4 Best Restaurants in Day Trips from Vienna, Austria

The Schandl family of Rust is one of the best-known wine growers of the Neusiedl Lake area; their devotees come for wine tastings and stay for dinner. The simple but satisfying menu includes fish soup, pork schnitzel, and cabbage stew, as well as various cold cuts, cheeses, and other snacks designed to complement the wine.

In the heart of the medieval Altstadt is this storybook stone cottage run by Ulli Amon-Jell (pronounced yell), who serves the tried-and-true recipes of her grandmother and great-grandmother, with a bit of her own modern flair added to the mix. Snails au gratin in garlic herb butter, roast kidneys with bacon and onion, and gazpacho with buttery Parmesan dumplings are popular items on the menu. There are always lighter fish and vegetarian dishes, too, but the chef's motto is "no one goes home hungry from my tavern." Leave room for dessert if you possibly can, as the homemade marillenknödel (warm, apricot-filled dumplings) are a delight.  Book ahead in summer for a table under the grape arbor in the small, secluded outdoor dining area.

The atmosphere here is that of a spacious, contemporary gasthaus, with a fabulous roofed garden filled with flowers. The varied menu of regional cuisine is reasonably priced and has a touch of the Mediterranean, with plenty of vegetarian options available. Nevertheless, the highlights are traditionally Austrian and meaty; the steak tartare, the Tafelspitz (boiled beef), and the size-of-your-head schnitzels. The place is easy to find; just look for the theater in the heart of the Altstadt.

This riverside bar-restaurant, overlooking the landing station from which the Danube to Melk cruises depart, makes a lovely spot for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Local specialties like freshly-caught fish and flammkuchen (a pizza-like pie slathered in crème fraîche, onions, and bacon bits) sit alongside no-fuss favorites like burritos, burgers, and steaks. Come in the evening to watch the sun slowly set over the river as you eat.