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Food tours in Vienna: what to eat and which tour to book
Vienna has a cuisine of its own, shaped by the old Habsburg empire: breaded Wiener Schnitzel, boiled beef (Tafelspitz) with apple-horseradish, paprika goulash from Hungary, dumplings from Bohemia, and a long list of cakes and strudels eaten in coffee houses where you can sit for hours over one coffee. Two everyday institutions matter as much as the restaurants: the Würstelstand sausage stands on street corners, open late, and the Heuriger, the wine taverns in the vineyards on the city's edge where winemakers serve their own new wine with a cold buffet.
Use this page to choose what to eat and where: the dishes, markets and neighbourhoods below say what each does well and when to go. The tours listed are real GetYourGuide listings, with prices as we saw them when we checked; prices and times change, so confirm on the booking page before you pay.
What to eat in Vienna
| Dish | What it is | Where to eat it | Typical price* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wiener Schnitzel | Thin veal escalope, breaded and fried until the coating puffs up, served with lemon and potato salad or parsley potatoes. By law 'Wiener Schnitzel' must be veal; the cheaper pork version is called 'Schnitzel Wiener Art' or 'vom Schwein'. | Traditional restaurants (Beisl) and Gasthäuser across the city, including the inner districts and Neubau, Josefstadt and Leopoldstadt. | roughly €25–35 for veal, €16–22 for pork |
| Boiled beef Tafelspitz | Beef simmered in broth, served with the broth as a soup first, then the meat with apple-horseradish (Apfelkren), chive sauce and fried potatoes (Rösti). | Traditional Viennese restaurants, some of which specialise in boiled beef cuts. | roughly €25–35 |
| Sausage from a street stand Käsekrainer / Burenwurst | Smoked pork sausages from a Würstelstand. The Käsekrainer is filled with small cubes of cheese that melt when grilled; it comes sliced with mustard, a bread roll and often pickles. | Würstelstände on street corners and squares, including the well-known stand beside the Albertina near the State Opera; many stay open late. | roughly €5–7 |
| Goulash Gulasch / Saftgulasch | Viennese beef goulash, cooked long with plenty of onions and paprika until the sauce is thick, served with a bread roll or bread dumpling. Less soupy than Hungarian gulyás. | Beisl restaurants and traditional pubs. | roughly €13–18 |
| Apple strudel Apfelstrudel | Very thin stretched pastry rolled around apples, raisins and cinnamon, served warm with cream or vanilla sauce. | Coffee houses (Kaffeehaus) and pastry shops (Konditorei) throughout the city. | roughly €5–8 a slice |
| Sachertorte | Dense chocolate cake with a thin layer of apricot jam under a dark chocolate glaze, served with unsweetened whipped cream (Schlagobers). The Hotel Sacher and Demel both sell their versions. | Coffee houses and pastry shops; the two famous addresses have long queues. | roughly €6–10 a slice |
| Shredded pancake Kaiserschmarrn | Thick, fluffy pancake torn into pieces in the pan, caramelised with sugar and served with plum compote (Zwetschkenröster) or apple sauce. Often eaten as a main course. | Coffee houses, traditional restaurants and Heurigen. | roughly €11–16 |
| Heuriger buffet Heurigenbuffet | Cold meats, roast pork, spreads such as Liptauer (spiced cheese spread), pickles and bread, ordered by weight at a counter and eaten with the winery's own young wine, often Gemischter Satz. | Heurigen in the wine villages on the city's edge: Grinzing, Nussdorf, Sievering, Neustift am Walde and Stammersdorf. | roughly €15–30 per person for food, plus about €3–5 for a quarter litre of wine |
Where to eat: markets and neighbourhoods
Naschmarkt
Vienna's best-known market, about 1.5 km long along the Wienzeile, with produce, cheese, olives, spices, bakeries and many small restaurants and snack bars from Austrian to Turkish, Middle Eastern and Asian. On Saturdays a flea market sets up at the end towards Kettenbrückengasse.
Karmelitermarkt (Leopoldstadt)
Smaller neighbourhood market in the 2nd district, used by locals, with produce, cafés and a Saturday farmers' market; the area also has kosher shops and restaurants.
Brunnenmarkt (Ottakring)
One of Vienna's longest street markets, along Brunnengasse in the 16th district, with Turkish and Balkan produce, bakeries and grills at local prices, next to the café-lined Yppenplatz.
Heurigen villages (Grinzing, Nussdorf, Stammersdorf)
Wine villages within the city limits where wineries serve their own wine and a cold buffet in gardens. Real Heurigen hang a pine branch over the door ('ausg'steckt') when they are open; Grinzing is the most touristy, Stammersdorf and Neustift are more local.
Inner city coffee houses
The traditional Kaffeehaus, recognised by UNESCO as intangible heritage, with marble tables, newspapers and waiters in jackets. The famous ones in the Innere Stadt have queues; less famous ones nearby are just as traditional.
Würstelstände
Sausage stands scattered across the city, especially near U-Bahn stations and squares, serving Käsekrainer, Bosna (a spiced sausage hot dog) and beer; many open until late at night.
Food tours in Vienna compared
Every tour below is a real listing on GetYourGuide or Viator, checked on 2 Oct 2026. Prices move with season and group size, so treat them as a guide and confirm on the booking page.
| Tour | Length | Price* | Group | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vienna: Wiener Schnitzel and Strudel Cooking Class | 3 hours | from €185 per person | — | Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients. | Check dates |
| Vienna Food and Coffee Tour: Market, Lunch & Street Food | 5.5 hours | from €129 per person | — | Morning people who want to see where locals shop and taste produce at the source. | Check dates |
| Vienna: Naschmarkt Guided Food Tour | 2 hours | from €69 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Vienna: Best of Vienna Food Tour | 2.5 hours | from €135 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Vienna: Food Tour with 5+ stops Food Tasting & Secret Dish | 3 hours | from €111 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Vienna; Cooking Class: Make Schnitzel & Apple Strudel | 3 hours | from €130 per person | — | Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients. | Check dates |
Vienna: Wiener Schnitzel and Strudel Cooking Class
On GetYourGuide · run by Nabiel Michael Elsissi
- Length
- 3 hours
- Price
- from €185 per person
- Rating
- 4.9 ★ from 149 reviews (on 2 Oct 2026)
- Included
- Cooking class with a professional chef Wiener Schnitzel made from tender Austrian veal or chicken (vegan and vegetarian option available upon written request ahead of the class) Homemade heavenly apple strudel Water 1…
- Suits
- Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients.
- Starts
- Please look for the Restaurant Nabiel.
Vienna Food and Coffee Tour: Market, Lunch & Street Food
On GetYourGuide · run by Intrepid Urban Adventures - Europe
- Length
- 5.5 hours
- Price
- from €129 per person
- Rating
- 5.0 ★ from 332 reviews (on 2 Oct 2026)
- Suits
- Morning people who want to see where locals shop and taste produce at the source.
- Starts
- WEIN & CO Wien Stephansplatz
Vienna: Naschmarkt Guided Food Tour
On GetYourGuide · run by Prime Tours
- Length
- 2 hours
- Price
- from €69 per person
- Rating
- 4.5 ★ from 145 reviews (on 2 Oct 2026)
- Included
- Guide Food Surprise on the way Hotel pickup Drinks
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- Kettenbrückengasse, 1050 Wien, Österreich
Vienna: Best of Vienna Food Tour
On GetYourGuide · run by Food Tours Vienna
- Length
- 2.5 hours
- Price
- from €135 per person
- Rating
- 4.6 ★ from 112 reviews (on 2 Oct 2026)
- Included
- All tastings and drinks Guided walking tour Tips
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- Friedrichstraße 12, 1010 Wien, Austria
Vienna: Food Tour with 5+ stops Food Tasting & Secret Dish
On GetYourGuide · run by Secret Food Tours
- Length
- 3 hours
- Price
- from €111 per person
- Rating
- 4.9 ★ from 84 reviews (on 2 Oct 2026)
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
Vienna; Cooking Class: Make Schnitzel & Apple Strudel
On GetYourGuide · run by Schnitzel&Strudel Cooking Classes e.U.
- Length
- 3 hours
- Price
- from €130 per person
- Rating
- 4.8 ★ from 54 reviews (on 2 Oct 2026)
- Included
- All cooking ingredients Recipes Dinner Everything is included, you do not need to bring anything! If available, please bring containers for the leftovers) Transportation to/from the activity Alcoholic beverages Tupper…
- Suits
- Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients.
- Starts
- Neumanngasse 7, 1040 Wien, Österreich
Some links on this page are partner links. If you book through them TonyPlan earns a small commission — the price you pay is exactly the same.
Street food, sit-down or a cooking class?
Street food
Vienna's street food is the Würstelstand: sausages, Leberkäse in a roll, beer and late opening hours. Naschmarkt adds falafel, kebab and snacks, and bakeries sell rolls and pastries. It is cheap and quick, but there is not much more to it than sausages and market snacks.
Sit-down meals
A Beisl (traditional neighbourhood restaurant) is the best place for Schnitzel, goulash and Tafelspitz; many offer a cheaper weekday lunch menu (Mittagsmenü). Coffee houses serve food as well as cake. Heurigen are cheap and relaxed, but check the opening calendar. Bread in a basket on the table may be charged per piece.
Cooking classes
Classes in Vienna usually teach strudel dough, Schnitzel or Sachertorte, sometimes with a meal afterwards. Apple-strudel demonstrations are a common short option; full cooking classes are rarer. Check what you will make and eat before booking.
How much to budget for food
| Style | Per person, per day* |
|---|---|
| Budget (street food, markets) | about €30–45 (bakery breakfast, Würstelstand lunch, cheap Naschmarkt or Mittagsmenü meal) |
| Mid-range (one sit-down meal a day) | about €60–90 (coffee house cake, Beisl dinner with wine) |
| Splurge (tasting menus, wine) | €180+ (tasting menu with wine) |
Vegetarian, halal and gluten-free
Vegetarian & vegan: Workable. Traditional food is meat-heavy, but most restaurants have Käsespätzle (cheese noodles), dumplings, Eierschwammerl (chanterelle) dishes in season, and all the cakes and strudels. Naschmarkt has many vegetarian and Middle Eastern options, and the city has plenty of vegan restaurants.
Halal: Halal kebab, grills and Turkish restaurants are common at Naschmarkt, Brunnenmarkt and in the outer districts such as Ottakring and Favoriten. Traditional Viennese food relies on pork (sausages, pork Schnitzel, Leberkäse, lard in some pastries), so ask; even veal Wiener Schnitzel may be fried in lard, so ask about the cooking fat.
Gluten-free: Hard for traditional food: Schnitzel, dumplings, strudel and most cakes contain gluten. Tafelspitz and many soups can be ordered without bread or dumplings. Many restaurants mark allergens with letter codes on the menu (A = gluten), which makes checking easier.
Food scams and tourist traps to avoid
- Naschmarkt stalls and some restaurants selling olives, spreads, dried fruit, seafood or tasting plates by weight without a clear price, then charging a large sum. Ask for the price per 100 g and the total before they pack anything, and check menu prices before sitting down at Naschmarkt restaurants.
- Bread or pretzels placed on the table are charged per piece, and visitors assume they are free. If you do not want them, ask the waiter to take them away; it is normal and legal, not a scam.
- Restaurants on the busiest streets of the inner city (around Stephansplatz and Kärntner Straße) and 'Heurigen' in Grinzing that run coach-tour evenings, with average food at high prices. Eat a few streets away or in the outer districts, and choose a Heuriger that shows the pine branch and serves its own wine, preferably in Nussdorf, Stammersdorf or Neustift.
- Long queues outside the most famous coffee houses for cake you can find at similar quality elsewhere. Go at opening time, or choose a less famous traditional coffee house; there are dozens in the inner districts.
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Staying near the markets saves time and taxi money — most food tours start in the old centre.
Common questions
Do I need to tip in Vienna?
Yes, a little: round up or add about 5–10% in restaurants and coffee houses. As in Germany, tell the waiter the total you want to pay when you hand over the money, rather than leaving it on the table. At Würstelstände and market counters, rounding up is enough. On food tours, about €5–10 per person is a normal thank-you.
Is street food in Vienna safe?
Yes. Würstelstände, market stalls and snack bars are inspected and sell in large volumes. Vienna's tap water comes from Alpine springs and is very good; ask for 'Leitungswasser' and coffee houses serve a glass of water with every coffee.
How much should I budget for food per day?
On a budget, about €30–45 covers a bakery breakfast, a Würstelstand lunch and a weekday lunch-menu meal. A mid-range day with a coffee-house cake and a Beisl dinner with a glass of wine is about €60–90. Tasting menus at well-known restaurants start around €150 before drinks.
When is the Naschmarkt open?
The Naschmarkt is open Monday to Saturday and closed on Sunday. Stalls usually open early in the morning and close in the early evening, with an earlier close on Saturday; restaurants stay open later. The flea market is on Saturday mornings. Hours vary by stall and change on public holidays, so check before a special trip.
How do I find a real Heuriger?
Look for a bunch of pine branches hung over the door and the sign 'ausg'steckt', which means the winemaker is open and serving their own wine. Many open only for a few weeks at a time, so check the calendar of the wine village before going. Grinzing is the most touristy; Nussdorf, Neustift am Walde and Stammersdorf are more local.
Should I book food tours or restaurants in advance?
In summer, at weekends and during the Christmas market season (mid-November to late December), book small-group tours a few days ahead. Popular Beisl restaurants need a reservation for dinner, especially on Friday and Saturday. Coffee houses do not usually take bookings. Mention dietary needs when you book.
* Prices are approximate, gathered on 2 Oct 2026 from menus, markets and the booking pages linked above. They change with season and exchange rates.