Do we need reservations for restaurants in Vienna, Christmas week?
 

As holiday will have it, they sneak up on us. And here I sit with only one reservation for the Christmas holiday week in Vienna. We are going to the Steirereck, which looked very nice. I know there are many to choose from but wondered is it necessary for reservations, if so I had better get busy. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Many thanks

For christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Christmas night many places will be closed and you should definitely have reservations. Other days you will have more flexibility.

The major time for celebration here is Christmas Eve.
Many families and friends gather together for a tradition gala evening dinner and exchange of small presents.
Stores and attractions usually close early in the afternoon ot the 24th to allow employees to travel if needed and prepare for this .
Many resturants close too on the 24th.
But enough open to allow a fair choice .
Some restaurants will offer fixed menus making their work easier.
masny better hotels for sure will be open on the 24th.
Numerous cafes too will offer their menuplaces like Cafe Landtmann, Mozart and more.
Best to reserve on the 24th for sure.
Usually the tourist office or city offer a list of places open and you can check this too.
Many more restaurants are open on the 25th- you could probably find something good without reserving.

The Christmas Market in the courtyard of Schonbrunn Palace is open on the 25th and this makes a great place to celebrate - a restaurant there too- usually very crowded but you can find soup, potatos, bread , punsch, cookies etc at various kiosks .

The city becomes full of tourists just after the 25th - many of them italian visitors.
If you wish to dine at the better places , I would consider reservations.
If you are accustomed to dining early it is easier as the italian visitors is know for eating later.
Think about a heuriger/ wine tavern visit too- good food and wine - moderate prices.

As for suggestions of places - what is your price range and likes for food?
Steirereck , the best in Vienna in my opinion- not cheap but worth a visit - consider their midday meals too- same quality and better priced.

We really enjoyed the Griechenbeisl, as much for its history as for its food, which we found to be quite good. We ate there when we lived in Vienna and have been back on subsequent visits.

Their website says they are closed only on 24 December.

http://www.griechenbeisl.at/lang_en/page.asp/index.htm

Another wellknown Vienna restaurant is Figlmueller. You can try their website for a reservation:

http://www.figlmueller.at/willkommen.php

http://www.weisser-rauchfangkehrer.at (The White Chimneysweep) Although it sounds non-PC, the sweep gets covered in flour.

I loved this restaurant, traditional, immaculate, great service and food, very near St. Stephen's cathedral. I was there the 3rd week in December a few years ago, packed with locals, very festive as is all of Vienna during the holiday season.

Reserve shead.