„The only thing I like better than talking about food is eating.“- JohnWalters; Clementine im Glashaus
There are these places in Vienna that you keep on your mind for months – sometimes even years. These are the places you always think about: Someday we’ll go there. That’s exactly how it was for me with Clementine im Glashaus (Clementine in the glasshouse). I’d wanted to go to Clementine im Glashaus for so long. I’d seen pictures of it countless times, read about it again and again, and every time I thought: It looks absolutely beautiful. Elegant, special, a little mysterious – exactly the kind of restaurant where you feel like you’ve stepped into another world for a few hours.
And somehow, there couldn’t have been a more perfect occasion than our wedding anniversary.
For our anniversary, my husband and I finally managed to go to Clementine im Glashaus on a quiet Monday evening. Perhaps that was the secret to this wonderful evening. No hustle and bustle, no crowds, no noise – just the two of us, good food, and the feeling of having escaped from everyday life, even if just for a little while.
Hidden in the heart of Vienna
– yet like a small secret garden
Clementine im Glashaus is located in the beautiful Palais Coburg in Vienna. And this location alone has something magical about it.
Fun fact that probably no one knows: We almost got married at Palais Coburg. It was actually pretty high on our list back then. In the end, we went with Schloss Hof – and yet that evening still had something incredibly nostalgic about it for me. It almost felt like we were traveling back in time for a brief moment. Perhaps that’s precisely why Clementine im Glashaus was so special for our anniversary.
The restaurant is on the first floor, and you take a glass elevator up. Even that brief moment does something to you. You know how it is—sometimes the atmosphere starts even before you sit down at your table. And once you’re up there, it suddenly feels like you’re in a small, hidden garden right in the heart of Vienna. Almost a secret. Almost surreal.
Like a greenhouse
from an old film
I have to be honest: I was completely smitten the moment I walked in.
The Clementine in the Glasshouse is located in a kind of former greenhouse – glass everywhere, high windows, and this beautiful metal structure in a typical moss green. And now for a little side note from my inner Viennese engineer: You see this exact color all the time on stately buildings. This dark, elegant green is everywhere – on old glasshouses, historical structures, or magnificent buildings. It simply has something incredibly classic about it. That’s precisely why the Clementine in the Glasshouse felt both elegant and cozy to me.
The only downside was that the weather wasn’t great that evening. Otherwise, we probably could have sat outside – which would have been absolutely wonderful. Even so, it was just as lovely inside. Perhaps even more romantic. Especially because you could really immerse yourself in the atmosphere.
Cozy rather than overcrowded
– that’s exactly how I love date nights
What immediately struck me was that Clementine im Glashaus doesn’t have an endless number of tables. And that’s exactly what I love. Especially on a date night, you don’t want to be stuck in a crowded restaurant where you have to shout at each other because the music is too loud or there are a thousand conversations going on around you.
Here it was quiet. Relaxed. Almost intimate. Exactly the kind of atmosphere I want for a wedding day. Some of the upholstered furniture was covered in floral fabrics, there were paintings everywhere, and then there was this huge chandelier that I would have loved to take home with me. Really.
I looked at my husband about five times and said, „I need this for our living room.“ Everything seemed so stylish, but not prim. Elegant, yet cozy. Almost as if someone had created a secret conservatory in a stately home in Vienna. And that’s precisely what makes the Clementine in the Glass House so special.
Aperitif
with memories of our wedding
Let’s talk about the food.
Or rather, the start of our evening. As an aperitif, I ordered a Bellini with champagne. And no – not just because I fancied it. It was a small tribute to our wedding. Because that was exactly our first drink back then. And the rather strong Moscow Mule, which they didn’t have here. Sometimes it’s precisely these little things that suddenly make memories feel so close again.
So, while I was drinking my Bellini, I couldn’t help but think back to our wedding day – the excitement, the emotions, and that special magic. My husband, on the other hand, stayed true to form and opted for a small beer. Very typical for both of us, actually. Me, with a touch of romance and nostalgia. Him, completely relaxed. By the way, I found the menu at Clementine im Glashaus to be really well-organized. Clear, not cluttered, and with a sophisticated selection without trying to be complicated. Just the right balance.
For my starter, I chose the wild prawns with pea purée. My husband had the beef tartare with anchovies. And wow. Truly wow. It was beautifully presented – but above all, light and incredibly delicious. That’s exactly what I love about good food. When you don’t feel like you need to go straight to bed afterward.
Before that, we had bread and butter, which is always a little sign that an evening is going to be cozy. And although the portions were rather elegant, it was the perfect start. Clementine im Glashaus really manages to make food seem special without it being too fancy. Simply high-quality. Thoughtfully designed. And beautifully presented.
The perfect steak
– and a touch of wedding spirit
For my main course, I chose the beef – also with pea purée and wild garlic gnocchi.
And I’ll tell you honestly: it was cooked to perfection. Buttery soft. Cooked to perfection. And those gnocchi? I could have honestly eaten them all by myself. It was satisfying, yet light. Exactly the kind of dinner that leaves you feeling good afterward. My husband opted for the lamb with pan-fried liver and potato gratin. And suddenly, we both burst out laughing. Because somehow, this evening kept having little parallels to our wedding.
The lamb. The potato gratin. The Bellini. That we were sitting in a palace. That we almost got married in this very spot. That I wore a white dress. Yes, I even wore my wedding shoes. It was almost as if we had created our very own little wedding celebration.
Just the two of us. Completely calm. Completely relaxed. No plans at all.
The longer the evening went on, the more I felt that Clementine im Glashaus had given us exactly that: a little reboot of our wedding memories.
Do you know that feeling when places suddenly evoke emotions? That’s exactly how it was. The palace. The greenhouse. The glass. The tranquil atmosphere. The Bellini. My white dress. The wedding high heels. It felt like we were celebrating our wedding all over again, on a much smaller scale. Just for us. Without guests. Without stress. Simply as a couple. And somehow, I love evenings like these so much more now.
Not loud. Not huge. Not perfectly staged. Just real. Clementine im Glashaus became more than just a restaurant in Vienna for us. It became a memory.
my summary
a perfect place for two
Would I come back?
Oh my God, yes. Clementine im Glashaus lived up to all my expectations. Beautiful atmosphere. Calm ambiance. Fantastic food. And that feeling of escaping everyday life for a few hours. Especially if you’re planning a special date night, celebrating an anniversary, or simply want to spend a lovely evening in Vienna, I can wholeheartedly recommend Clementine im Glashaus. Particularly if you love restaurants that are elegant without feeling stuffy. Luxurious, yet cozy. Special, but not pretentious. For me, this evening was so much more than just a restaurant visit in Vienna.
It was our little wedding celebration. An evening full of memories. And one of those moments that you somehow cherish forever. Thank you, Clementine im Glashaus, for exactly this feeling.
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