Best Cocktail Bars in Vienna

Adolf Loos-designed 1908 gem, one of the world's most beautiful small bars, classic cocktails. An architectural masterpiece that has hosted everyone from James Joyce to modern-day cocktail aficionados. The narrow, mirrored interior creates an intimate atmosphere unlike anywhere else in Vienna.

Intimate, cult following, exceptional Manhattans and Old Fashioneds. This hidden gem has become legendary among cocktail enthusiasts for its meticulous execution and classic methodology. The bartenders here are experts in traditional spirit-forward cocktails, and the space feels like stepping into a private club.

Creative seasonal menus, natural wine program alongside cocktails. Why Not stands out for its commitment to sustainability and locally-sourced ingredients. The seasonal menu changes quarterly, and their natural wine selection is curated with the same care as their cocktails.

Grand hotel bar, impeccable service, Vienna's power crowd. The epitome of elegance and refinement, this legendary bar attracts Vienna's business elite, diplomats, and sophisticated travelers. The bartenders are white-glove service experts, and the drink quality is consistently exceptional.

French-influenced, absinthe program, late-night favourite. This intimate Parisian-style bar brings the romance and bohemian spirit of Paris to Vienna's Wieden district. The absinthe ritual is performed here with proper technique and tradition, and the late-night crowd tends toward artists and creatives.

Jazz and classic cocktails since the 1990s, beloved institution. An institution in Vienna's cocktail scene, Nightfly's pioneered the American bar renaissance here. The live jazz program remains excellent, and the bartenders know every classic cocktail by heart. The wood-paneled interior feels authentically retro.

Legendary café that transforms after midnight. By day, Hawelka is Vienna's most iconic literary café. By night, it becomes a different beast—a cocktail destination frequented by creatives and night owls. The contrast between day and night identities is part of its charm.

Over 1,000 spirits, cocktail education bar. Barfly's is not just about the drinks—it's about education. The bartenders here are passionate educators who love explaining the provenance of spirits and the history of cocktails. The selection is encyclopedic, with rare bottles and classic selections side by side.

Japanese-Viennese fusion cocktails, excellent sake list. This is where East meets West on the cocktail menu. The bartenders have spent time in Tokyo and understand the philosophy of Japanese spirits. The sake selection rivals Vienna's wine lists, and the cocktails incorporate Japanese techniques and ingredients.

Neighbourhood cocktail bar for the creative class. Frank's is the kind of place where artists, designers, and writers come to meet. The vibe is relaxed but the cocktails are serious. The space feels lived-in and welcoming, and the bartenders know their regulars by name and drink preference.

Intimate, excellent gin selection. The Monokel specializes in gin-forward cocktails and has one of Vienna's most comprehensive gin selections. The intimate setting makes it perfect for serious cocktail conversations. The bartenders here are gin experts who can recommend from hundreds of bottles.

Penthouse bar, cathedral views, elegant crowd. Perched high above Vienna with views of St. Stephen's Cathedral, Onyx is the place for special occasions. The dress code is smart casual, and the crowd tends toward couples and professionals. The views alone are worth the visit, but the cocktails match the setting.

Casual craft cocktails, very popular with locals under 35. Joma is proof that great cocktails don't require price tags to match. This unpretentious neighbourhood bar in trendy Neubau has become a local phenomenon. The drinks are creative, the prices are fair, and the crowd is young and energetic.

Vienna's historic inner city is home to the greatest concentration of cocktail bars. From world-famous institutions like Loos American Bar to intimate hidden bars tucked into centuries-old buildings, Innere Stadt is the beating heart of Vienna's cocktail scene.

This bohemian, artistic neighbourhood has become Vienna's upstart cocktail destination. Younger, trendier bars with lower prices and creative menus have made Neubau the place for early-career bartenders and adventurous drinkers. A strong natural wine scene complements the cocktail culture.

Vienna's shopping and cultural district also has several excellent bars worth visiting. The neighbourhood bars here serve locals well and attract curious visitors willing to venture beyond Innere Stadt. Quality is consistent and prices are reasonable.

Just south of Innere Stadt, Wieden is a mixed residential and cultural district. Its cocktail bar scene is smaller but distinctive, with excellent French-influenced bars like Le Trousseau that reflect the district's Parisian-leaning character.

Vienna's second-oldest district is experiencing a renaissance as an up-and-coming neighbourhood. Mochi Bar is leading the way with innovative fusion cocktails and an excellent sake program. More bars are sure to follow as the neighbourhood develops.

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Dino's Apothecary Bar pours from a menu of more than 120 original cocktails plus an archive of around 350 classics on Salzgries in the first district. Heinz Kaiser runs the room, and it has taken several best-bar awards in Austria.

Eden Bar has run as a champagne and dancing bar on Liliengasse since 1911. The first-district room keeps a velvet, low-lit setting and opens late into the night.

Hammond Bar sits at the corner of Taborstrasse and Grosse Pfarrgasse in the second district. Award-winning bartenders build the cocktails, and the retro room stays open past midnight on weekends.

If Dogs Run Free takes its name from a Bob Dylan song and sits on Gumpendorfer Strasse in the sixth district. Tzou Lubroth Architects designed the room, and the cocktail list changes with the seasons.

Mochi serves Japanese plates from a robata grill on Praterstrasse, with cocktails alongside the food. The second-district room stays one of the busiest tables in the city, so reservations book out early.

Nightfly's Club American Bar has run on Dorotheergasse since 1993. The first-district room leans on Rat Pack music, fine spirits, whisky and cigars.

The BirdYard spreads a bar and eatery across three floors on Lange Gasse in the eighth district. A Saddo mural covers one wall, and DJs play on Friday and Saturday.

Truth and Dare pours classic and signature cocktails on Schonlaterngasse in the first district. Mixology named it Best Bar Austria in 2023, and it opens daily from 6pm.

Weltraum runs a bar, gallery and event space across six themed rooms on Heumuhlgasse in the fourth district. The cocktails use freshly pressed juices, mixed in front of guests.

Why Not has run on Tiefer Graben in the first district since 1980 as Vienna's oldest queer club. Three bars, a dancefloor and chill-out rooms fill the space on Friday and Saturday nights.

Ulrich runs all day on St. Ulrichs-Platz in Neubau, a café and bar that Falstaff scored 81 points. Seasonal cocktails and homemade lemonades alongside its well-known breakfast.

Marco Pani's cocktail bar on the Rossauer Lände, classic drinks with Sardinian plates and live jazz.