A Beer Tourist’s Guide To…Vienna

It’s like they forgot Germany and Czechia are either side of them.

The indie beer scene in Vienna is, in a word, Scheiße. We dug around for the dregs in case you need a switch up from Schnitzel and Sachertorte, but there’s clearly a reason Marx and Freud used to hang out in cafes and not pubs.

AmmutsØn Craft Beer Dive

Unclear as to why it has a Danish name, perhaps to try and make you forget you’re in Vienna, this is the only dedicated, familiar-feeling “craft beer bar” in the whole city. It’s a vibey enough spot, with 10 or so taps of European indie beer, though often just 2-3 options from Austria itself. It is seating-oriented and gastro-pub like inside, and has a cute exterior balcony if the weather happens to be nice.

Golser Bier & Wein Bar

This is suave spot in the heart of the city features a selection of Golser beer, which is one of the better Austrian indie breweries. Sporting a diverse array of styles, they also serve some nice cheese and meat boards, plus plenty of other booze options.

1516 Brewing Company

The aesthetic here is British pub meets Viennese cafe, with a sprinkling of US dive bar, but not quite doing any of them faithfully. The beer is modern if a little underwhelming, but it works for a change-up from the local fare given they do a decent IPA or Stout. They also have a very substantial pub food offering, so it is also a decent dinner option.

Mel’s Diner

If you’re desperate for craft beer, this is your final option: an American Diner. It’s perfectly pleasant in there, more so than most actual American Diners, and the beer selection spans a good range of European beer and a few pleasingly niche indie Austrian offerings.

Finally, a word for Schweizerhaus. With over 30,000 reviews on Google Maps, this is THE beer institution of Vienna. Situated inside the Prater funfair/theme park/situation, this is a colossal, Bavarian-style biergarten serving just two types of Budvar lager. It is quite the experience, and we highly recommend a visit there – just a) don’t expect to find a table quickly if you’re there on a summer’s weekend, and b) the beer is what it is. But when you’re drinking it out of a 1 Litre glass and taking funny pics, you won’t care.

Know any other indie beer spots we’ve missed in Vienna? Let us know.
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