Bar entertainment in Vienna
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Strandbar Herrmann
You’d swear you’re by the sea at this hopping canalside beach bar, with beach chairs, sand and hordes of Viennese livin’ it up on hot summer evenings. Films occasionally feature, blankets are available and if you get bored of lounging, have a go at a game of boules. Cool trivia: it’s located on Herrmannpark, named after picture postcard inventor Emanuel Herrmann (1839–1902).
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Manolos
Deep in the shadows of the Natural History Museum, Manolos is a sleek Mexican restaurant and bar (the fusion food is OK, too, incidentally) with an art edge that can kick on in unusual ways. It’s tequila selection will startle, and behind the bar a DJ wearing headphones tweaks a CD deck into the wee hours. Everyone rises to the occasion, dances on available surfaces, and one by one they usually fall off them.
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Mon Ami
Don’t let the dog and cat grooming sign fool you: this former pet-grooming salon morphed into a lovely ’60s-style bar, mixes excellent cocktails, serves a short but decent beer, wine and snacks list and attracts a laid-back and unpretentious crowd. The rear of the bar is a shop (open to 10pm) stocking young designer creations so you can pick up a groovy new top and knock a few back in fewer than 10 steps.
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Cabaret Renz
A former brothel turned bar/club, Cabaret Renz occupies an innocuous corner in residential Leopoldstadt. The velvet-clad club, which hosts clubbing on Friday and Saturday nights, attracts a 20-something crowd and the best local DJ talent, plus a few international acts. Renz's grungy, red bar next door is typically Viennese, with resident boozers, table football and plenty of heated chatter.
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Orange One
Once the haunt of down-and-outs and alcoholics, this former Gastehaus (guesthouse) received a complete makeover and reinvented itself as Orange One, a modern bar with a distinct retro feel and grown-up attitude. DJs play most nights and offbeat films are intermittently projected on the back wall. If smoke is a problem, it’s best not to spend too much time here on winter nights.
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Wirr
On weekends it’s often hard to find a seat – particularly on the comfy sofas – at this colourful, alternative bar. Its rooms are spacious and open, the walls are covered in local artists’ work, including a large (albeit bizarre) tie collection, and light snacks are available. Eclectic clubbings – which range from ’60s pop to Balkan rhythms – are well attended in the downstairs club.
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Blue Box
Don’t let the smoke and the run-down appearance of Blue Box put you off. These trademarks, which seem to have been around for generations, are an integral part of the Blue Box experience. It’s too small to afford dance-floor space, and most guests groove to the regular DJ beats in their seats. Superb breakfasts are available from 10am to 5pm Tuesday to Sunday.
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Brunners
Brunner's major attraction is its view; from its elevated position on the 22nd floor of Vienna's Twin Towers, the entire city is laid out in all its grandeur. The best time to visit is just before the sun sets over the Vienna Woods to the west, after which the fluorescent lighting system kicks in and spoils the scene somewhat.
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Tag/Nachtasyl
Tag/Nachtasyl is one place in town where you will still hear Bob Dylan’s ‘Desolation Row’ over the PA system and revolution hangs in the air. It grew out of the Charter 77 Czech dissident movement and these days mostly continues the tradition with Czech acoustic acts on stage (or occasional Gothic party).
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Top Kino Bar
Occupying the foyer of the cinema Top Kino, Top Kino Bar is a pleasantly relaxed place that attracts a fashionable alternative crowd. The decor is highly retro, and there are tunes to match the furniture. Kozel, one of the Czech Republic’s better pilsners, is lined up against Austria’s finest lagers.
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Elektro Gönner
Elektro Gönner is an unpretentious bar opened by architects (and attracting plenty from the profession). Much of the interior is uncomplicated and bare, aside from the occasional art installation in the back room, and the music diverse. The bar hides at the back of a courtyard off Mariahilfer Strasse.
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A Bar Shabu
A gorgeous little bar outfitted in '70s retro, Shabu welcomes all and sundry with an unaffected ambience and laid-back staff. Regular DJs provide an excellent backdrop of calming tunes, and the absinthe selection from around Europe is extensive. Don't miss the Japanese room, or should we say closet.
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Shultz
This lovely '60s-style bar mixes wonderful cocktails and attracts a laid-back and unpretentious crowd. During the day the glass walls allow daylight to flood the bar, while at night they provide ample room to watch the world roll on by outside.
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Schikaneder
Located next to the bar of the same name, Schikaneder is the darling of Vienna’s alternative cinema scene. The film subject range is quite broad but also highly selective, and art-house through and through.
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Volksgarten Pavillon
Volksgarten’s second venue (after the club Volksgarten,) is a lovely 1950s-style pavilion with views of Heldenplatz. On Tuesday nights its ever-popular garden is packed to the gunnels.
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Santo Spirito
Attracting both a gay and straight crowd, Santo Spirito specialises in classical music at high decibels. In summer, customers spill out onto the cobblestone street to take a break from the noise.
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Urania
Urania occupies the first floor of a rejuvenated cinema and observatory complex. Its slick, clean decor, elevated position, and extensive cocktail selection are all big pluses.
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Einhorn
In Joanelligasse, you’ll find the remarkable Einhorn, which used to be a jazz place but is now a relaxed, downbeat hangout with table football downstairs.
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Felixx
A mixed hetero and gay bar with a daily menu and some good wines.
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