Fun, fun, fun and other Vienna, Austria Nightlife Tips

Nightlife Spot: Riesenrad & Prater

The Prater is one of the oldest amusement theme park in Europe. It boasts more than 250 attractions - from Giant Ferris Wheel (Riesenrad) to ghost trains, merry-go-rounds, go-cart rinks, arcades, and stands for games of skill to ultra-modern rides that pump your adrenaline (and yourself) to lofty heights. Plus, there are restaurants, cafés, snack bars, and beer gardens to cater to your hunger and thirst. In summer, it is packed with family and children, teenagers, and tourists.

Many people regard the Vienna Prater as just another fun-fair. However, it is a Viennese institution, like the coffee houses or the Heuriger (wine taverns). Its landmark is the 65 metre high Giant Ferris Wheel (Riesenrad). In the Riesenrad, which was built in 1896, you can literally float in the sky as you enjoy from great heights the lovely view of the old city of Vienna and the Prater amusement park. The Riesenrad is an art nouveau luxury carriage, furnished like an old Viennese coffeehouse.

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Theme: Family Spot
Dress Code: You can dress in whatever you like. Opening times for most of the attractions in the Prater are from the beginning of March to the end of October - from morning to midnight. Some attractions (ghost trains and grotto railways, dodgems, cafes and restaurants) are open throughout the year. The Giant Ferris Wheel is open from February to November and around New Years.
Phone: +43-1-729 54 30
Address: The Giant Ferris Wheel and recreation park
Directions: Underground U1, stop at Praterstern; Streetcar # O, 5, 21: Praterstern S1-S3, S7, S15: Wien Nord

Nightlife Spot: Alcazar Cocktail Bar

Vienna has an active nightlife, especially on the weekend. The young and trendy go out by 10 pm and would stay out till the wee hours of the morning. There are many clubs and bars in Vienna to cater for the outgoing and night-active crowds.

One of the nicest bar is Alcazar Cocktail Bar near Karlplatz, located on the 1st floor. It is a medium size bar, that play good music and has some cosy sitting areas. Alcazar also makes great cocktails at great prices and at 11pm, the prices of the cocktails will be 50% off.

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Theme: Nightclub
Phone: +43-1-504-3545
Address: Bosendorferstrasse 2, 1010 Vienna
Directions: At Karlplatz area, by the J-tram stop

Nightlife Spot: Cafe Cortez

Cafe Cortez is a trendy cafe during the day, but by night time, it turns into a cosy cocktail bar. It has faux-leather couches for guests to sit back and relax, while enjoying their drinks and listening to good cool music. The kitchen will serve light food/snacks in the evenings. Cafe Cortez usually closes late in the evening, and on Fridays and Saturdays, it will close as late as 2.00 am.

On weekdays, Cafe Cortez has happy hour starting from 8pm until closing and serves cocktail drinks at half-price. They also have a limited selection of wines and beers.

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Theme: Eating and Drinking
Dress Code: Casual - jeans, T-shirts and sneakers are OK.
Address: Linke Weinzeille
Directions: Take U4 U-bahn till Kettenbruckengasse; exit Naschmarkt. Turn left when leaving the train station.

Nightlife Spot: Café Ritter

Café Ritter is one of the oldest traditional cafe and it is a good place to linger with a melange or a brauner after a tiring day of shopping up and down Mariahilfer straße. The cafe staff can be gruff and grumpy, but it adds to a certain charm of being in a Viennese cafe.

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Theme: People Watching
Address: 6th District, Mariahilfer strasse 73

Nightlife Spot: NIght Clubs & bars

Chic trendy bar in an Art Nouveau Greenhouse.

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Theme: Eating and Drinking
Dress Code: Formal casual.
Phone: +43-1-533-1033
Address: Burggarten, 1010 Vienna
Directions: U-1 at Karlsplatz, near the Augustine and Opera, in the Burggarten
Website: www.palmenhaus.at

Nightlife Spot: Grinzing & Heurigen

Drinking beer and wine in a local pub.

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Theme: Eating and Drinking
Dress Code: Casual
Address: Vienna's vinyards and wineries
Directions: 19th District; take the metro U4 to Heillegenstadt and then take the bus to Grinzing.

Nightlife Spot: American Bar

Night cosy place to have a drink or a few with friends or love interest.

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Theme: Nightclub
Dress Code: Casual formal
Address: Kumpfgasse/Schulerstrasse
Directions: Behind Stephandom, on Schuler strasse

Nightlife Spot: NIght Clubs & bars

Just the other evening (17/09/07) as I was walking by the Museum Quartier (MQ), I saw a few people walking towards the MQ courtyards through the passage/corridor of the MQ buildings. Out of curiousity, I followed them and discovered to my pleasant surprise, a beautiful scene. The courtyard was filled with people relaxing and sitting on outdoor chairs, benches, seats, structures and near/around the cafes and eateries recently opened around the place. The candlelights and softlights casted a beautiful romantic atmosphere around the courtyard, surrounded by the modern art museums buildings, bathed by their own soft-yellow night lights. The soft music and peoples' voices were low and muted.

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Theme: Eating and Drinking
Dress Code: Casual. Outdoor coats or jackets if the evening is chilly.
Address: Museum Quartier
Directions: Take U2 or U3 to Volkstheater.