Vienna Shopping Tips by morgenhund

Name of Shop: Meinl am Graben

Bored of Billa? Spar's staid? Merkur's middle of the road? Well then for the luxury antidote to supermarket shopping in Vienna, there is Meinl am Graben. To a certain extent there is very little to choose between Meinl am Graben and Sapr and Billa - after all they are all owned by the same company! However, there is substantially more to Meinl am Graben than everyday foods - their range of fresh meat, fish and also cheeses is hard to surpass in Vienna elsewhere - other than by going to the Naschmarkt. It also has its own wine bar, which has a great selection of wines to try and fine nibbles. There is also a sushi stand and a coffee bar - well there would have to be in Vienna, wouldn't there. Prices for staple goods might be a touch higher than at other supermarkets, but the range and assortment of products is also far greater. It is also about the only place to still issue Meinl shopping bags - nearly all the other Meinl's are now Spar's.

What To Buy: I come here for wines - the selection is comparable to that of Wein & Co. but there is more fun to be had by wine shopping at Meinl am Graben. Otherwise fine Zotter chocolate is one of the things I tend to have a soft spot for!

What To Pay: It depends on your tastes, but if you are a foodie and have withdrawal symptoms you could end up damaging your credit card.

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Theme: Food and Drink
Phone: 532 3334
Address: Kohlmarkt / Graben 19, 1010 Wien
Directions: At the end of the Graben leading on to the Kohlmarkt and with Naglergasse running alongside it.

2a and 3a bus routes and U1 (Stephansplatz) and U3 (either Stephansplatz or Herrengasse)
Website: www.meinl.com

Name of Shop: Naschmarkt Flohmarkt

The end of the Naschmarkt towards Kettenbrückengase is home to the weekly flea market, which is open from dawn until 5pm every Saturday, although a lot of the good stuff has gone by the early afternoon. As with any flea market there is a case of caveat emptor - you can not ensure that purchases are in full working order of that they really are the genuine article, but if you are looking for a collector's piece, or something traditional or slightly unusual, you can often find some interesting pieces here. A lot of the stalls sell furs, porcelain and glassware, lamps and furniture and also collectibles. You really get to experience the multicultural side of Vienna - there are traders of all nationalities speaking all sorts of languages. Of course given that it is a bustling market, you should take care about your personal possessions as pickpockets do tend to be lurking.

What To Buy: 1950s Lilien Porzellan
3rd Reich paraphernalia
imperial memorabilia
antique watches

What To Pay: anything from a few Euros upwards

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Theme: Other
Address: Naschmarkt, Kettenbrückengasse, 1050 Wien
Directions: At the Kettenbrückengase end of the Naschmarkt

Name of Shop: Bobby's British Supermarket

Bobby's sells all the typical staples of British cooking - from cornflour to Cadbury's, from bacon to Bisto, so if you are feeling homesick for British or American produce you are in the right place.

What To Buy: The only stockist of a wide range of British and American produce - ideal if you are getting homesick for a packet of proper crisps, some Dairy Milk chocolate etc. There is also a freezer section with assorted delights - frozen back bacon, pukka pies, jumbo sausage rolls.

What To Pay: Prices are slightly higher than in supermarkets for Austrian brands.

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Theme: Food and Drink
Address: Schleifmühlgasse 8, 1040 Wien
Directions: 4th District - Paulanergasse on the 65 and 62 - in the Freihaus area. 59a bus to Schleifmühlgasse
Website: www.bobbys.at
Other Contact: Mon-Fri 10-18:30, Sat 10-17

Name of Shop: Kaufhaus Schiepek

Kaufhaus Schiepek sounds a lot grander than it is. Tucked away on Teinfaltstraße, behind the Burgtheater, the shop is primarily a jewellery shop, specialising in beaded jewellery and with all sorts of supplies for jewellery makers. However, in addition to selling jewellery, they also sell kitsch items ranging from photo frames through hairclips - often with a pop art inspiration. Alternatively for the more discerning shopper, they have a range of Moleskine city notebooks, which are of course ideal for recording your peregrinations in - e.g. the Vienna edition which retails at EUR 16.50.

What To Buy: Beads for making your own jewellery to help you while away the hours on train journeys through Central Europe.

What To Pay: A lot of the products are very cheap, or if you lack creativity and/or time they have a large range of finished jewellery available at very modest prices.

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Theme: Jewelry
Address: Teinfaltstrasse 3, 1010 Wien
Directions: Between the Freyung and the Burgtheater opposite Molly Darcey's Irish Pub
Other Contact: Mo-Fr 10:30-18:30 Sa 10-17

Name of Shop: Zotter Chocolate

If you are looking for something a bit different to the globally available Milka and Mozart balls to satiate your chocolate cravings or to give as a gift, then Zotter chocolate is a great gift to give. It is widely available - from large supermarkets, Wein & Co., Demmers and many souvenir shops. Prior to Christmas there is also a 24 bar advent calendar version - a real sin, but oh, what a pleasure. The bars have nice designs on them and come in a wide range of unusual flavours - Apple and Berberitzer and Strawberries and Black Pepper are two great examples.


What To Pay: A bar will cost EUR 2.90 a throw - but is a delectable experience. For the advent calendar (24 bars) expect to pay about EUR 65.

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Theme: Food and Drink
Address: all over the ciry
Website: www.zotter.at

Name of Shop: Demmers Teehaus

Most people associate Vienna with coffee, which can be a problem if you are a tea drinker - especially as Austrian tea doesn't tend to be the same strength or taste quite the same as British teas. If, however, you are after a seriously good tea shop, then you can do far worse than Demmer's Tea Shop. They have all sorts of different kinds of teas - various black teas, fruit infusions and Rooibos tea, all available loose and of course to top it all off there are traditional English biscuits (shortbread, hob nobs etc).

What To Buy: English Rose Tea - like a Rose Pouchong!

What To Pay: Bags of tea from EUR 3 upwards

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Theme: Food and Drink
Address: Mölkerbastei 3
Directions: Just round the corner from the University
Website: www.tee.at

Name of Shop: Billa

Billa is a cheap and cheerful supermarket chain. It comes into its own though for purchasing Mozart balls and assorted chocolates - the prices are much lower than in the tourist shops or at the airport - most Billas offer the whole range of Mozart Ball products, and Milka chocolate at reasonable rates. Similarly coffee is also reasonably priced - whether Meinl, Illy or other brands. Some Billa stores are decidedly run down looking, but others have been given a good refit and include delis, rotisserie and fresh juice pressing services.

What To Buy: Mozart Balls
Mozart Thalern
Milka chocolate
Coffee

What To Pay: Normal supermarket prices - a considerable saving over tourist souvenir shop prices.

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Theme: Food and Drink
Address: all over the town
Website: www.billa.at

Name of Shop: Palmers

Palmers stores have a very distinctive green livery, and eye-catching poster campaigns on billboards across Austria. They are the leading underwear shop in Austria - although that doesn't make them the best. For men their range is over-priced and the cuts generally a bit on the tight side. For women, they offer an extensive range, although their prices are somewhat over-inflated. However, every now and again they do manage to surpass themself and produce some rather fine items.

What To Buy: Basques, bras, knickers, suspenders, camisoles.

What To Pay: Depending on what you buy, anything from a few Euro to a 50 Euro for items.

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Theme: Women's Clothes
Address: all over the city of Vienna and Austria
Website: www.palmers.at

Name of Shop: Swarowski

If you are fed up of buying Mozart Balls for people, or any of the other typical Viennese gifts, then Swarwoski might have a slightly more upmarket gift selection for you - with ornaments and jewellery from their Tirolean base in Wattens. Items can be pretty cheap to pretty expensive in terms of price and some of their stuff verges on the kitsch., although as with anything taste is a subjective thing. The main Swarwoski store has a stunning crystal window, as well as show-casing their latest lines.

What To Buy: If you want to buy a crystal glass ornament or jewellery then Swarowski is the place for you. Some stores also have other products - their website is the best place to be informed of what each store has.

What To Pay: Anything from 10 Euro to several hundred Euro depending on what you want!

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Theme: Gifts
Phone: +43 1 5129032-33
Address: Kärntnerstrasse 8, 1010 Wien
Directions: On Kärntnerstrase - other outlets in the Generali Center (Mariahilferstrasse), Donauzentrum (22nd district) and all around the city.
Website: www.swarowski.com

Name of Shop: Helmut Lang

This Helmut Lang store, soon to probably disappear as the brand is being discontinued, is the flagship shop of the Austrian fashion designer Helmut Lang, who had like most living famous Austrians emigrated from Austria. It has his trademark minimalist window displays, checked floors and mainly monochromatic interior. The clothes are not too everyone's taste or wallet but if you know what you are looking for, then there might be something for you here.

What To Buy: Clotheswise Austria is not so at the forefront of fashion - Helmut Lang therefore is at the forefront of Austrian fashion.

What To Pay: an arm, a leg, or even a kidney, depending on how much you buy!

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Theme: Men's Clothes
Phone: +43 1 513 2588
Address: Seilergasse 6
Directions: Stephansplatz U1 and U3
Website: www.helmutlang.com