When you want to eat and drink with a great view of Vienna from the hilly slopes of the…read moreWilheminenberg ... and also have access to a boat nearby in case the great flood hits Planet Earth and Noah's Ark isn't available, then it's time to head out to the Villa Aurora. Say what? I know that first statement doesn't seem to make sense ... but it does at this quirky restaurant and Gastgarten on a hill in Ottakring. You see ... there is a boat nestled amidst the trees at the Villa Aurora that somehow found its way into the Vienna Woods. And there is a great view ,,, and cool white sofa and chairs outside to enjoy the scenic overlook. Sitting outside on a nice warm day or evening in this rustic atmosphere is especially rewarding here. The wine tastes even better. Inside on rainy or cooler days isn't bad but I wouldn't travel all the way out to Ottakring to do so. If I lived in the neighborhood, perhaps I'd like the restaurant inside as much as I love their outdoor areas. And the food? Well it's not bad but it's on the pricey side - especially their famous cordon bleu. I don't think the food is equal to the ambience however. And it's the ambience and wine that you ultimately came for. Just don't drink too much wine that you wind up getting lost trying to find your way home from here!

I simply adore this place! My husband and I always share the two rolled up Schnitzels, together…read morethey make the perfect meal. The decor is unusual, creative and whimsical. The place has an interesting history which you can read up on in the menu. And they have a wonderful outdoor playground to keep the kids busy. It's no run-of-the-mill swing set, but a sunken ship plus a giant chess set. The service is reliably friendly. I personally only go when I can sit outside because the non-smoking area indoors is rather smokey. But you encounter that problem often enough in Vienna.

I was utterly charmed by this place, and it's one of my favourite restaurant memories ever. I was…read morevisiting Vienna from Los Angeles with friends, and we spent the day at the cemetery nearby - I don't think we would have found this spot otherwise. It's a quaint place: an old-fashioned building, eclectic décor, candlelight, pewter serving platters. We ordered beers, served in tall steins, and plates of schnitzel that the menu said was served with "a potpourri of salads". The schnitzel was AMAZING. It's one of the best meals I had in Europe (and we dined at Michelin star restaurants on our trip). The potato, vegetable, and condiment accompaniments were perfectly paired. The Austrian beer we tried, Edelweiss, was great. Note - the furniture is old. If you're not a bumbling boor, this won't be a problem, but one annoying person in our group thought he'd be cute by dramatically falling back in his chair when I asked him to move so I could take a picture of the empty dining room. The chair wobbled and he thought it was buckling, so he slammed his knees up under the table, knocking over his tall, full beer. I was so embarrassed that the staff had to bring a towel to mop it up, and they declined to replace it for free as his stupidity caused the spill (not that I blame them one bit). He didn't want to add another charge to the bill, so he got to sit and watch us devour that delicious schnitzel with our beers as he stared at an empty glass. Schnitzel with a side of schaedenfreude.

The Concordia Schlössl is an out-of-the-way Viennese treasure. Located down in Simmering across…read morefrom the Zentralfriedhof, this old establishment has lots of charm. For example, the dining rooms don't have electricity - just candlelight in the evening or the natural light coming through a stained glass skylight during the day. On warmer days, there is a large gastgarten outside to take advantage of. And what about the food? Well schnitzel is king here. There are many variations including their own unique cornflake encrusted rolled schnitzel called the Concordia Super Schnitzel. With its lentil, salami, and cheese filling, it's very tasty. Try it! And for dessert - don't miss the Topfen Palatschinken! I don't really know how to translate this into English but don't worry - your taste buds will!! So if you are looking for a unique dining experience in Vienna, put the Concordia Schlössl on your list.

The Stockerwirt is situated in the middle of Austrian countryside. The outside is rather usual,…read morehowever their Wintergarden is glamorous in design with rustic feel and large windows giving a great ambience and connection with the local hilly and grassy landscape. Food and service is surprisingly close to 5 star ranking in a place remote from the city life, although well to do's are represented. Prices are higher but well worth the experience.