Vienna Press Release – March 2024 French Grätzel flair in the Servitenviertel

March 6, 2024 - Picturesque alleyways lined with cafés, restaurants and small stores define the Servitenviertel in the 9th district. The Viennese locals like to refer to it as “Little Paris” because of the French spirit that flows through the district. The heart of the Servitenviertel, Servitengasse, has recently been pedestrianized, creating an even more appealing and idyllic neighborhood atmosphere.

Vienna’s Servitenviertel district is almost tranquil. The narrow streets are lined with florists, handsome little shops and lots of eateries. Your gaze lingers on the beautifully preserved store fronts, most of which can be found on Servitengasse, the centerpiece of the district. Servitengasse was converted into a pedestrian zone and completely traffic-calmed by the end of 2023. Additional trees were planted, seating, a drinking fountain and a water feature installed. New green spaces were created too.

French flair

The houses in the Servitenviertel are particularly well maintained and well preserved. The Servitenkirche, a baroque church dating from the 17th century, is surrounded by an almost village-like atmosphere. In summer, people sit and relax in one of the many beer gardens on the paved square. Every Thursday, locally sourced organic produce can be found at the Servitenmarkt. The Servitenviertel has a strong French influence. You can almost feel the presence of the Lycée Français, a French private school in the area. French is often spoken in the streets hereabouts and the local eateries exude Parisian flair. Take the French bistro La Mercerie on the corner of Porzellangasse, for example – croissants and baguettes from the in-house bakery are sold here, as well as eclairs and tarts delivered fresh daily from Paris, which can be enjoyed alongside French classics such as quiche lorraine and cheese platters in the charming restaurant itself, framed by old apothecary cabinets.

The Xocolat chocolate factory also has a French flavor to it. Passers-by can watch the chocolatiers making their chocolates and confectionery through the shop window set into the beautiful wooden façade. Top Austrian chef Harald Brunner recently took over what used to be the Servitenwirt. In keeping with the flair of the district, Harald Brunner is serving up French-inspired dishes with an Austrian twist in his restaurant of the same name. In summer, visitors can sit in a beer garden here on the idyllic Servitenplatz with a view of the Servitenkirche.

A hallmark of life in the Servitenviertel neighborhood is that the residents all know each other. People greet each other on the street or chat over a glass of wine or crémant, for example in Gerald König’s delicatessen, where oysters, beef or fish tartare and cheese are also served.

International cuisine

International flair is provided by restaurants such as Steirasia, which serves Asian and Styrian fusion cuisine. The Porzellan stands out thanks to its white interior, while the internationally inspired menu is also impressive. One door down, lovers of Italian cuisine will find what they are looking for at Scala. Kiang Wine & Dine serves great wines and highly recommended Chinese street food. The stylish Italian restaurant La Pasteria is also worth a visit.

And very Viennese

Despite the international character, the Viennese bistros are not to be missed: excellent tavern-style food can be found in the Rebhuhn, a classic Viennese bistro on a street corner. Zum Roten Bären is a fashionable bistro with a young clientele and uncomplicated Viennese cuisine.

Hidden jewels

A hidden culinary highlight can be found at Pramergasse 21. There is nothing to indicate that the unremarkable facade hides one of the best restaurants in Vienna. Passers-by could mistake Pramerl & the Wolf for a simple bistro. Inside, diners can expect a welcoming ambience with an old wooden bar and wood-panelled walls, and there are only a few tables. The establishment serves radical modern Viennese cuisine that has been awarded a Michelin star.

There is an address one street further on, on Seegasse, where it is likewise worth exploring behind the facade. The inner courtyard of the Rossau Retirement Home contains the oldest surviving Jewish cemetery in Austria. Visitors can look out over the historically unique cemetery, the history of which stretches back to the mid-16th century, from the balcony of the retirement home.

A visit to Sigmund Freud’s house

Those who wish to follow in the footsteps of Vienna’s Jewish community should visit the Sigmund Freud Museum at the renowned address at Berggasse 19. Sigmund Freud’s former private rooms have been open to the public since restoration work was completed in 2020. The museum not only tells the story of the emergence of psychoanalysis, it is also a chronicle of the lives of a Viennese family around the turn of the 20th century. The founder of psychoanalysis lived and worked at Berggasse 19 between 1891 and 1938, before his emigration to the United Kingdom.

The Liechtenstein Garden Palace, a magnificent baroque palace with a beautiful park owned by the Princely Family of Liechtenstein, and the Strudlhofstiege are also worth visiting. Vienna’s most famous set of steps was built in 1910 and, with its curved stairs and green railings, is a spectacular example of Viennese Art Nouveau. The steps were made famous by a novel of the same name written by Heimito Doderer.

New: Grätzel Personality Test

The Servitenviertel is not the only exciting neighborhood in Vienna. Visitors to Vienna can use the new neighborhood personality test at www.wien.info to find out in just a few questions which neighborhood most closely matches their interests. The result will be one of the ten Grätzel. This curated selection provides a colorful cross-section of Vienna’s multifaceted urban landscape. Alongside the Servitenviertel, these are the Freihausviertel, Gußhausviertel, Karmeliterviertel, Kutschkermarkt, Meidlinger Markt, Spittelberg, Stuwerviertel, the two urban development projects of Seestadt Aspern and Sonnwendviertel as well as the Yppenviertel.

In 2024, Vienna will celebrate its neighborhoods under the motto: Heartbeat Streets. Fall in Love with Vienna’s Neighborhoods

For more information about this scheme, visit: heartbeat.vienna.info

Addresses:

Servitenviertel, Servitenplatz, Servitengasse, 1090 Vienna
La Mercerie, Berggasse 25/Ecke Servitengasse, 1090 Vienna
Xocolat Manufaktur, Servitengasse 5, 1090 Vienna, www.xocolat.at
Harald Brunner im Servitenviertel, Servitengasse 7, 1090 Vienna, www.haraldbrunner.at
König Delikatessen, Servitengasse 6, 1090 Vienna, www.koenigswelt.at
Steirasia, Servitengasse 3, 1090 Vienna, https://steirasia.at
Porzellan, Servitengasse 2, 1090 Vienna, http://porzellan-lounge.at
Scala, Servitengasse 4, 1090 Vienna, https://ristorante-scala.at
Kiang Wine & Dine, Grünentorgasse 19, 1090 Vienna, www.kiangwine-dine.com
La Pasteria, Servitengasse 10, 1090 Vienna, www.lapasteria.at
Rebhuhn, Berggasse 24, 1090 Vienna, www.rebhuhn.at
Zum Roten Bären, Berggasse 39, www.zumrotenbaeren.at
Pramerl & the Wolf, Pramergasse 21, 1090 Vienna, pramerlandthewolf.com
Jüdischer Friedhof Rossau, Seegasse 9, entrance through the retirement home, 1090 Vienna
Sigmund Freud Museum, Berggasse 19, 1090 Vienna, www.freud-museum.at
Gartenpalais Liechtenstein, Fürstengasse 1, 1090 Vienna, www.palaisliechtenstein.com
Strudlhofstiege, Strudlhofgasse 8, 1090 Vienna