Words & Pictures by Shaun Troke
Because of an unwanted public transport fine (read more about that here), I found solace in the Viennese district of Mariahilf.
With no money to spend on sightseeing, any remaining cash was spent in businesses in this area…
Which allowed me to indulge in some of the nicest & reasonably priced food & drinks I had while in Vienna.
SEGAFREDO
Despite its bad reviews on Google (about unpleasant staff members), I still returned to Segafredo a second time.
Segafredo was the first place I visited while in Mariahilf…
And firstly, I feel it’s best to state that the staff member I met (both times) was very pleasant!
It’s a venue frequented by locals, and, it’s definitely one of those places you’ll become known by the staff & locals, if you pop in here more than once.
Within minutes of arriving the first time, I’d made contact with a local, sat on the table beside mine, who also recommended the Hot Chocolate & Rum drink (pictured).
The drinks are well priced in Segafredo, yet my only criticism is the smoky atmosphere (if you’re a non-smoker).
BLACK DOGS COFFEE
I stumbled into this small cafe late one evening…
And, when I use the word ‘small‘, I truly mean SMALL!
Seating up to 10 people only, this cosy & intimate environment serves an assortment of hot drinks, along with local brewery beers.
It’s a family-run business, born in October 2017, and one of the owners I met – Max – is well-travelled, too.
The interior is well-built, with an extremely modern design…
And, they’ve also a No Smoking policy – whereas many Viennese establishments still allow smoking, Black Dogs Coffee makes sure you don’t go home with smelly clothes!
Plus, they’ve a Loyalty Card, too – if you’re in Mariahilf for a few days, buy 8 coffees at Black Dogs, and you’ll get a 9th free!
ZUM HAGENTHALER
A visit to Vienna wouldn’t be complete without trying their most traditional dish: the Wiener Schnitzel.
Recommended by Max the Manager of nearby Black Dogs Coffee, Zum Hagenthaler has a massive menu of meals, all at really good prices (the menus come in a variety of languages, too).
What’s also helpful is that this large restaurant has separated Smoking and No Smoking sections, with the latter being a lot smaller in size, and a lot more crowded, too…
So, I decided to sit in the quieter, larger Smoking area as a non-smoker…
Fortunately, there were only two other people dining in there, so my clothes still smelt ok.
I didn’t realise a Wiener Schnitzel would be so expensive, though!
While eating the potato salad they serve beforehand, you can hear them pounding the meat in the kitchen! This somewhat excited me, believing that this traditional dish would taste awesome…
However, I have to reveal that I wasn’t a huge fan of it:
A little tasteless, and the mouthfuls appeared to contain more bread than meat.
I’m pleased to have experienced a Wiener Schnitzel, and, I’m pleased to have experienced this restaurant…
And, I would return again to try more dishes on their menu!
AIDA
Looking for dessert to follow dinner?
Like the Wiener Schnitzel, it’s compulsory to try Sachertorte cake while in Vienna!
My original plan was to try this dessert at its namesake & place of origin – Sacher Cafes – but Wiener Linien certainly took that option away from me, meaning I had to find a cheaper cafe to try this cake.
Fortunately, there’s many Aida’s in Vienna, and, what’s even more fortunate, there was one in Mariahilf!
LE BACKO
Last but definitely not least is the restaurant I dined at THREE TIMES in total!
Le Backo is a lovely open-plan restaurant, which creates a peaceful atmosphere, allowing for a perfect environment to relax & dine in (and, even read & write in, too!)
The staff speak great English, and, I feel it could be a family business (though, I can’t officially confirm this)…
And, the menu is expansive!
From rich Italian dishes (such as Risotto and Carbonara) to traditional Viennese dishes (such as Wiener Schnitzel), the food is presented well, and, it tastes like you’d expect it to (great, in other words!)
It’s also worth knowing that Le Backo has a happy hour, serving €4.90 cocktails, Monday to Saturday only!
LOWER BUDGET OPTIONS
HOFFA
If your finances are extremely tight, and, you’re staying in self-catering accommodation, there’s a convenient supermarket on the main street in Mariahilf: Hoffa…
Which I think this is the Austrian equivalent of Aldi!
McDONALD’S
The Travel Tab’s food article wouldn’t be complete without a traditional McDonald’s report…
And, the Viennese (and possibly Austrian) speciality burger from McDonald’s is called…the McFirst!
I’m very unaware about how this burger gained its title…
Yet overall, it tasted similar to a Big Mac.
MARIAHILF
Mariahilf is a fantastic area!
If you won’t take my word for it, then maybe it’s past residents will convince you: Ludwig Van Beethoven, and…errr…Adolf Hitler…?
OK, maybe the latter isn’t the best example to use…
But, Mariahilf is definitely an area I’d return to, should I visit Vienna again. There’s so much more to explore in Mariahilf – I only tackled one small area of this district, so there’s much I didn’t even see…
Mariahilf can be reached by disembarking at the Westbahnhof Railway Station (remember to validate your ticket, though!), and, all of the places listed above can be walked to in a few minutes!