Public living room

phil: Your living room away from your living room; this cozy café/book/CD and DVD store, just across the street from ra'mien (another Vienna hotspot serving up some of the best noodle soups in the city) will get book and music lovers "ooohing" and "aaahing". Sip a cup of hot chocolate (available in flavors dark to white chocolate), browse the hand-selected choice of books and CDs - also available for purchase - and pick up a DVD to watch at home in your own living room.
Gumpendorferstrasse 10-12, 1060 Vienna, phone: 01 581 04 89

Kunsthaus Café

Cafe Dunkelbunt/Kunsthaus Cafe: Breathe in more Hundertwasser ambience (instead of cigarette smoke) even if you decide to skip the museum and rather enjoy a melange in this colorful setting. On a balmy summer day the leafy outdoor seating area evokes the flair of inner courtyards in Southern Spain.
Lobby of Kunsthaus Wien/Hundertwasser Museum,
Weissgerberlände 14, 1030 Vienna, phone: 01 715 26 89

Heissenberger

Heissenberger is definitely my cup of tea. Discover rare blends from all over the world at this exquisite shop in the heart of Vienna. Sample some of the tea and coffee varieties on offer at the small café (non-smoking) in the back or book your own tea/coffee tasting; in summer the outdoor seating area offers a close-up view of the Imperial Palace.
Kohlmarkt 11, 1010 Vienna, phone: 01 532 14 20, Mo-Fri 10am - 6:30pm, Sat 10am - 5pm

Matcha and Co.

Cha No Ma.
This adorable little Japanese tea place, just off Naschmarkt, is a treasure trove for green tea and matcha afficionados. Savor an authentic matcha latte and learn about the basics of Japanese tea ceremony. It also carries a selection of Japanese magazines and books for the Nihongo savvy. Faulmanngasse 7, 1040 Vienna, phone: 01 587 94 06, Mo-Fri 10 am- 6pm.

Traditional cafe ahead of the curve

Cafe Schwarzenberg: One of the few traditional coffee houses in Vienna that is ahead of the curve. Here visitors can sample history and coffee aroma instead of tobacco fumes. In summer with a nice outdoor seating area facing the famous Ring Road.

Kärntner Ring 17, 1010 Vienna, phone: 01 512 89 98

Organic brunch

Cafe der Provinz
Although many cafes, restaurants and bars in Vienna are still a favorite playground for smokers, here you can lean back and enjoy a cup of coffee or tea without disappearing behind plumes of smoke. This all-organic café is the perfect place for a relaxed Sunday (or Saturday) brunch. Sample the all-you-can-eat organic buffet for 10.90€, which also includes delicious buckwheat crepes (with or without sugar) and waffles, as well as a selection of (yeast-free) breads. Reserve ahead for weekend brunch.
Maria-Treu-Gasse 3, 1080 Vienna, phone: 01 944 22 72

Art meets Architecture

Dotted with countless art museums and architectural masterpieces, Vienna is a paradise for art and design aficionados. A stroll along the alleyways of Vienna's historic center resembles a walk through the splendor of centuries past, where not only the magnificent architecture captures the observer's interest, but their former famous dwellers may as well. 

Many an artist whose works have captured the hearts of millions has lived and walked the streets of the capital of the Habsburg Empire. 

Today Vienna still boasts a fine selection of museums with the building being just as captivating as the illustrious pieces of art exhibited there.

Kunsthaus Wien/Museum Hundertwasser - Hundertwasser's buildings have made Vienna's architecture famous even beyond the magnificence of Jugendstil and stately baroque buildings. Their unique shapes and textures appear to have drawn on inspiration from gingerbread houses, mosaic artwork and Renaissance Russian churches, adding a splash of color to even the most drab Vienna winter day.

Here visitors are often more mesmerized by the museum building with its uneven floors than the works of art on display. Nonetheless, the museum is well worth a visit; the Hundertwasser museum offers a glimpse into Hundertwasser's oeuvre. 

On Mondays museum tickets are 50 % off.

The non-smoking cafe next to the gift shop is a great place to chill out and take in more of Hundertwasser's playful architecture, even without visiting the museum. 

Untere Weissbergerstrasse 13, 1030 Vienna, phone: 01 712 04 95

Belvedere Palace - It is not every day that you have the chance to see artwork displayed in a (former) castle. This summer palace is a prime example of high baroque and was built by famous architect Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt in the early 18th century. Both buildings of the palace, Oberes and Unteres Belvedere are nowadays used to showcase art. The permanent collection inside Oberes Belvedere includes some famous Klimts such as "The Kiss", while the museum also hosts smaller temporary exhibits.
The palace grounds have been featured in many architecture guides as one of the most remarkable parks in the world. Large sections of the gardens have been recently landscaped and redesigned, including one of the main fountains which now shines with new splendor. Opening hours for the Belvedere gardens vary depending on the season and the park can be visited for free even without seeing the museum. 
The lesser known Botanical Garden (free of charge) can also be accessed via the Belvedere gardens and is a hidden oasis of tranquility in the middle of the bustling city. The park is home to many local and exotic plant species and is dotted with benches that encourage to kick back and unwind surrounded by this leafy backdrop.
Prinz Eugen Strasse 27 (Schloss Belvedere stop on the D tram line).