Austria Food and Drink Guide: What to Eat and Drink

Why Austrian food is worth the trip

Austrian cuisine is hearty, comforting, and rooted in the old Habsburg empire, blending German, Hungarian, Czech, and Italian influences. Expect generous portions, fine pastries, and a strong coffee-house culture.

Signature dishes to try

• Wiener Schnitzel - a thin, breaded and pan-fried veal cutlet, served with potato salad and a lemon wedge. If it is pork, it must be labelled Schnitzel vom Schwein.
• Tafelspitz - boiled beef in broth with apple-horseradish and chive sauce, said to be Emperor Franz Joseph's favourite.
• Kasnocken - cheesy Salzburg-style dumplings topped with crispy onions.
• Gulasch - a paprika-rich beef stew, a Hungarian legacy enjoyed across Vienna.
• Tiroler Grostl - a pan of fried potatoes, beef, and a fried egg from the Tyrol.

Street food and quick bites

• Wurstelstand sausage stands are an institution. Order a Kasekrainer (cheese-filled sausage, nicknamed Eitrige) or a Bratwurst with mustard and a slice of bread, roughly 4 to 6 euros.
• Leberkassemmel - a warm meatloaf slice in a crusty roll, the classic budget snack.
• Brezel (pretzel) from any bakery, ideal on the go.

The sweet side

• Sachertorte - the famous dense chocolate cake with apricot jam, best at the original Hotel Sacher in Vienna.
• Apfelstrudel - flaky apple strudel, often served warm with vanilla sauce.
• Kaiserschmarrn - shredded, caramelised pancake with plum compote.

What to drink

• Coffee is sacred. Order a Melange (similar to a cappuccino), a Grosser Brauner, or an Einspanner topped with cream. Coffee houses are UNESCO-listed cultural heritage.
• Wine - try a crisp Gruner Veltliner white or a glass at a Heuriger wine tavern on Vienna's outskirts.
• Beer - regional lagers like Stiegl, Gosser, and Ottakringer.
• Almdudler - the herbal national soft drink.

Dining tips and etiquette

• A service charge is included, but rounding up or tipping about 5 to 10 percent is customary. Hand the tip directly to the server.
• Say Mahlzeit or Guten Appetit before eating.
• Many kitchens close mid-afternoon, so plan lunch before 2pm.
• Cash is still king at many Heuriger and sausage stands.

Stay connected in Austria

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