It's not just the tables in the restaurants, terraces and pavement cafés that are ready, summer nightlife has also awoken. Falstaff knows where this year's open-air toast will be held.
The early start to summer means that the "al-fresco" season starts early for the Viennese this year. Since the end of March, toasts have been served in the restaurant gardens, and now the night-time gastronomy is following suit. Open-air venues for night owls have positioned themselves with new offers to attract the after-work crowd to their terraces. Falstaff has already listed the most beautiful rooftop locations here, and there are also lots of new things on Copa Beach, so now we're turning our attention to popular outdoor hotspots in the countryside and by the water.
Conjuring up the boho flair of Ibiza or Marbella on the banks of the Danube in Vienna is no easy task. But this is precisely the task that the "One Life Group" around trendy restaurateur Joachim Natschläger has taken on. Since last summer, the Maya Garden on Handelskai has been attracting visitors with a beach club feeling. On the bookable cabanas, guests can sip cocktails inspired by Mayan deities and enjoy the view of the water in a sophisticated way. Culinary diversity reigns in the restaurant: the menu ranges from orange carpaccio to burgers, but the focus is on grilled specialties and fish. True to the international beach club role models, well-known DJs are regularly on the program.
This year, Vienna's after-work scene will gather for the sixth summer in the Kleinod Stadtgarten on the Bombay Sapphire terrace. It's not just the location that attracts the public, it's above all the drinks that make the summer branch of the bar institution a hotspot for cocktail lovers – after all, professionals are at work here. The tried-and-tested collaboration with "l'autentico" founders Andre and Sandro Gargiulo is also being extended this year. For two years now, original Neapolitan pizza has been served "al fresco" from the fireclay oven. Thanks to the recently redesigned pavilion, you can party to the sounds of DJs even in the summer rain.
Not so much a party hotspot, but all the more a culinary oasis of calm: at Klee am Hanslteich, you can eat and enjoy your meal right by the water – surrounded by greenery. Not only Mediterranean food is served, Austrian cuisine is also on the menu. There is a wooden awning on the terrace, which can also be transformed into a closed room in the event of a sudden change in the weather. In the winter garden you can also enjoy the ambience right on the water after the summer, daily until midnight. The perfect spot for a romantic dinner or an atmospheric lunch with friends.
"Come as you are": A more relaxed alternative for afternoons or evenings with less of a chi-chi factor is a stop at "Der Garten" in the Prater. In addition to street food classics such as tacos and burgers, the focus here is primarily on sport, for example on the beach volleyball court. Speaking of sport: from mid-June, the European Football Championship will be open to the public.
The university campus/old AKH has a similar gastronomic focus. For those who like things a little more down-to-earth, but like to draw from the full range of culinary delights, a wide selection awaits them again this year in the Salettl on campus. In addition to currywurst, BBQ and burgers, there are also plant-based options for vegans. The outdoor location in the middle of Vienna's ninth district attracts visitors with palm trees, a sandy beach, sun loungers and a large garden. From organic wines to cocktails, afterwork can be enjoyed in a very casual way. European Championship fever will also break out here from mid-June.
After the major renovation work in 2022, the jewel of "Schloss Cobenzl" presented itself as a retro restaurant high above the city, with equally high culinary standards. After the change of operator at the end of March, not much should change for visitors to the Rondell Café. The "DoN-Group" has taken over the hotspot at Cobenzl and intends to continue with the existing concept. New accents are only set selectively, for example with a new ice cream menu. "Wienerwald Matcha Porridge" is served for breakfast, with boiled beef and char as the main course. Drinks with a view of Vienna can be enjoyed daily until 22:00.
A classic of the Viennese open-air party scene, the Volksgarten Pavillon, awaits the after-work crowd once again this year. With a dense DJ program, including fixed starters such as the "Techno Café" or the "Salon im Grünen". When hungry, guests can expect Jamaican-inspired grilled specialties, steaks, cheeseburgers and salads. A long sundowner and wine list rounds off the offer.
