„Breakfast is a meal but brunch is a culture.“ -Matt Basile; The 5 best Brunch Spots
There are days in Vienna when I just don’t want „just“ breakfast. I want a moment that feels a bit like a movie. Like warm coffee, soft music, that feeling of taking just the right amount of time – even though the city outside is already awake. And that’s exactly why I love brunch. Because it’s not stressful like a quick breakfast, but also not as „big“ as a dinner date. Brunch is that perfect in-between world. And quite honestly: I don’t think anyone does this in-between world as well as Vienna.
I’ve tried so many beautiful places over the past few years, but there are some locations that just stick. Not just because the food is good, but because everything fits: the light, the atmosphere, the details, that very specific vibe that feels like, „Yes, this is exactly how I want to start my day.“ And since I’ve already written blog posts about all five spots, I thought: Today I’ll make a kind of favorites list – my very personal top 5 brunch spots in Vienna that work best for me right now.
Especially because they perfectly match my current aesthetic. That elegant, „Vienna chic“ feeling I’m currently loving – stately, sophisticated, modern, but never too stiff. Places where you can experience the various elegant facets of Vienna without it feeling touristy. And these five spots are, for me, the best examples of that. So, here they are. My current favorite brunch spots in Vienna – in the exact order I would visit them again anytime.
1. Cafe Adlerhof
– somehow “Vienna like it used to be”
Cafe Adlerhof is one of those places I almost want to gatekeep – but I can’t, because I truly love it. I’ve already written in my blog post about how much this blend of classic Viennese flair and relaxed casualness has won me over. It feels like a little piece of authentic Vienna, without feeling pretentious or prim.
Adlerhof is perfect for brunch if you’re looking for that feeling: Today I have time. No hectic start, no „We have to vacate the table in 60 minutes“ vibe. It’s warm, relaxed, a little nostalgic. Exactly the kind of place where you sit, glance out the window, and suddenly realize how beautiful the city truly is.
What I particularly love about it is that you don’t feel overdressed if you dress up a bit—but also not underdressed if you’re casual. It’s that understated elegance that’s so typical of Vienna. And that’s also why it’s at the top of this list: It’s not loud. It’s not „Instagram first.“ It’s simply good. And brunch there feels like a mini-Sunday—even if it’s a Wednesday.
2. Chez Bernard
– my personal “French Girl” moment
Chez Bernard is like a little Paris in the heart of Vienna. And I know I’ve already written something similar in my blog post – but it’s just as true every time. As soon as you walk in, there’s this special atmosphere. A bit more elegant, a bit more refined, a bit of a „I’m consciously taking my time now“ vibe. And that’s exactly what I love so much about brunch: It’s not just about the food, it’s about the atmosphere.
What makes Chez Bernard so special is its blend of stylish yet cozy. It’s not that cold, fine-dining feel, but something warm and inviting. And somehow, the place has a certain romantic charm without being cheesy. It’s perfect for a date, but equally perfect for brunch with a friend, where you can chat for three hours and leave feeling like you’ve taken a little trip.
For me, Chez Bernard embodies a very elegant facet of Vienna: its sophisticated, international side. It’s that „We’re Viennese, but we can also speak French“ feeling. And it fits so well with my current aesthetic because it’s not just beautiful—it’s also stylish.
3. The Guest House
– when brunch feels like boutique hotel luxury
I think The Guest House is one of those places in Vienna where you automatically sit up a little straighter as soon as you take a seat. Not out of obligation, but because everything is so thoughtfully designed. The lighting, the interior, that modern elegance that instantly exudes „city luxury.“ I wrote my blog post about The Guest House back then and received more messages than usual afterward—because this place simply has this special radiance.
And quite honestly, brunch there feels a bit like a vacation. Like, „I’m the main character in my own life right now.“ You know what I mean. You sit there, look around, order something that feels special, and suddenly the whole day is better.
The Guest House is the perfect brunch spot for me when I want to treat myself. It’s the place to experience that Vienna isn’t just classic and historic, but also modern, clean, and international. It’s this elegant side of Vienna that perfectly matches my „Vienna chic“ mood. And every time I’m there, I think to myself: This is exactly how I imagine the Viennese lifestyle.
4. Joma
– the classic that simply never disappoints
Joma is like an old friend to me. I wrote a blog post about it a while ago, and yet I keep going back – because it just works. It’s one of those brunch spots where you know you’re getting great quality, a lovely atmosphere, and that special Viennese feeling, without having to think twice.
Joma is elegant, but not pretentious. It’s lively, but not loud. And it has that charming „I’m right in the heart of Vienna, and this is exactly where I want to be“ feeling. Especially on sunny days, when everything sparkles a little and you feel like the city is putting on a little scene just for you.
What I also love about Joma is that it’s a place that embodies many facets of Vienna. A little bit classic, a little bit modern, a little bit urban. And that’s precisely why it fits perfectly on this list. Because my current aesthetic is exactly that: elegant, sophisticated, yet approachable. And Joma is that perfect balance—like a perfect brunch that isn’t over the top, but still makes you happy.
5. Cafe Bellaria
– for my heart and my Vienna nostalgia
For me, Cafe Bellaria is pure nostalgia. And I mean that in the best possible way. In my blog post, I wrote about how much this place reminds me of an „old Vienna“—a Vienna that breathes a little slower, feels a little more poetic. Bellaria isn’t trendy. It doesn’t try to be modern. And that’s precisely what makes it so beautiful.
If you want a brunch that feels like a Sunday morning in a Viennese film, then Bellaria is the place for you. It’s stately without being ostentatious. Classic without being boring. And for me, it embodies a facet of Vienna that I particularly love right now: this cultivated tranquility.
I think Bellaria perfectly matches my current aesthetic because it embodies elegant Vienna in its gentlest form. Not loud, not flashy, but like a well-cut beige coat. Quiet, yet beautiful.
Why these five in particular?
Because these five locations, for me, form the perfect „Vienna aesthetic“ route. Each spot showcases a different elegant facet of Vienna – and that’s exactly what I love about it. They’re places where you feel good. Not because you have to pretend, but because you automatically slip into this mood: a little slower, a little more refined, a little more mindful.
And that’s precisely what brunch is perfect for. It’s that time of day when anything is possible. You can go shopping afterward, you can stroll through the city, you can go home and get back into bed – and yet it still feels like a little highlight.
For me, these five spots are the best examples of just how multifaceted Vienna can be when you don’t just „visit“ it, but truly experience it.
my summary
Brunch in Vienna is currently my favorite luxury
When I think back on the past few months, brunch has often been exactly that little bit of luxury I needed. Not big, not extravagant – but noticeable. Those two hours when you sit down and realize: I don’t have to do anything right now. I can simply be.
And that’s precisely why I love Vienna so much. Because the city gives you these moments. These elegant places, these quiet corners, these beautiful spots where you feel like you’re pressing a little reset button in your own life. Whether it’s brunch at the cozy Adlerhof, the French Chez Bernard, the luxurious The Guest House, the vibrant Joma, or the nostalgic Bellaria – each of these places has its own magic. And that’s what I find most beautiful about it: Vienna can always be different. But always beautiful.
And yes… I already know: That wasn’t my last brunch there. If you ask me which two places I’d spontaneously go back to again and again: The Guest House, when I’m in the mood for a treat, and Bellaria, when I want to „immerse myself in Vienna for a bit.“ But actually… they’re all a little piece of Viennese elegance in their own way. And that’s exactly why they’re my top 5 brunch spots in Vienna right now. And because I know myself:
The next brunch is probably already planned sooner than I’m letting on.
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