„Life’s too short to have boring dates. Let’s make this one unforgettable!“; Figoletta
There are restaurants you discover by chance. And then there are those that have been on your personal bucket list for months, but something always seems to get in the way. Sometimes the weather isn’t on your side, sometimes your calendar is packed with appointments, and sometimes the right opportunity simply never arises.
That was exactly the case for me with Figoletta. I’ve honestly wanted to go there for over a year. I kept seeing photos and hearing friends talk about it, thinking every time: „We’ll definitely make it there this summer.“ Yet, somehow, it never happened.
Until now.
Because at some point, it became clear: it was time for another little date night with my husband. No elaborate planning, no special anniversary, and no particular occasion. Just a summer evening in Vienna, good food, and a few hours to forget about everyday life for a moment. And if you’re looking for a place that feels like both a holiday and Vienna at the same time, you’ll sooner or later inevitably end up at Figoletta.
Between a Mediterranean garden
and the big city of Vienna
I love restaurants that create a special atmosphere.
Not necessarily because they are luxurious or extravagant, but because they whisk you away from everyday life for a few hours. That is exactly what Figoletta achieves. Although the restaurant is located right on a busy street, the mood outside is surprisingly relaxed. Amidst the trees, plants, and set tables, you feel almost as if you were in a small Italian courtyard—all while the sounds of Viennese city life continue around you.
It is precisely this contrast that gives the place its charm. You are sitting in the heart of Vienna, yet the evening suddenly feels like a holiday. We spent the entire evening outside, by the way, and honestly, I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Especially in summer, the restaurant thrives on this open-air atmosphere.
Without a reservation?
Better not even try.
Even before we arrived, I knew one thing:
There’s really no point in even trying to visit Figoletta without a reservation. The restaurant is incredibly popular, and you can see why—especially on warm summer evenings. You could tell just by looking from the outside how packed it was; almost every table was taken, and there were constantly new guests waiting for a spot to open up. That’s why I highly recommend making a reservation well in advance. It makes for a much more relaxed start to the evening, so you don’t have to just hope that someone happens to get up and leave.
By now, you probably know that I don’t just mention the highlights in my blog posts.
If something catches my attention, I feel it’s simply part of the experience. And there was, in fact, one small detail that bothered me a bit during the meal. The bench seat was significantly higher than the chairs opposite it. That might sound like a minor issue at first, but it actually made me feel like I was sitting much too high at the table. It certainly wasn’t a disaster and didn’t ruin the evening, but personally, I didn’t find it comfortable.
Apart from that, however, there was absolutely nothing to fault about the ambiance.
No sooner had we ordered
than the drinks were already on the table.
I don’t think I’ve ever received drinks so quickly.
No sooner had we ordered than they were in front of us—it felt like less than three minutes later. It was impressively fast. Unsurprisingly, I opted for an Aperol again. I suppose that doesn’t surprise anyone anymore; for me, summer, sunshine, and Aperol simply go hand in hand. My husband stuck to the classic choice: a beer. As we enjoyed our drinks, we watched the bustle around us—people meeting up with friends, couples on date nights, families having dinner, and a constant stream of new guests arriving.
The atmosphere was lively without feeling loud or hectic. That’s exactly the kind of mix I really love.
Of course, an appetizer was a must. This time, I opted for the burrata. I usually order burrata with pizza bread, but on this occasion, I deliberately decided to skip it, knowing that pizza was waiting for me later on. And that was definitely the right decision. The burrata was wonderfully creamy and fresh—just the thing for a warm summer evening.
My husband chose the fried artichokes. To be honest, artichokes aren’t something I would normally gravitate towards. But after trying them—as I naturally had to—I was pleasantly surprised. Pleasantly crispy on the outside and beautifully tender on the inside—a truly excellent appetizer.
When the original plan
is changed spontaneously
I had actually been looking forward to pasta all day. Truffle pasta, to be precise. But sometimes, things just turn out differently. When I looked over the menu, I discovered—to my disappointment—that there was no truffle pasta.
For a moment, I was indeed a little let down. But sometimes, that’s exactly what leads to better choices. Because instead, I simply ordered the truffle pizza. And I definitely didn’t regret that decision. My husband opted for the classic Buffalina pizza. The moment both pizzas were brought to the table, I knew we had probably been a bit too optimistic with our order. The portions are truly generous.
To me, pizza always seems to epitomize a relaxed summer evening.
You’re sitting outside, the sun is slowly slipping behind the houses, there’s laughter and conversation all around, and a freshly baked pizza is sitting right in front of you. That’s exactly the feeling I had that evening. The truffle pizza was wonderfully aromatic without feeling too heavy. The truffle flavor was pleasantly distinct and harmonized perfectly with the creamy cheese. My husband’s *Buffalina* looked fantastic, too; after we inevitably swapped a few bites, I could see why it’s one of the menu’s classics. I have to be honest, though: I really struggled to finish my pizza. Not because I didn’t enjoy it.
Quite the opposite. The portion was simply generous, and by the time I’d finished the burrata, I realized I might have been a bit too optimistic about how hungry I actually was.
There's always room
for dessert.
Do you know this phenomenon?
Usually, after the main course, you feel like there’s absolutely no room left. And yet, five minutes later, you order dessert anyway. That’s exactly what happened with us. Naturally, we had to have some tiramisu. Though, sensibly enough, we decided to share it. I’m of the opinion that desserts on a date night should be shared anyway. You get to taste each other’s, keep the conversation going, and let the evening wind down slowly. The tiramisu was pleasantly creamy, not too sweet, and the perfect way to wrap things up after pizza and Aperol.
These are exactly the kind of evenings I love about Vienna.
You don’t need a weekend trip to Italy. You don’t need a flight to the seaside. Sometimes, a lovely summer evening, good food, and the right company are all it takes. As Viennese city life bustled on around us, we sat amidst olive trees, plants, and the lively atmosphere of the restaurant, chatting about everything and nothing. In the end, it is often these small moments that stay in our memories far longer than major events. Perhaps because they are so uncomplicated. No perfect staging. No special occasion. Just time spent together.
my summary
– service, ambiance and price
I really have no complaints about the service.
All the staff were friendly, attentive, and pleasantly unobtrusive. I was particularly impressed by the speed of service. It is rare to have drinks arrive at the table within just a few minutes. The food also arrived surprisingly quickly, despite the restaurant being full.
In terms of price, I would place Figoletta in the solid mid-range for Vienna. Of course, it isn’t a cheap restaurant, but the pricing is absolutely fair given the quality, location, and ambiance. Anyone expecting a luxurious fine-dining experience here will likely be disappointed. However, if you are looking for a really good Italian restaurant with a lovely summer atmosphere, this is the perfect spot.
Would I come back? I think yes.
So, if you’re looking for a restaurant for your next date night or simply want to spend a relaxed summer evening with friends, you should definitely put Figoletta on your list. Sometimes, all you really need is an Aperol, a truly great pizza, a shared tiramisu, and someone with whom even an ordinary Wednesday evening suddenly tastes a little bit like Italy.
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