Food shopping in Vienna on a budget.
 

I want to take home mozart balls and assorted deserts and chocolates and stuff. And a lot of it. Can you guys recommend any place in the city centre (or near Nasch market where I would be staying) that is cheap and non touristy ? I am not too sure about supermarkets, because I probably wont be able to taste things before buying them..

We found a nice selection of both picnic food and gift food at the Spar grocery near Museumplatz (Babenbergerstraße 9,
1010 Vienna) but they have many locations. Just use google maps and "search nearby" from your hotel address.

It's a grocery chain I have seen in other European countries too. Look for the red and white sign with the green pine tree logo like the photo in this link:
http://www.spar.at/de_AT/index/stand...asse_3590.html.

<i>I am not too sure about supermarkets, because I probably wont be able to taste things before buying them.. </i>

If you're looking for a place that will let you sample Mozart chocolates before buying, you're going to be disappointed. You'll only find that at chocolatiers and the like.

If you're planning on stocking up on Mozart, Kinder, Milka, Lindt, etc., then just go to a grocery store because it will be cheaper than a dedicated chocolate shop.


<i>cheap and non touristy</i>

Pretty much any grocery store.

In addition to Spar, look for Lidl (blue and yellow sign), Prosi, Billa, or wherever you see people buying groceries.

Milka is a Nestle company with a Swiss owner--not terribly Austrian. Lindt is Swiss. Kinder is an Italian subsidiary of Ferrero--again, not terribly Austrian. Mozart balls are a Salzburg confection. Heindl is Viennese, and there is a store on Kartnerstrasse. Pez candy is Austrian, as are Manner products (cheaper at the grocery store than at the Manner store near Stephansdom).

There is an upscale Merkur in Hoher Markt that may carry more Viennese chocolates, but they won't be cheap. Neither is anything from the Julius Meinl store. Even Meinl coffee is less expensive at the grocery stores.

There is a Spar near Opera that may offer the bulk chocolate you seek. Hofer and Lidl are discount grocers and not near Naschmarkt.

Thanks a lot everyone..Iso for the chocolates I need in bulk, I'll get them from the supermarkets, and for the "artisan" stuff, Henidl or Merkur should be a good choice, right?