ILLUSTRATION
TANG YAU HOONG
THEGRANDDAME
of European capitals, Vienna is known and loved
for her splendour and tradition. Old and wise, elegant and refined,
she’s a city that has changed little over the years.
Or so goes the spiel. In fact, a creative young generation is,
right now, waking the city from her nostalgic slumber. Original-
style eateries and inspired boutiques are opening all over the
place, showcasing local talent. Flair is creeping into forgotten
corners, sweeping the layers of dust away.
Even as a resident, it’s become almost impossible to keep up
with it all; but here’s my rough guide. Start early with breakfast
at Corns n’ Pops (
cornsnpops.com
),
a quirky
müsli
bar on
Gumpendorferstrasse in the 6th
bezirk
(
district). Owned by
a young nutritionist, this place allows you to make your own
signature breakfast. Add a
Wiener Melange
(
milky
coffee), and you’ll be ready for the day.
Next up: shopping. But avoidMariahilferstrasse,
where the guidebooks will send you. Head to
Lindengasse and beyond – the heart of the
7
th and epicentre of Austrian design. When
lunchtime hunger strikes, visit Bizzo (
bizzo.
at
),
a cosy restaurant on Zollergasse with vintage furniture and a
menu made up of ingredients sourced from organic Austrian farms.
In the afternoon, head to the 3rd to make a stop at the 21er
Haus (
21
erhaus.at
),
a newly renovated museum and exhibition
space featuring Austrian art from the 20th and 21st centuries.
Just around the corner is Hotel Daniel (
hoteldaniel.com
),
offering
trendsetting accommodation in a post-war building that has
also been spectacularly refurbished. Grab a pick-me-up from its
delicious bakery on the ground floor.
The sun will soon set on your day of exploring new Vienna.
Chase it as it descends upon the city and head across town to the
2
nd to enjoy the otherworldly views, cocktail in hand, from the
massive windows at Le Loft (
sofitel.com
).
Then finish the evening
with dinner and drinks at Motto am Fluss (
motto.at
),
a hip restaurant nearby and right on the Danube
Canal, where you can enjoy the best of new
Austrian cuisine, with nary a schnitzel in sight.
Hard to believe you’ve spent a day in a city
known for its history. The future’s bright.
Kristen blogs at sushiandstrudel.com
Paint the town red
O N T H E
G R O U N D
No longer the stately reserved capital of old, Vienna is becoming a
vibrant, creative hub, says local blogger
Kristen Riedrich
A creative
young generation
is, right now,
waking the city
from her nostaligic slumber
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