Café Gutruf

If you come to vienna and want to try some real authentic austrian classic food! You are in the right place!

Went to Gutruf with friends to try their marinated chicken wings. The place is incredibly rustic and full of old-school charm – truly a unique spot. Tucked away in Vienna’s first district, it feels like a step back in time. The wooden interior creates a cozy, authentic pub atmosphere. Service was friendly, but the place is small and usually packed – without a reservation, it’s hard to get a table. Definitely worth it if you're into real Viennese pub culture.

Tonight we walked into the Gutruf Club for dinner and there was only one table left to sit at. This isn’t a large establishment, and we did not have a reservation. However, the owner first said that the only table was reserved but then said we could sit there for dinner. Alex, who works there with his mother, was so kind to explain the entire menu to us in English. My husband had the cabbage rolls, and I had the beef roll. Honestly, it was so good.!! Alex later explained to us that the table we were sitting at was reserved for a gentleman who has comes in every day for the last 60 years! That says a lot about this place. Typically it serves locals, but trust me when I say that they welcome tourists as well. As I mentioned before, it is small, only 6-7 tables which explains why they are so loyal to the locals. Alex and his mother are the only two working there but it runs like well oiled machine. I watched his mother cook and I was amazed at how efficient she was. Truly, we stumbled on a GEM!

Met a Berlin couple here last week. He told me they had once been lost in Co. Cork on a wintry evening and a man with a lamp gave them a roof for the night. When they got up, the house was empty. A note in the kitchen told them to help themselves to breakfast. That's the kind of Gemütlichkeit that's also available at the Gutruf but knowing some German is advisable here. The waitress asked why I'd left my side salad but I confessed I'd had a kebab earlier in the day. Then my lady companion gladly ate it.

Definitely my favourite restaurant in Vienna. The owner and/or staff here are super duper friendly. They don't speak much English (and as tourists we def can't speak their language of course!) and we had to order by showing them pictures of the food we want to order. But warmth and hospitality can be felt. We were served with a pint of beer each upon arriving. The portion of the food is huge but it feels really cosy and homely. The kitchen is just a tiny corner beside the bar, amazing the quality of food that comes out of it. It is also a great experience to watch them cook while dining anyway! The crepe dessert was refreshing and delightful, simple but satisfying. To end the meal, had a cup of latte - and surprisingly for a pub, it is a really good cup of coffee!! There is nothing I can complain about this place. Will definitely be back when I'm in Vienna again.