The bar scene in Vienna is known for its high quality. In the past ten years there has been an incredible boom in new venues – from the classic American Bar to trendy concept bars. The range of cocktails, long drinks and spirits is considerable; each bar has its specialties and signature drinks. The design of the bars is also quite impressive. Not to mention the numerous hotel bars which serve not only their own hotel guests special drinks.

One of these special hotel bars is the Lvdwig Bar in the boutique-style Hotel Beethoven, right near the Theater an der Wien. Not only is Ludwig van Beethoven, the hotel's namesake, the idea behind a drink, but so is the Secession, and the Suffragettes, the strong women around the turn of the 20th century. The interior of the Lvdwig Bar was designed by the famous architect Gregor Eichinger. An eye-catcher is a long communal table, built as an extension of the bar.

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Speakeasy bars on trend

During Prohibition in the U.S., the only way to enter a bar was through a secret entrance. An international trend has been picking up on the idea again for some years now, and Vienna is no exception. The Chapel bar, for instance, can only be accessed through a door decorated to look like a painting. The cocktails are in keeping with the name and look of the bar, including one called the 10 Commandments. Fitzcarraldo is a speakeasy bar that is quite hidden away and can be accessed via a vending machine in Neubaugasse. Inside, a world of Art Deco furnishings and wallpaper with fanciful jungle plants is revealed. The cocktails are eccentric. Boutique bar Tür 7 is accessed by ringing a doorbell, and it is best to make a reservation by phone too. A living room-style atmosphere awaits the guests. They choose their drinks based on the servers’ recommendations as there is no bar menu.

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Outstanding bar food

Drinks certainly whet the appetite. Those who like to pair cocktails with bar food will find what they’re looking for at Dino’s Apothecary Bar. It is here that Heinz Kaiser, a pharmaceuticals graduate, presents excellent food to accompany his multi-award-winning cocktail creations (served in the sidewalk café in summer). The drinks are infused with herbal ingredients and surprise the palate. The Moby Dick cocktail bar is also known for its bar food and even offers it as a pairing menu to accompany its drinks. The cocktails are transformed into a special experience with homemade liqueurs, infusions and bitters. And for those who want a fully cooked menu to go with their cocktails (or vice versa), a visit to the Hausbar would be well worth it.

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Cuisine style in a cocktail glass

Preserving, pickling and fermenting cocktail ingredients is all the rage. A particularly creative example of this is Bruder, a bar and bistro rolled into one. Hubert Peter, an experimental bartender, goes about his work here. Large preserving jars filled with pickled fruit, roots and homemade liqueurs are dotted around and are by no means just for decoration. The cocktails containing beetroot and horseradish are particularly funky.

What’s more: the boutique bar Tür 7,  the restaurant bar Bruder and the Kleinod Bar were included on the list of World's 50 Best Discovery. This new ranking was published for the first time in 2020 by the organization "World's 50 Best Restaurants & Bars".