„A balanced diet is a sushi roll in each hand“; Makka Vienna
There are those restaurants that people keep recommending to you. Eventually, you hear the same name so often that you think: „Alright, I need to check this out for myself.“ That is exactly how I felt about Makka Vienna.
After a long time, I met up with a good friend again. We simply wanted to spend a relaxed evening, talk about life, and—of course—have a great meal. He was surprisingly confident about where to go: „Vanessa, we’re going to Makka. They have the best sushi there.“
Anyone who knows me knows that such statements pique my curiosity. After all, there are countless sushi restaurants in Vienna these days. Some are visually stunning but rather average in terms of taste. Others impress with their food but feel somewhat uninviting. Finding the perfect combination of design, atmosphere, and quality is no easy task.
So, that evening, we headed to Makka Wien—right in the heart of the First District, at Am Hof. And I can tell you right now: the evening wasn’t just about great sushi; it also involved one of those conversations where you completely lose track of time.
Right in the middle of “am Hof”,
yet like a little oasis of calm.
The First District never ceases to surprise me.
You walk through bustling streets—tourists everywhere, elegant Viennese locals, people rushing to their next appointment. And then, suddenly, you come across one of those squares where time seems to slow down. That is exactly where you’ll find Makka Wien. The location couldn’t be more central. It’s perfect for an after-work dinner, a day of shopping, or meeting up with friends. I love restaurants that are easy to get to yet don’t feel like typical tourist traps. As soon as you step inside, you notice the great attention paid to the ambiance.
By now, I think you’re pretty familiar with my taste in interior design.
I’m not impressed by cluttered venues filled with a thousand decorative elements. Instead, I love spaces that feel high-end without being loud or ostentatious. And that’s exactly the feeling I got at Makka Vienna. Warm earth tones meet soft, golden lighting. The lights are pleasantly dimmed, instantly creating a cozy atmosphere. Nothing feels cold or sterile, even though the design is very modern.
It’s the kind of restaurant where you naturally end up staying a little longer. You don’t feel rushed. You order another drink. You keep talking. And for me, that’s what makes a restaurant great. Because, to me, dining out is never just about the food itself. It’s always about the atmosphere, too.
Finally time
for long conversations again.
I find that the older you get, the harder it becomes to meet up with friends regularly.
Everyone is working. Everyone has commitments. Everyone is trying to juggle everything somehow. That makes those evenings—where you simply sit together for hours and suddenly realize you’ve talked about practically everything—all the more special. Careers. Travel. Social media. Plans. The little dramas of everyday life. And, of course, the classic „Remember back when…?“ had to be part of it, too. We probably could have just sat there for hours with nothing but tea. But good food simply makes evenings like that even better.
For the appetizer, I decided on the shrimp dumplings.
My friend ordered the salmon tartare. Even before we placed our order, the waitress drew our attention to something I personally really appreciate. She explained right away that the dumplings are freshly prepared and would therefore take about 15 minutes. I find that kind of honesty incredibly refreshing. Instead of constantly checking the time or wondering why the food hadn’t arrived yet, you simply know what to expect.
And honestly? We didn’t mind at all. We were finally seeing each other again after a long time and had so much to talk about that we probably wouldn’t have even noticed the wait if she hadn’t mentioned it. For me, it’s exactly those kinds of little details that make for good service.
Sushi in vienna
has long since become more than just a trend.
I find it fascinating to observe how the restaurant scene in Vienna has changed in recent years. In the past, sushi was something special for many people—something they might have eaten once a month. Today, it feels like there is a sushi restaurant on every other street corner. That makes it all the harder to truly stand out from the crowd.
That is precisely why I now pay attention to much more than just the taste. Of course, the food has to impress, but for me, the overall package plays just as important a role. What does the restaurant look like? Do I feel comfortable? Is the service attentive? Would I bring my girlfriends here, or even spend my wedding anniversary here? These are the questions that actually go through my mind when I try out a new restaurant. Makka Vienna strikes exactly the right balance of stylish ambiance, high-quality cuisine, and a relaxed atmosphere—something that is becoming increasingly rare these days.
Why order just one dish
when you can simply share everything?
I’ve developed a bit of a strategy by now.
Especially when I’m out eating with people who are open to the idea. I simply suggest sharing everything. Not out of politeness. Not because I can’t make up my mind. But because I want to try as much as possible. I want to know which sushi is truly good. Which roll offers a surprise. Which combination works. So I say right away: „Let’s just order a few things and share everything.“
Of course, there’s a tiny bit of tactics involved, too. Because that way, I get to taste a bit of everything. And my dining companion gets to eat first, allowing me to sample everything at my leisure. You just have to think strategically. I’m convinced that many of you know exactly what I mean.
When our main course was finally served, I had to pause for a moment. I love beautiful food.
Not in the sense of being overly decorated. But rather, aesthetically plated. And that was exactly the case here. We had ordered the „Solo Platter“ featuring a variety of special rolls. It was accompanied by the Tempura Roll and the Philadelphia Roll. The presentation alone was incredibly beautiful. The different colors. The arrangement. The little details. It looked almost too good to start eating right away. Almost. Because, of course, that restraint didn’t last very long.
The pink rice
was my personal highlight.
To be honest, I never would have thought that the rice, of all things, would impress me so much.
But that is exactly what happened. For me, the pink rice was instantly the highlight of the entire evening. It didn’t just make the sushi platter visually striking; it also gave it a unique character. Especially in a city like Vienna, where there are now so many sushi restaurants, such small details ensure you stand out in people’s memories. Of course, taste is what matters most in the end. But I think good food should look beautiful, too. After all, as the saying goes, we eat with our eyes. And when the two come together, a restaurant stays in your memory for a long time.
As we continued eating, it slowly grew dark outside.
The golden lighting made the restaurant feel even cozier than when we first arrived. I love watching people in restaurants. The couples. The groups of friends. The families. Every table seems to tell its own story. And that is exactly what I like about places like this. They bring people together. People celebrate. They laugh. They have conversations. Later, you remember not just the food, but the entire evening. For me, that was the best part of the visit. Of course, the sushi was excellent. But I probably would have enjoyed the evening even if the food had been merely average. Because the company was just the right fit. And sometimes, those very combinations are priceless.
my summary
on Makka Vienna
If you’re currently looking for a modern sushi restaurant in the First District, you should definitely add Makka Wien to your list.
For me, it was one of those dining experiences where everything just came together perfectly. The central location right at Am Hof, the stylish interior with its warm colors and golden lighting, the attentive service, and—of course—the outstanding sushi all made the evening truly memorable. What will stay with me in particular is the beautiful presentation of the dishes and, naturally, the pink rice, which was an instant highlight for me. Little details like that show real thought and care, and that is exactly what I love.
But just as wonderful was the fact that this dinner once again demonstrated the importance of spending time together. In the hustle and bustle of daily life, we often lose sight of things amidst work, appointments, and to-do lists. That makes evenings spent sitting together for hours—laughing, sharing stories, and enjoying an excellent meal—all the more precious.
That is precisely why my visit to Makka Wien certainly won’t be my last. Sometimes, you really don’t need much: good food, great conversation, and a restaurant where you feel at ease from the very first moment. And that is exactly what I found here.
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