Although the name might conjure up images of a sterile and clinical-like environment, the Gösser Bierklinik is nothing like a hospital. This famous Gasthaus dating from the 1400’s is nestled in the heart of the First District, just off the Graben. The Gösser Bierklinik is favoured by the Viennese and tourists alike and no, they do not serve beer intravenously, and yes, we asked. A converted and now covered courtyard is the heart of the restaurant, while small arched rooms surround it.
There is even a cannon ball still lodged into a wall: dating back from an Ottoman Empire siege in the 17th century. Nowadays, hopefully, no renaissance weaponry will interrupt your dinner of Schnitzel and Zwickl (An Austrian unfiltered beer).
The Gösser Bierklinik, as you probably have already guessed, serves the beloved local Goesser beer on tap, and in bottles, so don’t even think about walking in with your can of Ottakringer Blech. Beer wars are real, everybody. Once seated, the waiter will ask you what you would like to drink and if you say “beer” he will then proceed to list the following: Gösser Spezial, Gösser Stiftsbräu Dunkel, Gemischtes hell oder dunkel, Gösser Zwickl, Reininghaus Pils, Schladminger Märzen, Altbrünner Gold and you may want to hide under the table and/or order a Coke. Our suggestion is to go for the classic and order a large Zwickl.
But let us not forget about our arteries either. The Bierklinik offers a large range of “Schmankerln” and our personal favourite on a cold winters night is the Fiakergulasch – named after the horse and carriage drivers.
