Sausage Stands in Vienna

Viennese sausage stands belong to Vienna. New creations, coupled with exceptional variety and top quality have revived the Viennese sausage-eating traditions. Whether at midday or midnight – the nearest sausage stand isn't far away. We tell you where the get the best and hottest sausages.

“Sweet (süss) or spicy (scharf)?” is the standard question you will get asked when ordering from a Viennese sausage stand. This has nothing to do with making a choice between Sachertorte or Käsekrainer, but refers to your mustard preference – whether the mild sweet Kremser or spicy hot Estragon. Incidentally, the Käsekrainer is an Austrian invention and a traditional classic. It is a lightly smoked pork sausage with 10-20% cheese content. The city’s sausage stands – mostly small sidewalk kiosks – sell not only hot dogs but also wieners, Käsekrainer and fried sausage, and as well as a whole range of culinary surprises. They are complemented by an impressive variety of beverages from raspberry pop to specialty beers.

Sausage stands are as much a part of Vienna as apple strudel or St. Stephen's Cathedral. The small sausage stands on busy street corners are the first port of call for a quick snack on the go, or to satisfy that ravenous post-party hunger.

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Sausage with garnishes — © WienTourismus/Paul Bauer

woman preparing sausage — © WienTourismus/Peter Rigaud

People at a sausage stand — © WienTourismus/Peter Rigaud

Sausages — © WienTourismus / Peter Rigaud

Viennese sausage stand — © WienTourismus/Peter Rigaud

One of the popular stands is the legendary “Würstelstand am Hohen Markt” located on a traffic island in the heart of Vienna’s old city. During the day it is the ideal place to grab a quick snack while shopping or sightseeing. However, it owes its cult status to its late night opening hours and the diversity of its night owl clientele. It is nothing unusual for bankers to be seen eating shoulder-to-shoulder with punks.

The Bitzinger sausage stands on Albertinaplatz and near the Giant Ferris Wheel are among the best-known sausage stands in Vienna. Choose between a delicious Bosna, hot dog or Käsekrainer and a range of traditional side orders. Draft beer, bottled wine or champagne are also on.

The "sharpest" sausage stand in the city is called "Zum scharfen Rene". The name says it all. The fine selection of sausages here are served with the sharpest chili mixtures and an award-winning, home-made curry sauce.

Dine like an emperor at the Kaiserzeit Sausage Stand. In addition to the traditional offering of sausages, including the multi-award winning Blunzn (blood sausage), there are also local delicacies such as goulash soup and Altwiener Suppentopf, which you wouldn’t normally expect to find at a sausage stand.

Würstelstand LEO is Vienna's oldest sausage stand. The Big Mama is legendary - a giant cheese sausage for the really hungry. There is also a large selection of hot dogs.

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A sausage stand with seating furniture in front of it — Wiener Würstelstand: The city’s first certified organic sausage stand serves the very best that the sausage world has to offer. – © Paul Bauer

Hot dog on a table — The Bologna WÜ – a hot dog with fennel salsiccia – and the homemade Rohscheiben (somewhere between potato chips and potato slices) are a hit. – © Paul Bauer

Wiener Würstelstand, Spittelau, evening, customers — Wiener Würstelstand at Spittelau – © Joep Schrijver

A sausage stand, in front of it a couple sitting at a table — Hermann’s Würstelstand: This sausage stand has been around for over 30 years. Located in an underground garage, it has a genuinely unique ambience. – © Paul Bauer

Two hands wrapping a Bosna sausage in a napkin — Culinary tip: Hermann’s Bosna – from classic to vegan. – © Paul Bauer

Guests in front of a sausage stand with parasol — More than just sausages: expect the odd queue for sausages, hot dogs, beef tatar, calamari fritti and even champagne and caviar – but it’s worth the wait. – © Paul Bauer

Steak tartare with toast — Alles Wurscht: Steak tartare and calamari fritti – © Paul Bauer

A couple in front of a Viennese sausage stand — Sausage stand LEO: The Big Mama is for two – a giant Käsekrainer with accompaniments for when you're really super hungry. – © Paul Bauer

A cut sausage is handed over the counter — And if a snack is all it takes, then the loaded pretzel hot dogs are the perfect choice. – © Paul Bauer

A sausage stand, people in front of it, in the background the dome of the Karlskirche (Church of St. Charles) — Zum scharfen René: Owner René Kachlir stands behind the grill here… – © WienTourismus/Paul Bauer

Sliced sausage with pepperoni on a paper plate — ... and supplies the courageous with one of the hottest chili offerings in the city, home-made sauces, and, of course, sausage. – © WienTourismus/Paul Bauer

Wiener Würstelstand: The city’s first certified organic sausage stand serves the very best that the sausage world has to offer. – © Paul Bauer

The Bologna WÜ – a hot dog with fennel salsiccia – and the homemade Rohscheiben (somewhere between potato chips and potato slices) are a hit. – © Paul Bauer

Wiener Würstelstand at Spittelau – © Joep Schrijver

Hermann’s Würstelstand: This sausage stand has been around for over 30 years. Located in an underground garage, it has a genuinely unique ambience. – © Paul Bauer

Culinary tip: Hermann’s Bosna – from classic to vegan. – © Paul Bauer

More than just sausages: expect the odd queue for sausages, hot dogs, beef tatar, calamari fritti and even champagne and caviar – but it’s worth the wait. – © Paul Bauer

Alles Wurscht: Steak tartare and calamari fritti – © Paul Bauer

Sausage stand LEO: The Big Mama is for two – a giant Käsekrainer with accompaniments for when you're really super hungry. – © Paul Bauer

And if a snack is all it takes, then the loaded pretzel hot dogs are the perfect choice. – © Paul Bauer

Zum scharfen René: Owner René Kachlir stands behind the grill here… – © WienTourismus/Paul Bauer

... and supplies the courageous with one of the hottest chili offerings in the city, home-made sauces, and, of course, sausage. – © WienTourismus/Paul Bauer

The Wiener Würstelstand (Viennese sausage stand) even comes with a seal of organic quality. The first organically certified sausage stand is located in the 8th district. Particularly popular are the organic sausages and Bosna, also available in a vegan option. Our insider tip is the Bologna Wü hotdog, which comes with sautéed fennel salsiccia, rocket and olive tapenade. A second Wiener sausage stand has opened on the Platte near the subway junction of the U4 and U6 at Spittelau, where DJs sometimes even add their music to the ambience.

Extrawürstel on Taborstraße also focuses on offering high-quality snacks as well as specialties such as Kimchi Bosna. Its menu also includes vegetarian and vegan options.

Alles Wurscht is far from being just a normal sausage stand. The quality and preparation of the sausages are a world apart. The fermented accompaniments like kimchi are home-made, of course. And if you don't fancy sausage or meatloaf, you can order calamari fritti, truffled potatoes or steak tartare. These are also a hit because the operator of the sausage stand is an award-winning chef.

The trend towards vegan cuisine doesn't stop at the sausage stand either. Eh Wurst, the first fully vegan sausage bar, offers Bosna sausage made with mushrooms, currywurst made with seitan, and Leberkäse meatloaf made with pea protein from local suppliers.