3 Best Restaurants in District 2/Leopoldstadt, Vienna

Dine at Vienna's poshest restaurant while taking in the stunning, 360-degree panoramic vistas of the city's skyline from the 18th floor of the Sofitel Stephansdom. The gourmet meals, often made with seasonal, locally-sourced fare, are just as fabulous as the view. A four-course tasting menu may include a caviar sandwich, sweetbread, fresh pan-fried pike perch from nearby Neusiedler Lake, and a dessert of melon with Yuna chocolate, parsley, and hazelnut. The ambience is centered on the spectacular ceiling, designed by Swiss multimedia artist Pipilotti Rist. She has created a magnificent visual feast, which is best viewed at sunset, as the changing colors outside have a lovely dance with the colors playing out on the ceiling above you.

There’s a clutch of delicious spots on this cozy end of Praterstrasse, but for delicious coffee in a restful spot, the Golden Parrot can’t be beat. Friendly smiles, a soothing atmosphere blooming with plants, plus a large shady garden is the ideal place to enjoy coffee in the morning and an aperitivo or glass of natural wine in the afternoon.

Many restaurants have set up shop in former stalls on the market square in the artsy neighborhood that has sprung up around Karmelitermarkt, just across the Donaukanal, including Skopik & Lohn. The menu features international fare, such as tagliatelle with truffles and roast beef with Jerusalem artichoke chips. The interior is rather minimalist and modern, except for artist Otto Zitko's massive doodling spree on the ceiling. The black-and-white art creeps like a vine onto the walls—you'll want to get out your markers and color it in.