Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Identified by a
Busch'n
(a green wreath or branch) hanging over the door,
Heurigen
nearly always have outside tables in large gardens or courtyards, while inside the atmo-
sphere is rustic. Some serve light meals, which in Vienna can be a hot or cold buffet.
Concentrations of
Heurigen
can be found in the wine-growing suburbs to the north,
southwest, west and northwest of the city. Grinzing, in the northwest, is the best-known
Heurigen
area, but it is also the most touristy. It's generally avoided by the Viennese, but
if you like loud music and busloads of rowdy tourists, then it's the place for you.
GAY & LESBIAN VIENNA
Vienna is reasonably tolerant towards gays and lesbians. The Vienna Tourist Board (
Click here
)
has an excellent
Queer Guide
booklet and PDF download with listings of bars, restaurants, hotels, festivals and contact organisa-
tions.
Events to look out for on the gay and lesbian calendar include the
Regenbogen Parade
(Rainbow Parade;
www.hosiwien.at/regenbogenparade
;
late Jun), a colourful parade that takes over the Ring and Museum-
sQuartier, the
Life Ball
(
www.lifeball.org
;
mid-May), an AIDS-charity event, and
Identities - Queer Film
Festival
(
www.identities.at
;
Jun odd years), a film festival showcasing queer movies.
Good gay-friendly cafes and bars are Why Not? (
Click here
)
, Café Savoy (
Click here
), Mango Bar (
Click
here
) and Café Berg (
Click here
). Unfortunately there isn't much in the way of accommodation aimed specific-
ally at gay and lesbians; Hotel-Pension Wild (
Click here
) is one option.
Innere Stadt
Kruger's American Bar
BAR
(
www.krugers.at
;
01, Krugerstrasse 5; from 6pm Mon-Sat; Stephansplatz, D, 1, 2, 71 Kärntner Ring/
Oper)
This wood-panelled American-style bar is a legend in Vienna, retaining some of its
original furnishings from the 1930s and complete with a separate cigar and smoker's
lounge.
Loos American Bar
(
www.loosbar.at
;
01, Kärntner Durchgang 10; noon-5am Thu-Sat, to 4am Sun-Wed; Stephansplatz)
The
spot for a classic cocktail in the Innere Stadt, expertly whipped up by talented mixolo-
gists. Designed by Adolf Loos in 1908, this tiny box (seating no more than about 20) is
bedecked from head to toe in onyx and polished brass.
COCKTAIL BAR
