„It´s strange how 8 glasses of water a day seems impossible, but 8 cocktails doesn´t.“ ; Toga Bar
Vienna has experienced a real cocktail hype in recent years. From classic hotel bars to insider speakeasies to concept bars that could almost be described as adventure worlds – you can find it all. And because, as you know, I don’t „just“ drink wine or spritzers, but love to sample creative cocktail menus, TOGA Bar was recently on our radar.
In short: It was exciting, it was fun, it was… a bit of a one-hit wonder.
The cocktails are creative, no question. But somewhere between the idea and the execution, you get the feeling there’s more to them – especially if you’re already familiar with many other bars in Vienna.
And because it didn’t stop at just one drink (of course), I’ll take you through our evening – including a detailed look at the drinks we tried
First things first:
The TOGA vibes
The bar is centrally located, easily accessible, and has a touch of „we want to be modern, but still a bit edgy.“ It’s not a super-opulent hotel bar atmosphere, but it’s not a dimly lit student bar either. It’s somewhere in between.
I like that it wasn’t too crowded, but at the same time, it’s still missing a bit of that „signature feeling“ you’d expect from bars like Kleinod, Tür 7, or krypt.
What TOGA definitely has, though, is the courage to be creative. And that’s exactly what you notice as soon as you open the menu (or, in our case, order the cocktail of the day).
The cocktail of the day
– a balsamic surprise
We started right away with the „Cocktail of the Day.“ I love it when bars offer something like that, because it always shows a bit of the bartender’s talent.
That evening, it was a mix with fruity notes—I’m guessing something with berries or citrus at the base—and then a dash of balsamic vinegar for a twist. Sounds exciting, right?
Yes… it was exciting. But the problem with ingredients like that is: you have to measure them incredibly carefully. And in our glass, the balsamic vinegar was simply too present. Instead of adding subtle depth, it almost overpowered the entire drink.
Not bad—but not so harmonious that I would necessarily order it again.
Classic with a twist
– Pornstar Martini
I know a lot of people laugh at the Pornstar Martini, but let’s be honest: it’s a real crowd-pleaser. Passion fruit, vanilla, a dash of Prosecco on the side – and you’ve got a drink that’s selling like hotcakes on every cocktail menu.
The TOGA version wasn’t bad, but it was very classic. Nicely creamy thanks to the vanilla liqueur, fruity and tart thanks to the passion fruit – only the Prosecco could have been more sparkling for my taste. Still, it’s a safe bet if you don’t want to risk any experiments.
Medusa
– a drink with a bite
The Medusa cocktail piqued my interest immediately with its name. It had a slightly greenish color, which visually screams „poison and bile“ – in a good way.
The base: probably gin (botanicals fit perfectly with this theme), with herbal liqueur and a bit of citrus, perhaps lime or yuzu. Then, a light bitter twist on top.
The whole thing was significantly more tart and exciting than the classic crowd-pleaser – a drink that has character, but isn’t necessarily for everyone. I found it refreshingly different because it doesn’t rely on sweetness, but rather on that mystical „look at me, but don’t come too close“ feeling.
The Pearl
– elegant but inconspicuous
Then there was the Pearl. Sounds like an understatement, right? I was imagining a clean, perhaps champagne-like drink. And yes, that was pretty much it.
A sparkling, light creation, served with foam, with a flavor somewhere between lychee, white wine notes, and floral aromas. Truly elegant—but unfortunately a bit too understated. It’s the kind of cocktail you can easily sip, but one that doesn’t leave a lasting impression.
For the men
– Negroni & Old Fashioned variations
My husband is the complete opposite of me when it comes to cocktails. While I want to try everything, he usually sticks to the classics—that is, a Negroni or an Old Fashioned.
TOGA has its own variations, which I found very exciting.
• In the Negroni, the Campari was much more mellow, almost as if they had softened it with a fruitier vermouth. The result: a slightly lighter drink that would be perfect for Negroni newbies.
• The Old Fashioned, on the other hand, was pretty straight. Whiskey, sugar, bitters—but maybe a touch more citrus than you’re used to. My husband said: „Solid, but not outstanding.“
So, if you prefer classic, strong drinks, you’ll find your option here—but don’t expect any major revolutions.
Regarding the Silent Spa’s general offering, it can be said that there is not much choice, but it is perfect for that. There is another treatment called “Levitas” and that´s it. An exclusive relaxation treatment from head to toe, including peeling.
Lord of the Rings
– a visual highlight
I have to say: sometimes, it’s enough for me if a drink just looks good. And the Lord of the Rings cocktail was just that.
The glass was decorated as if it had been imported straight from Middle Earth. Smoke, decorations, a bit of glitter—everything was there. Taste-wise, it didn’t quite hold up (I mean, after Medusa and Pearl, it was more of a sweet and fruity mix), but it was definitely a visual highlight.
That’s one area, by the way, where I think TOGA could improve: presentation. Creative drinks deserve creative staging—and a lot of it was still pretty basic.
Shots on the house
– the cherry on top
There were several shots on the house that evening. I always think that’s a nice gesture—it shows that the bar is excited about its customers.
The shots weren’t anything earth-shattering in terms of taste (mostly sweet and fruity with a liqueur base), but they lightened the mood. And honestly: who complains about free shots?
my summary
TOGA is a bar you should definitely try – especially if you like creative cocktail ideas. But: it’s not (yet) a top dog in Vienna.
For me, it was an evening between „cool approaches“ and „there’s more potential.“ Some drinks had strong concepts (Medusa, Lord of the Rings), others were more basic (Pearl, Pornstar Martini).
The problem lies less in the taste than in the balance and presentation. A balsamic vinegar can be brilliant – or overpowering. A Pearl can be elegant – or simply inconsequential.
I see a parallel between TOGA and the Harry Potter Bar in Vienna: the idea is strong, the experience is pleasant – but in the long run, it still lacks the subtlety, the perfection, the attention to detail that makes a bar truly unforgettable.
So yes: One Hit Wonder sums it up quite well. But at least it’s one you’d enjoy singing along to. 😉
Would I go again? Probably—but not for an entire evening. More like to grab a creative drink or two and then move on.
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