text; Fantasy Bistro
I have to admit: At first glance, Fantasy Bistro probably wouldn’t be the place you’d immediately associate with me. No high ceilings, no chandeliers, no stately Viennese elegance, no „I feel like a main character in an old movie“ moment. And you know what? That’s probably exactly why it surprised me so pleasantly.
Because yes – even though I love Vienna for its stately cafés, beautiful hotels, and that certain elegance, there are always two sides to every coin. Sometimes you don’t want to sit somewhere all dressed up and sip afternoon tea. Sometimes you just want something cool. Something with a vibe. Something that feels like the city.
And Fantasy Bistro is exactly that kind of place.
Since its reopening, the place has been the talk of the town in Vienna. Everyone’s talking about it, everyone’s posting about it, and honestly? I just wanted to know if the hype was really justified or if, once again, beautiful interiors just make for good marketing.
Spoiler alert: I was pleasantly surprised.
Monthly brunch date
with my bestie
Anyone who knows me knows that my best friend and I have our monthly brunch date. It’s a ritual we’ve practically become a ritual. We chat for hours, gossip, analyze life, discuss future plans, philosophize about people, and in between, come up with ten new ideas that we’ll probably never implement.
This time, we chose Fantasy Bistro, right in the heart of Vienna’s 6th district, very close to Mariahilfer Straße. Honestly—that alone makes it almost dangerous. Because when you’re in that area, shopping afterward is practically obligatory.
And let me tell you straight away: Of course, it wasn’t exactly a „quick stroll“ this time.
I’m someone who likes to adapt to the vibe of a place.
If I go to a classic Viennese café, I’ll dress differently than for a modern, urban brunch date. And somehow, that’s part of the fun, isn’t it?
For our visit to Fantasy Bistro, I deliberately went for a „cool and effortless“ look.
Black baggy pants, my new Converse, and a T-shirt that says:
„My mom tells me I am fabulous.“
Just casual. Just cool. Not too styled. Not trying too hard.
And the funny thing? Our waiter actually confirmed my look right away and said that the outfit perfectly matched the vibe there. So yes – fashion validation accepted.
Minimalist, cool
& exactly that Vienna hype vibe
Fantasy Bistro is super centrally located in the 6th district and is decorated exactly as you’d probably expect these days: minimalist, clean, cool – but not cold.
No cluttered design, no frills, but lots of little details that somehow seem to have been placed perfectly by chance.
Sitting outside would have been nice, but honestly: it was just way too hot. So we sat inside – which turned out to be the perfect decision anyway.
Because there were so many little details to discover inside that I immediately started taking photos.
And the best part?
Every single person who came in did exactly the same thing.
No joke.
You could actually see that brief pause at the entrance, the glance around the restaurant, and then immediately: phone out.
I almost had to laugh to myself because everyone was on the same mission.
And somehow that just confirmed all the hype surrounding Fantasy Bistro.
First, coffee.
And of course, drinks.
The menu at Fantasy Bistro is actually quite extensive. Not the kind of menu where you’re done in three seconds, but more like: Okay, wow, what should I get? I dutifully opted for a cappuccino first. My best friend chose a lemonade. Quite sensible. At least for about five minutes.
Because anyone who knows us knows: We have to toast. Always.
It’s practically a tradition.
And honestly – a monthly brunch deserves a little cheers, right?
So I quickly ordered two Espresso Martinis.
Yes, for breakfast.
Yes, absolutely the right thing to do.
And no, I don’t regret a thing.
At Fantasy Bistro, the whole thing looked absurdly aesthetic, of course.
So there we sat, like two people who were supposed to be productive, but instead were drinking Espresso Martinis over breakfast and discussing life.
That’s exactly my kind of humor.
Healthy breakfast
but really good
Now for the most important part: the food.
Because let’s be honest – beautiful interiors alone are useless if the food is disappointing in the end.
At Fantasy Bistro, we ordered the small breakfast, along with the veggie plate, and I also had the marinated fish.
And I have to say: it was exactly the kind of breakfast you sometimes just need. Healthy, light, but still really good.
Not that „healthy and then I’m secretly still hungry“ kind of breakfast, but more like this: pleasantly full, feeling good, and above all, not completely exhausted.
Do you know those breakfasts that make you want to go straight back to sleep?
Definitely not here.
I ordered the marinated fish – and honestly, it was the highlight.
The fish was marinated in a clear sauce, kind of like sashimi.
Buttery, soft, incredibly delicious, and somehow the perfect source of protein in the morning.
It might sound unusual for breakfast at first.
Maybe it is.
But I really liked it.
I actually love dishes like that: a little different, but still uncomplicated.
And somehow it fit perfectly with the whole concept of Fantasy Bistro.
Modern, urban, a bit edgy – but still not overly fancy.
We shared the veggie plate, by the way.
And I swear to you—we really felt like two ground squirrels (Ziesel in german).
If you’re one of my closest friends, you know exactly what I mean.
If not, better not ask.
It’s one of those inside jokes that just sort of happened and suddenly become completely natural.
But yes—we sat there, nibbling, sharing, tasting, and having a wonderful time.
And for me, brunch is all about moments like these.
Not just the food.
Not just the location.
But that feeling.
The best conversations
always happen at brunch
What do I love about our monthly brunch dates?
That time just disappears.
We chatted for hours again at Fantasy Bistro.
About everything.
And nothing.
About things that are important and things that are completely unimportant.
And believe me: Even after hours, I felt like it wasn’t long enough.
Do you know people with whom time just passes differently?
Where suddenly three hours have gone by and you think: What?!
That’s exactly how this morning was.
Maybe it was the atmosphere.
Maybe the espresso martinis.
Maybe simply the fact that we always have way too much to talk about.
Probably all of the above.
And because Fantasy Bistro is conveniently located near Mariahilfer Straße, it was clear: we’d do a little stroll afterward.
Or at least we told ourselves we were just „just popping in for a quick look.“
You probably know how it is.
Once you’re on Mariahilfer Straße, suddenly hours have passed.
But somehow, for me, that’s almost become part of the experience.
Having a cool brunch, walking through Vienna, people-watching, popping into shops, looking at things you might not need—or maybe you do.
That’s exactly the feeling I love about Vienna.
my summary
Is the hype surrounding Fantasy Bistro justified?
The big question.
Is Fantasy Bistro really worth all the hype?
My honest answer: Yes.
It might not be a classic vanity spot in the sense of stately, elegant, or old-money Viennese chic.
But it’s still totally vanity.
Just the other side of it.
The cool side.
The urban side.
The „we drink espresso martinis for breakfast and then go shopping“ side.
I thought the food was really good, the experience lovely, the vibe relaxed yet exciting enough that you understand why everyone wants to go there right now.
Fantasy Bistro feels young. Modern. Fresh.
And sometimes that’s exactly what you need.
Would I come back?
Definitely.
If only for the marinated fish.
And of course, for another brunch with my bestie.
Maybe we’ll sit outside next time.
Maybe inside again.
But we’ll almost certainly raise a glass again.
And we’ll almost certainly feel like two ground squirrels again.
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