This chic lounge and bar sports a sleek and spacious interior with large picture windows. Exclusive leather and wood furnishing conspire to create an ambience where the young and beautiful come to mingle, see and be seen. By day this cafe-lounge is an excellent place to escape the bustle of Mariahilferstrasse, and sit back and relax for a while. On Sundays an exquisite brunch buffet can be had (reservations are strongly recommended; the best time to come is around noon when main courses and desserts are served in addition to breakfast fare). My favorite is the Asian bean spout salad with a hint of cilantro.
Trade in hot coffee for superbly mixed cocktails as night falls - "Jazz Club" beckons with ginger beer, lime and a hint of fresh mint and is simply divine. Thumbs up also for the state-of-the-art ventilation system that helps to appease smokers and non-smokers alike.
Nightclubs in Vienna are still a non-smokers nightmare. Completely smoke-free clubs remain a distant dream.
aeroSoul, a recently launched non-smoking clubbing event, offers a glimmer of hope though. Dance and breathe the night away at Lutz - die bar (dance club in the basement), when the dance floor remains strictly free of smoke, unless it comes from the smoke machine.
Mariahilferstrasse 3, 1060 Vienna, phone: 01 585 36 46
Planter's Club
The exquisite interior oozes Colonial chic in dark leather and teak, framed by potted palm trees. The drinks menu reads like an epic novel with more than 300 different whiskey varieties to choose from, and the cocktails are out of this world. Ingredients include virtually everything a flavorful mixed drink could ever wish for, and the bar staff prove that they don't just look the famous 80s movie part starring Tom Cruise, but they are indeed masters of their trade. Drinks include also a large selection of fruity non-alcoholic cocktails. This posh, but not pretentious bar appeals mostly to an elegant 30+ crowd. However, a strict dress code is not enforced. This is still my number one choice when it comes to enjoying top-notch cocktails and a great ambience.
Zelinkagasse 4, phone: 01 533 33 93 15
Mariahilferstrasse 3, 1060 Vienna, phone: 01 585 36 46
