The staircase connects the Mariahilfer and the Gumpendorfer Strasse. It was built in 1870.

• Kletterzentrum Flakturm

  phone: +43 1 585 47 48
  address: Esterhazypark
  On one side of the 2nd Worldwar bunker there are routes to climb high up until its roof with great views into the roofs of Vienna. The routes are usually hard and require some endurance. The alpine club organises courses for beginners and intermediate. On the other side there are boulder problems set. The outdoor climbing in middle of a historic city makes this a favorite choice for many climbers during the hot season.

• Theater an der Wien

  phone: +43 1 588 30 1010
  address: Linke Wienzeile 6
  This historic theater was founded by Emanuel Schikaneder (best known as Mozart's librettist for The Magic Flute). The building was designed by Franz Jäger, and completed in 1801. Since opening it has been the venue for many historic premieres of opera, theatre, and symphonies; since 2006 it has functioned mostly as an opera house.

• Raimund Theater

  phone: +43 1 58885 (tickets)
  address: Wallgasse 18-20
  Constructed in 1893 as a venue for German folk dramas and plays, the building was later used for operettas. Since 1985 it has hosted German-language and international musicals.

• Apollo Kino

  phone: +43 1 587 96 51
  address: Gumpendorfer Straße 63
  A Cineplexx theater with plenty of choices including original versions. The cinema opened here in 1905. According to seat numbers it is one of the biggest in Vienna.

• Haydn Kino

  phone: +43 1 5872262
  address: Mariahilfer Straße 57
  The theatre projects mostly English films in original version.

• Topkino

  phone: +43 1 2083000
  address: Rahlgasse 1
  During football championships they show the games in one of the cinema theatres. It is screening international artistic productions. For the bar see the drink section.

• NaschmarktThis is the largest of Vienna's 22 market places and provides a unique blend of typical Vienna costumely and oriental flair. Stroll through the market and be part of the amazing ambiance. If you like to cook, you will find all the spices you could possibly want at the Naschmarkt; on offer are regional and exotic fruits and vegetables, cheeses, meats, baked goods, and seafoods, as well as many small restaurants serving Viennese as well as international dishes. The side of the Secession tends to be more touristy and thus more expensive than the side of the Kettenbrueckengasse.

• Naschmarkt Flea Market

  address: Linke Wienzeile
  Need used lederhosen? How about a doner kebab at the Naschmarkt or an Austrian war bond from the first World War? This is the place to go on Saturdays. Pick through the detritus of an imperial society, you never know what you will find hidden under that stack of terrible fuzzy sweaters. Couture gowns, communist medals from all the former Eastern Bloc countries, tobacco pipes, broken pocket watches. Worth at least a full morning. Flea markets are the best possible blend of high and low culture, and a way to truly get to know a city. Walk all the way from the flea market end of the Naschmarkt through the food stalls end to arrive at the Secession building, on the left close to the Karlsplatz metro stop. (It is illegal to export antiquities from Austria, even if you legally buy them at a market.)

• MariahilferstraßeThe longest and most popular shopping avenue in Vienna, featuring all kinds of stores, many flagship stores from international brands, etc. More diverse and cosmopolitan than Kärntner Straße.

• Polyklamott

  phone: +43 1 9690337
  address: Hofmühlgasse 6
  Sells hand-picked second-hand clothes.

• Ciclopia

  phone: +43 1 586 76 33
  address: Stiegengasse 20
  This very fancy Viennese bike shop sells mostly Specialized mountain bikes or Italian road bikes. Their repair center is pricy, but very well known for their quality work. The shop is affiliated with a road racing team. From time to time they organise test rides for their customers.

There is good international cuisine and many restaurants are located in the Mariahilf inner district (Italian, Japanese, Greek, and Turkish food). The Naschmarkt market attracts many tourists, as does the Mariahilfer Strasse. Beware that many restaurants are smoker-friendly, and packed and loud in peak times. Usually better food is found off of the main thoroughfares. During summer people go to the Mariahilfer Strasse for an ice-cream. The budget section lists good value food for tighter budgets.

Budget

• Café Do An

  phone: +43 1 585 82 53
  address: Naschmarkt Stand 412
  Several salats are served. Free Wi-Fi. Usually it is well packed by a "bobo" public.

• Eis-Greissler

  address: Mariahilfer Straße 33
  Seves vegan and interesting ice-cream varieties.

• Natsu I

  phone: +43 1 5812700
  address: Gumpendorfer Straße 45
  Decent sushi.

Mid-range

• Cafe Willendorf

  phone: +43 1 5871789
  address: Linke Wienzeile 102
  The restaurant inside the lesbian and queer "Rosa Lilla Villa" serves good international food.

• Disco Volante

  phone: +43 664 195 25 45
  address: Gumpendorfer Straße 98
  Pizza with just enough and not too many toppings, and very Italian selection. Austrian ingredients, when used, are unusual specialties.

• Kuishimbo

  phone: +43 699 17192355
  address: Linke Wienzeile 40
  The smallest Japanese restaurant in town. All the dishes are homemade, and the owners claim that they pay attention to a proper balance of ingredients – being full can also be healthy. The place is so small that there is no toilet inside, you have to use the one in the Naschmarkt. The udon soups are excellent.

• Mythos

  phone: +43 1 595 25 62
  address: Mariahilferstrasse 111/Webgasse 45
  A nice family-run Greek restaurant, with a good variety of items to choose from.

• Naschmarkt Deli

  phone: +43 1 5850823
  address: Naschmarkt Stand 421–436
  Popular student meet place in Naschmarkt that sells directly sells good food with many vegetarian options directly from the Naschmarkt. The Italian café is recommended. Later in the evenings often a DJ plays.

• Salzberg

  phone: +43 1 581 62 26
  address: Magdalenenstraße 17
  The Salzberg restaurant serves Pongauer Kasnocken, made with special smoked cheese (Räucherkäse) from Salzburg province. There is a large selection of breakfast/brunch choices. The open air patio is on a quiet street.

• Schwarze Katze

  phone: +43 1 5870625
  address: Girardigasse 6
  Georges Dimou, the singer, operates this traditional Greek restaurant.

Splurge

• Fischrestaurant Umar

  phone: +43 1 587 04 56
  address: Naschmarkt Stand 76-79
  Extremely good fish directly from their shop, which is the best and freshest seafood shop in Vienna. Wi-Fi is available. Changing daily lunch menu.

• Neni

  phone: +4315852020
  address: Naschmarkt Stand 510
  The best restaurant on the Naschmarkt with Isrealean carte.

Mariahilf lives up to its bohemian roots and offers good possibilities to go out in classy ways with fair prices.

Cafés

Mariahilf offers a large variety of different cafés from very traditional Viennese ones like Cafe Sperl, Cafe Ritter, and Cafe Jelinek, as well as modern relaxed ones like Phil and Topkino, queer places like Café Savoy, and all-nighters like Café Drechsler.

• Café Drechsler

  phone: +43 1 5812044
  address: Linke Wienzeile 22
  The café is open during nights. It opened in 1919 by Engelbert Drechsler and is a traditional and popular all-night meeting point. It was carefully remodeled in 2007.

• Cafe Jelinek

  phone: +43 1 5974113
  address: Otto-Bauer Gasse 5
  Small coffee place nicely lost in the middle of Mariahilf. In winter the rustic and warm oven is wonderful. In summer one can sit outdoors.

• Cafe Restaurant Gschamster Diener

  phone: +43 1 597 25 28
  address: Stumpergasse 19
  Smaller congenial Viennese café.

• Café Ritter

  phone: +43 1 5878238
  address: Mariahilfer Strasse 73
  A traditional Viennese cafe that is very popular due to its central location on Mariahilfer Strasse.

• Café Savoy

  phone: +43 1 58 11 557
  address: Linke Wienzeile 36
  The queer bar is centered around a big mirror and decorated in Makart style (Makartstil). Free WiFi. The café serves breakfast.

• Café Sperl

  phone: +43 1 586 41 58
  address: Gumpendorferstraße 11
  A very traditional Viennese café, known to be frequented by contemporary Austrian writers including R. Menasse. It offers breakfast, cakes and a great atmosphere. Don't be put off by the Viennese brusqueness of the waiters – if possible counter with Viennese dialect and humor.

• Phil

  phone: +43 1 581 04 89
  address: Gumpendorfer Straße 10-12
  The bar/café sells also books, LPs and its furnture. The Pellini-Espresso is served from a Faema machine. Nice place to have breakfast.

• Topkino

  phone: +43 1 2083000
  address: Rahlgasse 1
  The bar of the cinema has good food too and serves wine and beer in a relaxed atmosphere. Unfortunately only up to 22:00 the bar is non-smoking, soon before people start smoking.

Bars

• Barfly's Club

  address: Esterhazygasse 33
  Big selection of fine and rare bottles.

• Bar Italia

  phone: +43 1 585 28 38
  address: Mariahilferstrasse 19-21
  The Italian styled bar offers many different cocktails. Free Wi-Fi access. The music is primarily jazz and there is a dance floor.

• futuregarden

  phone: +43 1 5852613
  address: Schadekgasse 6
  Tiny little artsy bar, smoking permitted.

• If dogs run free

  phone: +43 1 9132132
  address: Gumpendorferstr. 10
  The stylish and hip bar serves interesting cocktails.

• Joanelli

  address: Gumpendorfer Straße 47
  The bar permits smoking and offers wines and vegan snacks.

• Tanzcafé Jenseits

  phone: +43 1 587 12 33
  address: Nelkengasse 3
  The bar serves good wine, with a popular dance floor (unusual in Vienna). Well-liked by women.

Budget

• Red Carpet Hostel

  phone: +43 1 5979347-100
  address: Bürgerspitalgasse 17-19
  Free WiFi, hostel bar, free welcome drink, shower/toilet in every room, backyard, free luggage storage. 1 Jul-14 Sep.

• Happy Hostel

  phone: +43 1 208 26 18
  address: Kurzgasse 2

Mid-range

• Hotel Kummer

  phone: +43 1 588 95
  address: Mariahilferstraße 71a
  Directly located on Mariahilferstraße.

• Hotel Fuerst Metternich

  phone: +43 1 588 70
  address: Esterhazygasse 33
  The hotel is near Mariahilferstrasse and offers large breakfast. It hosts the Barfly's Club.

Splurge

• Das Tyrol

  phone: +43 1 587 5415
  address: Mariahilferstraße 15
  A small and comfortable hotel.

• Innere Stadt is the central town district.
• Neubau is an inner district to the north.
• Wieden is an inner district to the south.
• Margareten is an inner district to the south.
• Vienna's Outer West.