Vienna is perhaps my most frequently visited European city, but ironically, until this recent trip, I've always been too busy to see the real Wien. Thanks to Airbnb, I was "forced" to see what's beyond Innere Stadt, and, believe me, there are plenty of cool things to do there if you're not fond of museums and opera houses. Vienna is a hip city - with Monocle and CitiX60 having travel guides for it, then it must be hip indeed.
Airport to Downtown Train: Yes.
Free Wifi: Almost everywhere.
Can I drink from the tap? Yes. Best tap water in Europe if I'm not mistaken.
Metro system: As straightforward as Hong Kong and Singapore.
Playmobil is relatively cheaper here. Than Paris and Italy for example.
Where to Eat
Käsekrainer: Bitzinger (near Albertina). It's a notch better than the ubiquitously generic Würstelstands in the city. If you want a more local feel (and if you're really, really, really - really - adventurous), take the U1 U-Bahn to Reumannplatz and try Würstelstand Alles Walzer Alles Wurst.
Sachertorte: almost everyone would say Hotel Sacher. There's irony in this but Anthony Bourdain warned about eating in places where they flaunt "The Original" of something. Tony had Sachertorte there. It's not bad, but there are other places that you can also consider, such as Cafe Demel.
Sachertorte Hack: I'm not fond of apricot jam. Which is like saying I'm not fond of raw fish when talking about sushi. Try this instead: Truffle Torte (with whipped cream, of course), in Cafe Demel.
Wiener Schnitzel: Figlmüller or (Figlmüller Lugeck). But, unlike steak or sushi, the difference between a EUR 10 schnitzel and a EUR 20++ schnitzel isn't as noticeable - except perhaps, in terms of its serving size. Go try Amerling Beisl or Hopferl as well.
Highly-raved resto: Ulrich. Wild boar schnitzel and baked veal cheeks.
Coffee: phil and J. Hornig Kaffeebar (if you're working as well), CoffeePirates and, as legit as it can get: Wiener Rösthaus. Kleines Cafe is just for people watching.
Good and cheap in Innere Stadt: Tramezinni Bar
Apple strudel/Apfelstrudel: Cafe Korb, hands down.
Dessert: Ital Eis Salon de Pellegrin, Strudls
Where to Shop
Books & Comics: Bilderbox and Buchhandlung Walther König GmbH & Co KG (MuseumQuartier)
Clothing & Concept Stores: Qwstion, Arnold, Wall, Sole Box, Brother's Barbers (for men's supplies). Zapateria. Go get lost in the Schottenfeld/Neubau area. Steffl Department Store actually has an impressive collection of limtied edition New Balance sneakers.
Toys: Carl Hilpert KG near Stephansplatz. Their Playmobil is up to EUR 1,00 cheaper.
Camera stuff (pro-stuff, not for tourists): DIGITALSTORE Vienna in Stiftgasse. They have Zacuto and Blackmagic Design cameras as well.
Or the Leica Shop at Westbahnstraße.
Where to Shoot
Mariahilf, Neubau, Schottenfeld, Innere Stadt, Nachsmarkt (in the morning!)
Photos taken using
Leica M Typ 240 + VSCO Film
Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f/1.2
Voigtlander Heliar Classic 75mm f/1.8
Fujifilm GF670 + Kodak Portra 400
Reportage travel and candid street photos of Wien x @redsheepphotocinema. Leica M240. Color remastered using redsheep Chromavibe 160M+ and redsheep Luminoir 800M- April 2020.