Insider tips for Vienna from Henriette City Hotel

09:00 Good morning Vienna

For a change, I can sleep late today. Instead of the alarm-clock, it’s the sun shining on my face that wakens me. Good morning, Vienna! My perfect free day commences with a strong mocha served in bed and the message coming from my hotel that everything is okay.

10:00 Brunch

My girl-friend and I love brunching. Beyond our favorite places such as the Breakfast Club in the 4th district (very special atmosphere and a great choice) and “Café Europa” in the 7th district (fine music, spectacular spreads, many vegetables, and really good jams), we use to look for suggestions at www.diefruehstueckerinnen.at. For this once, we go for the perfect egg at the “Classic-Brunch” at “Bunkerei” within the tradition-rich Augarten Park. After a ten-minute walk to Karmelitermarkt, we indulge ourselves with the perfect “Melange”. I love this little market in the vicinity of my hotel. It’s seriously cult: orthodox Jews with their typical hair locks pursue their business, while yuppies enjoy the refined cuisine, and old-established Viennese people seem to belong to the market inventory.

14:00 A walk

In the course of a short promenade, we stop by the hotel. Another perfect mocha in the lobby (sure, I know I drink too much coffee) – everything is okay, so let’s move on.

14:30 The Danube calls

The water attracts us. We surrender the Danube Island, Vienna’s huge green paradise in the midst of the Danube, to inline skaters, runners, swimmers, nudists, and sun worshippers and rent a sailboat at Hofbauer on Old Danube. Well, that’s Vienna: sailing through the green in the midst of the city, with a view over the UNO City! I just love it. It’s equally funny with a paddleboat or a power boat. Old Danube is particularly romantic during  full moons, just rent a boat, glide through the water, and enjoy your picnic basket.

16:30 To the Lusthaus

We promenade on Prater Hauptallee towards Lusthaus. The former hunting seat of the Emperor and, later on, amusement venue of Viennese high society still radiates the atmosphere of the 19th century. There is no better apple strudel anywhere. Then we enjoy the last rays of sunshine at Prater’s Jesuitenwiese, the former game reserve of the Emperor. We deliberate whether to spend the evening at “Pratersauna” or “Fluc” at Praterstern. Both venues are real musts for partiers.

19:00 The perfect Schnitzel – my insider tip in Vienna

I feel some stomach rumbles. Close to Hotel Capri, there is one of our favorite inns: “Gasthaus Nestroy”. I confess I love schnitzel and there they serve the perfect schnitzel – crispy and fine. Wonderful.

20:30 Going out in Vienna

Revitalized, we continue strolling via Praterstraße towards the Danube Canal to “Motto am Fluss” at the new landing stage for the ship to Bratislava. “Motto am Fluss” is a hip restaurant, a cool bar, an atmospheric coffee house, and a relaxed sun deck at the same time; and to us, it’s the ideal place to experience the city at nightfall: lights come on and are reflected in the Danube Canal, St. Stephen’s Cathedral is ablaze with light, and at Schwedenplatz and along the Danube Canal, night owls course through. We enjoy our spritzer and glance at “Falter” (newspaper with the best program overview). There is a lot going on today. We’ll probably make a tour from “Herrmanns Strandbar”, pass by the many pretty inns on Danube Canal, and go to the “Flex” (cult disco) or the “Summerstage” (slightly more elegant). Alternatively: we maintain a proper style and indulge ourselves with some more cocktails at the American Bar designed by famous art nouveau architect Adolf Loos. After that, we’ll deserve a cheese sausage at Vienna’s best wurst stand at Hoher Markt!

Even if you stay up all night: breakfast served from 3 o’clock in the morning until 10 pm at Café Drechsler is legendary and my perfect completion of an intensive day in my beloved Vienna.