From veganfoodandliving.com
Discover the vibrant vegan side of Austria’s capital city with our ultimate vegan guide to Vienna and find the best plant-based dining experiences, vegan-friendly hotel stays, and must-try vegan twists on iconic Viennese street food
Austrian cuisine stands as a testament to its position at the crossroads of Europe, weaving together diverse culinary traditions from neighbouring regions and historical connections.
The Austro-Hungarian Empire brought Hungarian influences like goulash and paprika-spiced dishes, while Italian impacts are evident in Austria’s coffee culture and pasta dishes.
German traditions contributed significantly to Austria’s bread, sausage, and beer culture. Slavic influences appear in dishes like knödel and strudel, while Jewish and French communities shaped the local pastry tradition with treats like kipferl.
Turkish and Middle Eastern influences, stemming from Ottoman interactions, introduced baklava and influenced Vienna’s renowned coffee culture, like Italy.
With such a diverse underbelly to begin with, it’s no wonder Vienna has emerged as one of Europe’s most vegan-friendly destinations. As of November 2024, the city boasts 36 dedicated vegan restaurants, alongside hundreds of establishments offering plant-based options.
From traditional Austrian cuisine reimagined for vegans to innovative international flavours, Vienna’s iconic Schnitzel is no longer a meal vegans need to pass on. The vegan scene caters to every palate and preference, and believe me, it’s not just sausages.
Vegan restaurants in Vienna
Fine dining
Nestled in Vienna’s textile district, Jola opened its doors in March 2022, bringing a fresh approach to casual fine dining.
The restaurant exclusively offers a carte blanche menu, with their signature “Dinner – An Evening Full of Food” presenting an elaborate ten-course journey through contemporary vegan cuisine.
Casual dining
Gaia Kitchen stands out for its innovative all-vegan Levantine fusion cuisine, creating plant-based versions of Middle Eastern classics. Their menu spans from savoury vegan kebabs and falafel to warming shakshuka, complemented by a thoughtful children’s menu and decadent vegan desserts.
Vevi brings the vibrant flavours of Vietnam to Vienna’s vegan scene, offering an extensive selection of noodle and rice dishes. Their diverse menu features various traditional rolls, and they’ve thoughtfully included vegan nuggets for younger diners.
Located in Vienna’s 8th district, Tisch opened in February 2022, focusing on organic ingredients and traditional Austrian plates, but vegan. The restaurant creates an intimate dining atmosphere and is known for its authentic Viennese flavours.
Imagine breakfast at grandma’s house, if your grandmother was a hip Viennese baker with a flair for vegan cuisine. At Vollpension, real Austrian grandmothers transform a charming brick-lined café into a homey haven, where vintage furnishings set the scene for their legendary cakes and plant-based breakfast spreads. Fair warning: this local gem fills up faster than grandma’s cookie jar.
Craving a plant-based twist on Vienna’s classic schnitzel? Landia‘s vintage-styled dining room serves up homestyle Austrian comfort food that would make your Oma proud, if she cooked vegetarian. Their vegan schnitzel and cordon bleu cooking steal the show, proving that traditional Viennese cuisine doesn’t need meat to shine. It’s no frills, just honest-to-goodness flavour.
Velani proves Austrian comfort food can be just as hearty without the meat. This cosy spot serves up generous portions of plant-based takes on Vienna’s greatest hits – from crispy schnitzels to soul-warming cheese dumpling soup. The warm welcome from the staff matches the home-style cooking, making this spot feel homey.
Follow the dinosaur symbols on the Propeller menu to discover their vegan offerings. This charming café turns the ordinary into something a little more special. Their sunflower seed hummus might just make you forget about chickpeas altogether. Every bite of their vegan toast tells a different, unexpected flavour story.
Tucked away in Vienna’s maze of cafés, Die Erbsenzählerei feels like stumbling into a friend’s kitchen who happens to be a whiz at organic, plant-based cooking. Place your order at the counter where genuinely friendly staff serve up fresh, wholesome dishes that prove healthy eating can be deliciously uncomplicated.
Cafes & coffee shops
Part thoughtfully curated boutique, part vegan café haven, OTOTO Store & Coffee masters the art of conscious consumption in every sense.
While browsing independent brands with purpose, pause for exceptional coffee paired with their tempting array of plant-based treats – both sweet and savoury. It’s retail therapy and café culture, beautifully reimagined.
In the heart of Vienna’s evolving culinary scene, Das Vivet stands out for its refined approach to contemporary dining. The elegantly designed space sets the perfect stage for their exceptional breakfast and brunch offerings.
Their thoughtfully crafted menu features clearly marked vegan options that rival their traditional counterparts. Early reservations are recommended.
Apato pairs artisanal coffee with carefully selected ceramics and jewellery in an intimate, zen-like space, creating a unique stop where a perfect fusion of café and gallery culture collide.
Quick service & takeaway
Maran Vegan Bistro operates as a convenient takeaway counter within an epic fully vegan supermarket. Their commitment to organic ingredients makes it a reliable stop for health-conscious diners seeking quick, nurturing meals.
Tucked away in plain sight on Vienna’s high street, Motto Brot quietly serves up an impressive selection of vegan baked goods. From perfectly crafted croissant sandwiches to delicate sweet treats. This wonderfully uncomplicated bread shop is perfect for takeaway.
Superfood Deli has established itself at two prominent locations – Maria Theresien and Mariahilfer. The deli emphasizes organic ingredients across their menu, featuring contemporary favorites like açaí bowls, smoothie bowls, and avocado toast. Their rotating selection of warm dishes ensures regular customers always find something new to try.
Lin’s Veggie Dumplin’ specialises in Asian comfort food, crafting delicate dumplings alongside steamed baos and satisfying rice bowls. This pet-friendly establishment operates on a split schedule, serving lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday with extended evening hours on weekends.
Don’t get fooled at Wiener Döner as you watch in awe as seitan spins on the traditional rotisserie. That’s not a lamb leg, that’s their plant-based option, which is delicious.
In a bright, airy space, Tolstoy crafts an entirely vegan menu that makes plant-based dining effortlessly appealing. Whether you’re grabbing a quick sandwich, settling in with a warm bowl, or taking home one of their pizzas, comfort food gets a fresh spin.
Specialty & health-focused
Pepper & Ginny elevates the vegan delicatessen experience, showcasing fine products from around the world. Their carefully curated selection includes artisanal vegan cheeses, truffle caviar, and innovative carrot lox.
Visitors can enjoy prepared specialties like blini topped with truffle caviar or their signature faux gras with truffle. The shop’s collection of Austrian wines and French champagnes perfectly complements their gourmet offerings.
Since May 2020, Bröselei has been serving creative world cuisine with a steadfast commitment to organic, gluten-free ingredients. Beyond their daily lunch service, they host special gourmet evenings and cooking classes.
Their dessert selection, featuring both raw and baked options, has become a destination in itself for Vienna’s vegan community.
Sattva Vegan brings Ayurvedic principles to contemporary plant-based dining. Their daily changing lunch menus thoughtfully balance proteins, vegetables, and carbohydrates, with 99% organic and seasonal ingredients. The restaurant provides a peaceful weekday lunch destination, operating Monday through Friday.
Vegan-friendly hotels in Vienna
Hotel Gilbert‘s award-winning restaurant, helmed by Gault Millau’s “Newcomer of the Year” Parvin Razavi, champions plant-based dining with three coveted toques. The restaurant’s “From Root to Leaf” philosophy emphasises organic, regional ingredients.
Hotel Altstadt Wien serves what many consider Vienna’s finest hotel breakfast, featuring a carefully curated selection of local organic delights. Their spread ensures vegan guests experience exceptional quality with options from Öfferl’s artisanal bread to Verival’s specialty muesli.
Babula Hotel in the 2nd district offers standout vegan breakfast options including blueberry peanut butter porridge with caramelised bananas and innovative breakfast tacos filled with red beet hummus, avocado, and roasted tofu.
Boutique Hotel Stadthalle offers an extensive breakfast buffet with numerous vegan options in their open-air courtyard. Their zero-waste initiative welcomes both hotel guests and visitors.
The Hotel Bristol Vienna‘s Art Déco-styled Bristol Lounge integrates vegan dishes throughout their menu, from breakfast through dinner, combining international cuisine with traditional Austrian dishes.
Vegan würstelstands: Plant-based takes on a Viennese tradition
Vienna’s iconic sausage stands (Würstelstands) have embraced the plant-based movement, offering creative vegan interpretations of classic Austrian street food. Leading this revolution is Eh Wurst in Neustiftgasse, Vienna’s first completely vegan sausage bar, serving plant-based versions of traditional favourites like Bosna, bratwurst, hot dogs, currywurst, and liver cheese.
The Wiener Würstelstand at Pfeilgasse offers vegan Bosna made from oyster mushrooms, with a second location near Spittelau. In the 7th district, Hermanns Würstelstand on Siebensterngasse offers vegan bratwursts, while nearby Pantry at Urban Loritz Platz and A class Hasse on Lerchenfelder Str. add to the district’s vegan options.
Alles Wurscht at Börseplatz serves vegan Bosna and vegetable “Gustl” liver cheese, while ExtraWürstel on Taborstraße features a vegan Kimchidog. Salettl on campus (Alser Straße) offers vegan currywurst, and Pippo’s Kitchen at BOKU provides vegan sausage options for students.
The Prater’s K&K City Imbiss serves vegan corndogs, while sausage stand Leo at Döblinger Gürtel features Beyond sausage hot dogs. Rounding out the scene, Eh scho wuascht near the central cemetery on Simmeringer Hauptstraße serves seitan-based sausages.
This guide merely scratches the surface of Vienna’s flourishing vegan landscape. From street food to fine dining, casual cafés to luxury hotels, the city has masterfully adapted its renowned culinary heritage for plant-based dining.
Whether you’re craving a traditional Würstelstand experience or seeking Michelin-worthy gastronomy, Vienna proves that embracing vegan cuisine doesn’t mean sacrificing authentic local flavours when you travel.
https://www.veganfoodandliving.com/vegan-lifestyle/vegan-guide-to-vienna/
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