Please review my Vienna lunch/dinner itinerary (Hi Sturmi!)

[eviemichael]

I am honeymooning in Prague and Vienna this January. Future husband-to-be and I are very excited!
We will only be in Vienna 3 days and 2 nights, at either the Imperial or Sacher hotel (can't decide!).

We're planning to have cozy Beisl lunches and then more formal dinners.

Day #1 Friday

Lunch- Rudi Beisl or Eckel? Where is Eckel located?

Dinner- Steirereck before going to Jazzland

Day #2 Saturday

Lunch- Wratschko

Dinner- Silvio Nickol at Palais Coburg after Musikvarain

Day #3 Sunday

Lunch-Anna Sacher? We can't be far from the center for lunch because we'll have to leave for our flight soon after. Maybe we'll just do the hotel brunch...

I also very much want to get the Salmbrau Sausage near the Opera! Ohhhh can't wait!

Any suggestions/revisions oh wise Sturmi and other chowhounds?? :)

Are Rudi Beisl and Wratschko close to the center of Vienna?

[kukubura]

Have you posted a Prague itinerary? If so I can't find it. If you really want a unique splurge, La Degustation is something special. And if you request the chef's table you'll sit at a two seat counter at the kitchen and watch the little masterpieces being created.

Also, Rudi Beisl is terrific. And I don't know how formal of a lunch you were planning at Zum Schwarzen Kameel but we sat at the bar and had plates of their beautiful little canapes with their own house wine and thought it was perfect.

(lots of pics from VIenna and Prague (and Krakow) here: http://tastytrix.blogspot.com/search/... )

[Sturmi]

Kukubura, your pics are formidable !!

All these closeups of the canapees at Schwarzes Kameel should convince eviemichael to get lunch there !!

[eviemichael]

One more question- how soon is too soon for most restaurants to book? Is 2 months still too soon?
I already reserved Steirereck and Silvio Nickol, but I'm thinking of calling Rudi Beisl, etc..

[Sturmi]

Just try and call them. Especially Rudi´s Beisl is a very small place and heavily booked by regulars.

They will tell you if they do not accept very early bookings...

[eviemichael]

Will do, thanks :)

[eviemichael]

Hi kukubura, I've really enjoyed your blog.
I did not make a Prague itinerary because I've been there many times and already know which staples I want to return to, and which new restaurants I'd like to try...La Degustation is one of them! We already made our reservation in fact.

I am so looking forward to all the gluttony! I think I'm most excited about the sausage street food to be honest. ;)

[Sturmi]

Hello Eviemichael,

Here are some answers:

Rudi´s Beils is a small bistro, located on one of the main streets crossing the district Wieden. It is quite close to the center, but not within walking distance. Take a taxi or a tram, you will get there within 5 to 10 minutes. Wratschko is the same category and distance, only a little bit more seedy, down-to-the-earth. I would prefer Rudi´s Beisl, but you really need a reservation !!

Eckel is a bourgeois restaurant, definitely a class higher than Rudi and Wratschko. There used to be dozens of this kind, but all have vanished, Eckel is the last of its kind. It is located in Sievering, which is in the suburbs and might take a taxi ride of 15 to 20 minutes, depending on the time of the day. Eckel is special for its atmosphere, just like Zum Schwarzen Kameel and Anna Sacher. All these places offer traditional Viennese ambiente and cuisine, expertly made, but without any inventive variations. Still, you get what you pay for ...

Steirereck and Silvio Nickol: very good choices !! Just keep in mind that these two high-end places offer six-course tasting menues which might take the whole evening.
And: Jazzland will be crowded when you arrive late, and there is no possibility for a reservation, but you can have a - very simple- dinner right there. http://www.jazzland.at/e_index.htm
And Silvio Nickol closes at 10 p.m., so you might not get a late reservation after Musikverein...

Sunday lunch: Anna Sacher might be a good idea. I have never been there for lunch, but they are open on Sunday for lunch, and there are only few alternatives available...

One more thing: the Salmbräu is NOT near the Opera !. It is located on Rennweg, close to the Belvedere palace. http://www.salmbraeu.com/index.php?id...

Hotel: Sacher and Imperial are both wonderful hotels. The Imperial is even more old-fashioned and "gemütlich".

[eviemichael]

Thanks so much for all the info! This is a huge help. Im usually more prepared as to researching the locations of restaurants, but the wedding plans have taken up most of my extra time. :-/

I will definitely make reservations in advance to ensure we get a table.

Should I go to Eckel or Zum Schwarzen Kameel on Saturday for lunch instead of Wratchko? I saw Wratschko on Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations show and the food looked excellent!

On Friday, I thought if we go to Steirereck at 6pm to eat, we would be at Jazzland by 9. Should we just have dinner at Jazzland? Is the food any good?

We will be done at the Musikvarain at 9 at night- if we get to Silvio Nickol at 9:15 won't that be OK? Or do they not accept seating close to 10pm? I will call them and ask.

Too much to eat/do in so few days :-/

For a romantic honeymoon, which hotel would you choose? :)

[Sturmi]

Zum Schwarzen Kameel is packed for saturday lunch, this is real fun and lunching there will make you feel to be at the center of the - Viennese - cosmos !! Get a reservation in time...

Eckel is too far away for a nice lunch, I would consider Eckel for a dinner, but you are already booked for all the dinners, so: next time !!

Wratschko ist just another beisl. Really not that special. You can get the same kind of food right in the old city, when you go to Beim Czaak, Beim Scherer, Zum Ofenloch, Müllersbeisl, Huth, Pfudl or Reinthalers Beisl. This is a lively scene, and a beisl like Wratschko can be found almost in every corner of Vienna. For example: We will have a Martinigansl (goose with red cabbage, cranberry sauce and potatoe dumplings, the Austrian version of a Thanksgiving turkey. Contrary to American customs, nobody will do this at home, this is a beisl food: Martinigansl is served EVERYWHERE around November 11, St.Martins day) tomorrow at Heidinger´s Gasthaus in ah hidden corner of Schmelz quarter, a real gem for beisl lovers, but far out of the way for any tourist staying in the city center... http://www.heidingers.at/

It does not make much difference whether you choose Sacher or Imperial for your stay, alternatives would be the Hotel Bristol or the Hotel Triest (Triest is where all the popstars stay, since it is a design hotel by Sir Terence Conran).

I like the Hotel Imperial, since it is really old-world-splendor awaiting renovation. Imperial has the feel of a good old bespoke shoe, of an oldtimer Rolls, and still, you will feel at home immediately...

[eviemichael]

I just booked with Silvio Nickol, they said as long as we arrive at 9:15 (and not a minute later) :) we would be able to partake in the 6 course. They close at 10:30 but I got the impression they wouldn't be rushing us.

Now I wonder if we can squeeze Steirereck in before Jazzland!

[Sturmi]

I would dine at Steirereck and then just drop in at Jazzland, The food at Jazzland is just average chow to fill the stomach, nothing you will remember. When you arrive after Steirereck the Jazzland might already be closing, but there might also be a jam session lasting until the early morning. Hard to plan, take your chance !!

[eviemichael]

Thank you again for your help and advice!

We are music lovers so depending on the program for Jazzland that night....I can't make my decision yet. My love for music and food will have to battle it out somehow! :)

Ok, Wratschko and Eckel are off the list.

If we don't do Zum Schwarzen Kameel are there any other Saturday lunch spots you'd recommend?
Since Fri and Sat nights we will be dining formally, I'd like to get a taste of traditional home cooking Viennese style for lunch.

Should I keep Rudi Beisl for Friday lunch or replace that as well?

[Sturmi]

Please keep Rudis Beisl for Friday lunch ! You will like it.

When not lunching on Saturday at Schwarzes Kameel I would suggest either Gasthaus Pöschl (former Immervoll) on Weihburggasse or one of the Kaffeehäuser, such as the Cafe Engländer, the Cafe Diglas, the Cafe Frauenhuber, the Cafe Bräunerhof, the Tirolerhof , the Cafe Korb, The Cafe Markusplatz, the Cafe Landtmann, etc., etc...

Gasthaus Pöschl will need a reservation, but at most of the Kaffeehäuser a reservation is NOT a must, you simply drop in.

[eviemichael]

Ok I'll definitely keep Rudi's Beisl! Thanks so much for your suggestions, I appreciate it. I will look into the cafe's for Saturday lunch and also will keep Schwarzes Kameel as an option! :-)
We realized we have to leave for the airport at 12:45 on Sunday so we may just pop into Cafe Mozart for an early Sunday lunch- should we go to a different cafe instead?

[Sturmi]

Depends where you stay. If you stay at Hotel Sacher, Cafe Mozart is just around the corner. If you booked the Imperial, it is quite a walk to Cafe Mozart, so why not lunch at the Cafe Imperial ? The Kaffeehaus at the Hotel Imperial is a hidden gem, with an authentic ambiente and nice food !!

[eviemichael]

Sounds good. Once I manage to decide on the hotel, I'll plan accordingly.
Thanks again!
I'll definitely report back with our experiences.