Vienna, Austria!
October 16, 2019
This year’s Europe trip was two full weeks and we hit three different countries: Spain, Austria, and France. We spent a weekend (too short!) in Madrid for a wedding before we hopped on a flight to Austria for European Q School. Our hotel was in a little town called Baden, but fortunately we were able to spend some time during our stay in the amazing city of Vienna.
The September weather was amazing – sunny and cool during the day and sweater weather at night. Being there definitely put me in the mood for Fall! One of the first things I noticed about Vienna (and Austria in general) was the overall cleanliness of the city. The streets have so much character and history…I really enjoyed walking around town. We also used scooters quite a bit since the city is pretty big. Although they can be dangerous, it was SUCH a fun way to get around. The only challenge we had in Austria was the language barrier. I was surprised by how many people did not speak English! We managed to collect a few parking tickets in the rental car because we couldn’t read the signs – oops! But thanks to Google Translate we were able to find our way around this German-speaking city…AND I was even able to get my nails done (big win). I was super impressed with the food situation in Vienna. So many fun and yummy options, plus tons of healthy grocery stores. Vienna is also known for having lots of great coffee shops. But most importantly, we were able to find some really great restaurants that were all allergy-friendly. Out of the list of places that we checked out, these ended up being our favorite:
I loved this adorable vegan bakery. It’s a completely raw bakery which means nothing is cooked or heated. They had lots of gluten free options and most of the items were made without refined sugar. You can sit inside of the cozy shop or grab an outside table to enjoy your sweets. We got coffee, a mini waffle, and cake – It was the perfect afternoon treat!
My favorite dinner in all of Austria was at Ulrich. Tons of GF options and lots of salads! We loved this place so much that we ended up going twice during our stay. Salads one night, burgers and fries on the next! Great vibe, delicious wine, and even tastier food. Of course I loved that there’s an outdoor seating area. The service was awesome both times and they were very accommodating when it came to food allergies.
If you’re looking for a healthy lunch spot, this is it! After a tough morning workout plus tons of walking around, we wanted something warm and filling. Also, having already spent about a week in Europe, we desperately needed vegetables! Health Kitchen has gluten free options galore and they’re mostly known for their noodle bowls. We ordered a wrap with egg and spinach plus two different types of protein bowls with peanut sauce. They use locally sourced ingredients in an eco-friendly space. We would have definitely gone back to this place if it weren’t our last day!
Schönbrunn Palace
Not food related and definitely on the touristy side, Schönbrunn Palace is definitely a MUST SEE if you are traveling to Vienna. It was about a 25-30 minute walk from the main part of the city, plus lots of walking once you get there. In a hurry? Taking a cab or Uber is a smart idea and the drop-off area is conveniently right at the front entrance. This gigantic 1,400+ room Palace was once the summer home of ancient rulers and was very cool to see in person. Surrounded by beautiful flower gardens, long walkways, enormous fountains, sculptures, and many acres of land. We did not get tickets to view the inside of the Palace, but just seeing the outside alone was worth the trip.
I really loved Vienna and wouldn’t mind having to go back again someday if golf takes us there! Stay tuned for my next post covering the second half of our trip…
XO
