Vienna Bar Review

June 14, 2004
Continually Updated

Vienna is filled with bars, and its great public transportation system and extremely low crime rate make it ideal for nightlife. In this review I’ll take you on a tour of some of my favorite nighttime establishments in Vienna. They’re listed in alphabetical order in order not to be biased right from the beginning.

Billy’s Bones Irish Pub
9th District, Schlickplatz 4

This was the favorite establishment of my high school during my senior year, as well as a great deal of my freshmen year of college. It’s a decent-sized pub located not too far from downtown. The staff is friendly, the bathrooms are clean, and the prices are lower than average. Its only disadvantage is it’s early closing times. Billy’s closes around midnight on weeknights, at two on Friday and Saturday nights, and stays closed on Sundays.

Directions: From Währinger Straße take Hörlgasse down to Schlickplatz. Billy's Bones is on the corner of Hörlgasse and Schlickplatz. If taking the subway, get out at Schottentor and use the back exit (the one that doesn't have the three escalators). Exit up to the left and you'll be on Liechtensteinstraße. At the subway exit take a left until you get to Kolingasse and take a right on that until you get down to Schlickplatz.

Ché (Closed)
1st District, Grashofgasse 1

My eighteenth birthday party at Ché

This was a trendy place to go during my senior year of high school. I celebrated my eighteenth birthday here as well. It’s an American-style cocktail bar on two ultra-modern floors. It is not too expensive, and the bathrooms are extremely clean.

*Closed as of July 2004... A sign on the door says that the bar is under new management and is temporarily closed. Last checked in March 2005, when it was still closed.

Sign stating closure due to new management

Directions: From Lugeck travel down Köllnerhofgasse. Lugeck is between the Stephansplatz and Schwedenplatz subway stations on Rotenturmstraße.

The Irish House
1st District, Passauer Platz 2

This was the favorite establishment of my high school during my sophomore and junior years. Its previous name was Paddy’s and this is still what it is referred to by almost everyone who frequented it in those days. It is a very large establishment and I like to joke about how the atmosphere changes as you go down floors. The entry-level floor usually is pretty quiet and seems like an average Irish pub. It is very small though. The first basement level is very large and on the weekend is usually pretty wild and drunken. On rare occasions the second basement is also open, and you’ll sometimes see people passed out on the floor down there. Paddy’s major pro is that drinks are extremely cheap. A large beer (around 0.4L) cost €1.50, and cheap shots cost €1 when this review was written. The downside to Paddy’s is that its bathrooms are probably the most disgusting things ever. However, the prices and the good times make up for that. It’s usually open to three or four during the week, definitely four on the weekend, and usually closed on Sundays.

Directions: From Lugeck travel down Hohermarkt which becomes Wipplingerstraße. Take a right on Schwertgasse and you'll see the Irish House across from the big church. Lugeck is between the Stephansplatz and Schwedenplatz subway stations on Rotenturmstraße.

Lukas
1st District, Schönlaterngasse 2

Lukas, home of the "Vitamin Shot," is always a fun time.

This is the current favorite nightspot of my alma matter high school. It is located on a hidden little ally not far from Stephansplatz. It’s a very small but friendly bar. It is air-conditioned and the bathrooms are extremely clean. At the time of this review, large beer (0.5L) started at €2.70 (Starobrno) and shots started at €1.50 (Vodka-Tonic). Lukas’s house specialty is “Vitamin Shots” (€2.10), which are vodka with multi-vitamin juice. It’s open until four every night.

Directions: From Lugeck travel down Sonnenfelsgasse. Schönlaterngasse is on your left. Lugeck is between the Stephansplatz and Schwedenplatz subway stations on Rotenturmstraße.

Merry Monk
1st District, Dominikanerbastei 17

When everyone else kicks you out, the party at Merry Monk is just getting started, as it's open until six, six nights a week!

This is a favorite pub of the American university in Vienna, Webster University, where I have a few friends. Its main advantage over every other nightspot in this review is that it’s open until six, six nights a week! The prices are good and their tap beer is from the local 1516 Brewing Company. The staff is also extremely friendly and the bathrooms are pretty good and feature black light in the stalls!

Directions: At Schwedenplatz find Postgasse (close to Mr. Lee). One block up Postgasse you will see the street Auwinkel. Take a left and you'll see Merry Monk on your left.

If you're arriving with the U4, it's easiest to take the Urania exit from the platform, and then simply cross the Franz-Josefs-Kai and continue up Dominikanerbastei for one block.