Vienna/Neubau

Neubau is the 7th district of Vienna. Its border to the south is the popular Mariahilfer Strasse, to the west the Gürtel, and to the north Lerchenfelder Straße. The Neubau district contains many artsy places like the Museumsquartier.

Understand

Neubau starts with the acclaimed MuseumsQuartier next to the center and spreads across popular hip areas like the Spittelberg and the Neubaugasse to the Westbahnhof (Western Railway Station).

Get in

The underground line  U3  is available to the South, the  U6  in the west and the  U2  on the East.

See

Museumsquartier (MQ)

MUMOK

Museumsquartier

Museumsquartier (MQ) (lit. "quarter of museums") has been serving as a cultural district of Vienna since 2001. Though many museums and cultural institutions are situated there, it is not only a place for art, but also an urban living space which people visit to spend some time, sitting in one of the cafés or perhaps playing boccia. It is also popular to meet friends for a BYOB evening here, wonderful on summer evenings; buy something to eat and drink at a supermarket and join the others on the grass. The big yard is filled with large fiberglass sofas you can use for free. Optionally, you can buy drinks at the open air bars there. Just ask for a glass you can take away so you can use the sofas. If you are interested in visiting a couple of these museums, combination tickets available at the MQ entrance will be cheaper than buying them individually at museum entrances. You can use free wifi at MQ provided by Quintessenz.

• 🌍 Leopold Museum, Museumsplatz 1 (U2 Museumsquartier, U3 Volkstheater), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. M W F-Su 10:00-18:00, Th 10:00-21:00. Has a strict policy of not allowing big bags inside the museum. Even your cameras (unless they can be tucked inside a small carry bag) will have to be deposited outside. €12, students €8, children apprentice, disabled €7, Charges €1 per person for the cloak room service.  
• 🌍 MUMOK (Museum Moderner Kunst, Stiftung Ludwig Wien), Museumsplatz 1 (Museumsquartier; U3/U2 Volkstheater), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. M 14:00-19:00, Tu W F-Su 10:00-19:00, Th 10:00-21:00. Has a strict policy of not allowing big bags inside the museum. Even your cameras (unless they can be tucked inside a small carry bag) will have to be deposited outside. Has a self-service locker. €10 (adults), €8 (seniors/Club Ö1/Vienna Card), €7 (students under 27), free (children under 19).  
• 🌍 Kunsthalle Wien, Museumsplatz 1 (Museumsquartier; U3/U2 Volkstheater), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. F-W 10:00-19:00, Th 10:00-21:00. Hosts highly-regarded exhibits of contemporary art, from Austrian and international artists. €12 (adults), €9 (seniors/students/disabled/Vienna Card), €2 (youths), free (children under 10).  

Other museums

• 🌍 WestLicht Center for Photography (WestLicht Schauplatz für Fotografie), Westbahnstraße 40, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Has a permanent exhibit of unusual cameras, including underwater and toy cameras, KGB spy cameras, and one of the 30 modified Hasselblad cameras used on the Apollo moon mission. The gallery hosts temporary exhibits, and the renowned "World Press Photo" show for the world's best press pictures. €6.50 (adults), €4.50 (Club Ö1), €4 (concessions), €2 (children 6-16).  
• 🌍 Möbel Museum Wien (Imperial Furniture Collection / Vienna Furniture Museum), Andreasgasse 7 (just off Mariahilfer Strasse, line U3, alight at Zieglergasse, take the Andreasgasse exit), ☎ [phone], fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Tu–Su 10:00-18:00. Houses the largest furniture collection in the world. The exhibit displays furniture for all the Austrian emperors since Charles VI (the father of Maria Theresa), furniture by the Thonet Brothers, Jugendstil, and the Viennese Modernist movement. In addition, they show other contemporary Austrian architects and designers, such as E.A. Plischke, Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, Luigi Blau, and Franz West. Besides the permanent furniture collection, the museum also hosts two to three temporary exhibitions on furniture design and photography each year. You can purchase a single ticket or a Sisi Ticket, which allows you entrance to the Schönbrunn Palace, the Imperial Apartments, Sisi Museum, and the Imperial Silver Collection in the Hofburg. Wheelchair-accessible. €8.50 (adults), €7.50 (seniors/students/disabled/Vienna Card), €6 (children 6-18).  

Do

Volkstheater Wien

• 🌍 Volkstheater Vienna (Volkstheater Wien), Neustiftgasse 1 (U3 Volkstheater), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Designed by Hermann Helmer and Ferdinand Fellner, the theatre was built in 1889. With 970 seats it is the largest theatre in Vienna (larger than even the Burgtheater) and is one of the largest German-language theatres. It is located next to the Museumsquartier.  
• 🌍 Theater Am Spittelberg, Spittelberggasse 10, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Historically one of the Pawlatschentheater, it has been renovated and is a venue for concerts and comedies. 
• 🌍 Filmhaus am Spittelberg (Filmhaus Kino), Spittelberggasse 3, ☎ [phone]. With a single hall, this small and modern theatre screens documentary and arthouse films. Reservations are recommended. €8.50. 
• 🌍 Bellaria Kino, Museumstraße 3 (U3 Volkstheater), ☎ [phone]. Charming and beautiful old-school cinema screening both old classic and original versions of contemporary films. 

Buy

• Museum Quarter (MQ) (U2 Museumsquartier, U2/U3 Volkstheater). Has half a dozen small designer clothing shops. 
• Neubaugasse. The street has many innovative shops. A street market is held here twice a year. 
• 🌍 Shu!, Neubaugasse 34 (U3 Neubaugasse), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Tu-F 12:00-19:00, Sa 12:00-17:00. A collection of creative but still comfortable shoes from multiple brands, primarily Italian. Moderate prices. 
  • 🌍 Shu!Depot, Westbahnstraße 4. A sales outlet of Shu! 
• 🌍 Bergfuchs, Kaiserstraße 15 (U3 Zieglergasse, U3, U6 Westbahnhof), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. M-F 09:00-18:00, Sa 09:00-17:00. The shop sells mountaineering equipment. You'll find climbing shoes, off-piste skis, all-weather clothing and other outdoor gear. The very knowledgeable salespeople offer great advice too, don't hesitate to ask. Various items are available through their online shop; keep an eye out for their special sales. 

Eat

You will find a variety of restaurants around Spittelberg, including the well-known LUX Restaurant and the Amerling Beisl.

Budget

• 🌍 Bortolotti, Mariahilfer Straße 22 and 94 (the latter closed during winter!), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. An ice cream parlor worth visiting. Ask particularly for the Campari-Orange ice cream or try some other exotic flavors. 
• 🌍 Kolar Zieglergassemore, Zieglergasse 4, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. M-Sa 11:00-01:00, Su and holidays 15:00-01:00. Nice pubs/beisls. They have a tasty Fladenbrot as well as their own beer. (updated May 2016)
• 🌍 Maschu (Maschu Neubaugasse), Neubaugasse 20/corner of Lindengasse 41 (close to Neubaugasse underground station), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. 09:30-24:00. A trendy hang out place with its own unique vibe, in the area of the city frequented by art students. It is famous for its falafel, and has recently expanded. 
• 🌍 Natsu II, Burggasse 71, ☎ [phone]. Daily 11:00-23:00. Serves decent sushi. Sets from €3, get stuffed for €6. 
• 🌍 Schnitzelwirt Schmidt, Neubaugasse 52, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. M-Sa 11:00-21:30. The traditional Viennese food is excellent and served in truly prodigious portions. The Bauernschmaus (Farmer's Feast), a nearly incapacitatingly large schnitzel plate, which in combination with any of the wonderful on-tap beers, may necessitate an afternoon nap. €5-€15 for a full meal. 

Mid-range

Amerlingbeisl

• 🌍 Amerlingbeisl, Stiftgasse 8, ☎ [phone]. 09:00-02:00. The restaurant has a good selection of food with vegetarian options too. Unfortunately inside smoking is permitted, but this is not so much of a problem in summer when it's possible to sit outside. The bar serves beer, some wines, and standard cocktails. 
• 🌍 Bombay, Neubaugasse 75 (corner to Neustiftgasse), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. 11:00-15:00, 18:00-24:00. It serves the best Bombay Gin in Vienna. Among Indian restaurants in Vienna it is an institution, offering good food and large servings for reasonable prices. 
• 🌍 DschungelCafe, Museumsplatz 1 (Museumsquartier), ☎ [phone]. 10:00-20:00/21:00. A very child-friendly cafe and restaurant, located in the same building as the DschungelWien.at children's theater. 
• 🌍 Gasthaus Grünauer, Hermanngasse 32, ☎ [phone]. M-F 18:00-24:00. A Viennese restaurant serving high-quality food with a good selection of wines. €5.50-19. 
• 🌍 MQdaily, Museumsplatz 1, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Th-Sa 09:00-01:00; M-W Su 09:00-24:00. Located next to the entry of the MQ, this place is quite small and packed. 
• 🌍 I Ragazzi, Burggasse 6–8, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. 11:30–24:00. This Italian restaurant has good pizzas and pastas for good prices. Their fish soup is highly recommended. Outdoor seating is available in the summer. 
• 🌍 I Terroni, Westbahnstraße 23, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. 11:30–23:30. Same crew as I Ragazzi but less crowded. The restaurant serves good Italian pizzas and pastas. 
• 🌍 Tian Bistro am Spittelberg, Schrankgasse 4, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Tu 17:00-23:00, W-F 11:00-23:00, Sa Su and holidays 09:00-23:00; kitchen open until 1 hr before closing. Operated by star chef Paul Ivić of TIAN Restaurant, the bistro serves more affordable meals than at his main restaurant, all of them vegetarian with many vegan options. Reservations can be made online. Set menu €7.50-12, mains €9-14. (updated Jul 2017)
• 🌍 Le Troquet, Kirchengasse 18, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. M–Sa 11:00–01.30. A popular French bistro in a shabby chic setting. They play jazz and serve good wines; smoking permitted. 
• 🌍 Ulrich, St. Ulrichs Platz 1, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. M–F 07:30–02:00, Sa Su 09:00–02:00. In a calm paved passage the small restaurant (Beisl) serves a breakfast and has a lunch menu. 

Splurge

• 🌍 LUX Restaurant, Schrankgasse 4, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. M-Sa 17:00-01:00, Su 10:00-01:00. One part of the establishment is a café, and the other a bar and restaurant (by the Spittelberggase entrance). The food is regional and exquisite. Free Wi-Fi. 

Ice cream

• 🌍 Veganista, Neustiftgasse 23, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Daily 11:00-23:00. Operated by two vegan sisters, this is the first vegan ice cream shop in Vienna. It has become so popular that they have now expanded with four more branches in the Vienna area. Flavours change by season, many of them exotic. €1.50 per scoop. (updated Jul 2017)

Drink

The Museumsquartier is a popular place to hang out for youngsters, hipsters and bobos. Nearby there are plenty of choices of stylish cafés and bars.

Cafés

Café Westend

• 🌍 Blue Box (Café Bar Blue Box), Richtergasse 8, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. M-Th 16:00-02:00, F 16:00-04:00, Sa 10:00-04:00, Su 10:00-02:00. This longstanding bar was legendary during the 1980s and 90s. It serves breakfast with many vegetarian options, as well as special beer from Vorarlberg. 
• 🌍 Café Leopold, Museumsplatz 1, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Su-W 10:00-02:00, Th-Sa 10:00-04:00. A classy modern café that becomes a bar in the evening. There may be a cover charge for the evening parties downstairs. 
• 🌍 Cafe Nil, Siebensterngasse 39, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. 10:00-24:00. This Middle Eastern cafe is modeled after old coffee houses in Cairo and Alexandria, and serves many organic foods. Takeaway is available, although the atmosphere really invites one to linger. 
• 🌍 Café Westend (Café Westbahnhof), Mariahilfer Straße 128 (U3, U6 Westbahnhof), ☎ [phone]. Daily 07:00-24:00. Opened in 1900, the café has historic decor with old tables and mirrors. It is situated in front of the main railway station Westbahnhof, which makes it practical to wait here for upcoming trains.  
• 🌍 Das Möbel, Burggasse 10 (Volkstheater U2, U3), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. 10:00-24:00. Hip café. Take a close look at the tables, chairs, and lamps – every piece of furniture is unique and for sale. 
• 🌍 Espresso, Burggasse 57 (U2, U3 Volkstheater + walk up the road from Das Möbel), ☎ [phone]. M-Sa 08:00-01:00. Very cool little 1950s-style café with good tunes, attracting an eclectic crowd. Owned by the nearby Wirr bar. 
• 🌍 Europa (Cafe Europa), Zollergasse 8 (U3 Neubaugasse), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. 09:00-05:00. The scenester meeting place in recent years, the café is often bursting at the seams, but good tunes and decent service prevail. Good people watching and decor. One of Vienna's most popular meeting points. The bar serves warm food til late hours. €3.50 for a large beer. 
• 🌍 TartaTata, Lindengasse 35 (Ecke Zollergasse), e-mail: [e-mail]. M-Sa 08:00-19:00, Su 10:00-15:00. This small café serves French croissants, pains au chocolat, and tartes. 

Bars

Jazz performance at the Rote Bar

• 🌍 Rote Bar, Volkstheater. 18:30-01:00. Lovely interior to savour a relaxed drink inside the Volkstheater. From time to time it serves as a small venue for excellent concerts. The door is on the left side of the main entrance for the Volkstheater. 
• 🌍 Siebensternbräu (7-Stars-Brewery), Siebensterngasse 19 (a few blocks East of Mariahilferstrasse), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. M-Sa 11:00-24:00, 11:00-23:00 (kitchen). An excellent Biergarten. They serve their own brews, which are all excellent. There is the usual assortment of bar food, friendly staff, and outdoor seating underneath an old linden tree in the middle of a hidden courtyard. Everyday from 11:00-16:00 a selection of hearty dishes is served for €5-6. Move indoors well before 23:00, because a local noise ordinance requires the bar to shut down the patio and the interior tables fill up quickly. 

Sleep

Choosing to stay in Neubau brings you conveniently close to the Innere Stadt, in the proximity of the Museumsquartier and on your way from the Westbahnhof if you plan on arriving by train. The general rule is that the closer to the Museumsquartier (i.e. the more to the Center), the more expensive the rooms.

Budget

• 🌍 Youth Hostel Vienna-Myrthengasse (Wien Myrthengasse - Jugendherberge), Myrthengasse 7, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Institutional. Dorms €21 including breakfast and sheets. 

Mid-range

• 🌍 K+K Maria Theresia, Kirchberggasse 6, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Offers a gourmet breakfast buffet. Overall, this is a good choice both for a business traveler and for a family with a toddler; comfortable for non-smokers. Heated floors in bathroom. Rooms are modern and each has a full tea set, wired internet in every room, electronic safe box, hairdrier, minibar. Small sauna adjoining a tiny gym open until at least 23:00. Breakfast from 06:30. On the downside, few steps to overcome to get to the hotel with a stroller. Regular doubles around €125 through frequently available special offers, €145+ as rack rates. 
• 🌍 Falkensteiner Hotel am Schottenfeld, Schottenfeldgasse 74, ☎ [phone]. The hotel's contemporary design is a refreshing departure from the usually stodgy appearance of most Viennesse hotels. Be mindful when booking a suite – some of them come with steeply sloping roofs. 
• 🌍 Arcotel Wimberger Wien, Neubaugürtel 34-36. A surprisingly ordinary hotel from a chain priding itself in adding a designer touch to its properties. What matters, however, is that the (quite awfully decorated) rooms close to the Westbahnhof can be had for a reasonable price, and the service level is good for Vienna. €74. 
• 🌍 InterCityHotel Wien, Mariahilfer Strasse 122 (corner of Kaiserstrasse). The InterCityHotel chain, a part of the German Steigenberger Group, focuses on hotels right next to train stations. This particular one is a block away from Westbahnhof, but still offers all the usual amenities, including a free all-day ticket for public transit. The decor is simple but modern and tasteful, especially for Viennesse standards. Some more expensive Business Plus rooms feature terraces with a view over the rooftops of Vienna. €76. 
• 🌍 NH Wien City, Mariahilfer Straße 32-34. NH brings the peace of mind by offering predictability of the chain's usual standards. Of note is the generous size of rooms (25m²), unusual for Vienna, as well as the fact that all of them are equipped with a kitchenette. €94. 
• 🌍 NH Collection Wien Zentrum, Mariahilfer Straße 78, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. If the large rooms of the NH Wien City are still not enough for you, the chain's other property down the road offers suites of 35-50m² at similar prices. (updated May 2016)

Splurge

• 🌍 25hours Hotel beim MuseumsQuartier, Lerchenfelder Straße 1-3, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. The Viennese foothold of the outlandish designer hotel chain spanning the German-speaking countries, with a rooftop terrace bar so popular that even staying guests may find it hard to get in. The location between university campuses and the Museumsquartier helps enhance the artsy/cultural/intellectual setting. 
• 🌍 Hotel Sans Souci, Burggasse 2, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Opened in December 2012, Hotel Sans Souci Wien is right across from the Museum Quarter and a 5-minute walk from the Ringstraße. The large spa area includes an indoor pool. Free Wi-Fi is available. 

Connect

• MQ. There is free wireless coverage in the interior of the Museumsquartier. Useful on sunny and warm days, when one can sit on the outdoor benches called Enzis. 

Main Public Library (Hauptbücherei)

Cope

• 🌍 Main Public Library (Hauptbücherei), Urban-Loritz-Platz 2a (directly above U6 station Burggasse-Stadthalle, in the middle of the Gürtel), ☎ [phone]. M-F 11:00-19:00, Sa 11:00-17:00. Opened in 2003 and designed by architect Ernst Mayr, this was the winner of an EU-wide design competition. The collection includes over 300,000 books, audiovisual material, and other print media including over 600 newspapers. Free wi-fi is available to visitors with library cards. 

Go next

• Innere Stadt is the central town district.
• Mariahilf is an inner district to the south.
• Josefstadt is an inner district to the north.
• Vienna/Outer West lists outer districts to the west.