Your ultimate guide to the coolest rooftop locations in Vienna

Vienna’s iconic landmark is an impressive sight from the ground already, but what’s equally impressive is the view from above. Luckily, you don’t even have to take any stairs for that. Just ride the elevator up its Northern tower and enjoy the pretty postcard panorama.

Right in the heart of Vienna, opposite good old Stephansd0m, you can find this fancy restaurant on top of a futuristic looking glass building. DO & CO are known for their excellent cuisine; here they serve Viennese classics together with sushi and other Asian delicacies. Making it an ideal spot to treat yourself to an exquisite meal with an exquisite view.

At Lamée it’s hard to decide what’s more eye-catching – the breathtaking panorama over the city center or the chic, colourful design furniture. Either way, with their great drink selection and summery atmosphere, you’ll be sure to have a great time. And a whole lot of pics to post on Instagram.

On top of the luxury department store Steffl, you’ll find the aptly named Sky Bar. They got a great selection of tasty meals and an even greater drink selection. Plus, their roof garden is an ideal spot to lounge at. You might not be all the way up in the sky, but it’s still gonna feel like you’re on cloud nine.

Klyo’s terrace extends from the Urania towards the Donaukanal, which really makes you feel the ocean breeze in your face (we know it’s not really an ocean, but you can just pretend).

In terms of food and drinks, they offer a colourful mix of different healthy and homemade treats. So there is something in it for every taste – from meat eater to vegan. Oh, and their breakfasts can actually be ordered all day long. Just in case you’re into having a late evening porridge bowl, pancakes or something like that.

This place is high class – quite literally. Located on the top floor of a five-star hotel, Das LOFT is as stylish as it gets. The interior is sleek and modern, the ceiling boasts colourful artwork and the ceiling-high windows provide you with a stunning panoramic view. Whether it’s breakfast, dinner or just a visit to the bar – here everything turns into a memorable experience.

Good to know… Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday they got a little bit of a party going on when their resident DJ jumps behind the decks.

The atmosphere at this rooftop bar at the Ritz-Carlton hotel certainly is amazing – a mix of relaxed and elegant, it makes for a great location to trade everyday life for a little bit of that sweet high life.

With healthy food, creative cocktails and groovy DJ sets, it offers everything you’d expect from a place like this.

The people from NENI are known for their awesome restaurants and excellent cooking. In addition to their two Vienna venues (Tel Aviv Beach and Naschmarkt), now they’ve got a third one right next to the Wurstelprater (and right next to Zoku). That means you’ll enjoy their fine Israeli delicacies together with a view of people riding rollercoasters. How fun!

Zoku’s Living Kitchen provides you with an open, residential atmosphere, where fresh, healthy meals and snacks are served. Dishes here change on a weekly basis and from time to time they even invite local multi-cultural kitchen heroes to cook up something special for you.

Another cool thing they offer is their yoga ‘n  brunch event every Saturday morning. An energizing yoga session in the nearby Prater park is followed by a tasty brunch on their rooftop. A great way to start off into the weekend.

Good to know… tables on their outside terrace can’t be reserved – it’s first come, first serve.

Its name is inspired by the Northern Lights in Scandinavia, which also reflects in its Nordic design (meaning lots of wood and even a fireplace). But that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy major summer vibes up there. Simply grab a cocktail and watch the sun set over the city from the 16th floor. It doesn’t get much better than this.

Even though it’s set on top of Austria’s Supreme Court of Justice, you don’t necessarily have to be a law graduate to come here (you’ll probably still find a couple of those sitting at the tables).

The menu consists of Mediterranean-inspired dishes as well as Viennese classics. Besides the à la carte meals, there’s also a weekly changing special on offer here.

Located on top of the Leopold museum, it combines the laid-back artsy vibes of the MQ with the classy feeling you get whenever you find yourself on a roof terrace and sip a Spritzer while looking down on the city.

It doesn’t have a proper restaurant, however, there is a small kiosk that caters to your needs in form of drinks and snacks.

The quirky 25hours hotel has set up a stylish yet comfy bar on their roof. Big chairs and couches inside provide you with a relaxed living room atmosphere, while the terrace outside provides you with a perfect spot to have a sundowner. Or two. Let’s be real, you can never really have enough of those.

With a 360 degree view (hence the name) all over Vienna, this bar/restaurant, which was built on top of the famous Haus des Meeres, is quite the place to be. But the view isn’t the only thing that’s extensive here, because what’s on offer is as well. Breakfast, lunch and dinner menus plus a well-stocked bar will leave nothing to be desired.

Good to know… it’s open 365 days a year, so whenever you feel the urge to be a little closer to the sky, they’ve got you covered.

Atop Vienna’s main library, you’ll find a lovely restaurant called Oben. Up there, they’re all about fresh and homemade cooking. Since they only use regional and seasonal ingredients, the menu will always be a little different depending on, well, the season. And on the terrace, they even grow their own herbs (no, not THAT kind) and vegetables, so you might even find some of those in your food.

Good to know… especially during summer, this place is a cool event spot, with open air cinema and the occasional poetry slam event.

When you usually think of rooftop bars, you have pictures of fancy drinks held in front of the cityscape coming to your mind. But sometimes you just want to enjoy a great panorama with a hearty beer in your hand instead of some colourful cocktails. That’s when you should visit Brandauer at Mariahilfer Straße. They have a good selection of bottled as well as fresh beers on tap (including their very own brew). Oh, and a stunning view of course.

Good to know… they have tables that come with their own tap, which you can book if you want to have a proper beer party with friends.

Near Westbahnhof, at the start (or end, depending on the way you look at it) of MaHü, you can find the Ruby Marie hotel. And at this hotel, you can not only find a bar that’s open 24/7 (yup, that means you could have a drink there before you go partying AND when you’re on your way home) but also an adjoining roof terrace that’s perfect for relaxed afternoons/evenings with friends. The terrace is only open until 10pm though.

Good to know… don’t bother bringing cash with you, as you can only pay with card here.

Okay, so this might not be one of these skyhigh rooftops you usually find in lists like this, but technically it still counts and is definitely worth a mention. Besides, it’s not always about height (did that sound ambiguous?). With its boho/hipster chic, it possesses a whole lotta’ charm, so that you won’t even notice that you’re just one story above the ground instead of 15.

This lookout can be found at Gallitzinberg in the 16th district. From there, you’ll get a wonderful view over the Vienna woods, and if the weather’s clear enough, you can even make out the mountains in the distance. The only thing standing between you and the view are 183 steps. But we’re sure you’re fit enough to handle that.

Way up on the remote summit of the massive Kahlenberg (ok, this might be overstating things a little) stands this observation tower. From the 22m high platform, you’ll get an even better outlook on Vienna and its surroundings. In case you don’t wanna do the long exhausting hike (overstating again) up there, you could also just take the bus instead. But you’re not one of those lazy people, right?

You won’t get higher than this in Vienna (except if you smoke some quality herbs maybe) – this medieval-style tower adds an extra 27 meters to Vienna’s tallest mountain, the Hermannskogel.

Also, if you ever wanted to feel like a king or queen overlooking your realm from a castle, this is the perfect spot. You could also reenact the Lion King movie scene up there. Just some food for thought…

Sitting in Austria’s tallest skyscraper, 220 meters above the ground, certainly gives off a New York City feeling. No matter the time of day, the view from up there certainly counts to the most impressive ones you can get in Vienna. And once the DJs start playing every Friday and Saturday at the lounge, the high life atmosphere is complete at this rooftop bar in the DC Tower 1.

Good to know… they actually have a dress code (smart casual), so better leave your sportswear and baggy pants at home for your visit.

It’s just like your classic Viennese café, only a little further up. 160 meters to be exact. Besides some coffee specialties, they also serve up traditional classics such as Schnitzel and Goulash as well as pastries.

Good to know… from 10:30am until 1:30pm, there’s a fine brunch going on, with a buffet so rich you’ll even forget about the stunning view.