The young Vienna

If you love design hotels - here you go: One of the first design hotels in Vienna (designed by Sir Terence Conran). This former horse stable was tranformed into a luxury hotel with vaulted ceilings in most rooms, a great yard, a fantastic restaurent and a quaint bar. It is located in the 4th district and close to the new gallery district (Lisa Ruyter just opened her gallery across the street).

This hotel is synonymous with Vienna. Named after the world famous cake "Sachertorte" and located right behind the state opera this hotel is truly one of Vienna's luxury hotels (next to Hotel Bristol and Hotel Imperial). Try the famous cake at the first floor coffeehouse of the hotel.

Located right next to Belvedere castle - and a great park with a splendid view of the inner city of Vienna. This on one of the few hotels in Vienna with an indoor swimmingpool, sauna, and solarium.

Hotel on Vienna's horizon. The Le Meridien is located right in the middle of all major attractions and is a great find for people with a sense for cool design. If it is not in your budget to stay there, just check out the bar (and the Vienna scene).

This moderately priced hotel is located in the heart of Vienna (right behind the Church St. Peters). It is family run and is very charming (e.g.rooms are different sizes and designs). You are just steps away from the St. Stephens Cathedral.

One of my favorite restaurants in Vienna whenever I have a craving for real Austrian cuisine. This Gasthaus is a little off the beaten path, but it offers the charm of former days with an excellent cuisine. Excellent table wine. Since seating outside is very limited I strongly recommend to make a reservation. The restaurant is close to the Naschmarkt and right around the corner from bars and galleries.

The former K&K horse-stables now house a number of museums: The Leopold Museum (the world largest Schiele collection), the Ludwig Museum, Electric Avenue, Children's Museum, Architectural Museum, Kunsthalle Wien and much more. During the Vienna Festival Weeks it is also the main location for performances. Scattered among the museums are numerous restaurants and outdoor cafes - a absolutely great meeting point on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Loisium is a great new museum built by NY-architect Stephen Holl and well worth the one-hour trip outside of Vienna. Set amidst of vineyards, this is a great way to experience Austrian vineyards of the Wachau Valley, eat at a Heurigen (Austrian wine tavern) and enjoy qaint little towns on the Danube. This region is famous for it's white wine, which is in small quantities available in the US. The Loisium explains the wine making process in a very unique concept, is very interactive and quite good even for children. You walk through 800 m of 800-year-old wine-cellars and afterwards reward yourself with a cool glass of wine of the region.

When I arrived in Vienna on a rainy, chilly day thinking this might be boring, little did I know how much the scene had changed since I left for New York six years ago. I picked up Falter, an alternative newspaper with a great listing of new bars, restaurants, nightclubs and venues. It turned out there is so much to do... and so little time.

My first stop on my journey through Vienna's hip culture was the Museumsquarter in the 7th district with absolutely great museums such as the Leopold Museum (containing the world's largest Schiele Collection), the Kunsthalle (an exhibition space for contemporary art), the Ludwig Museum and much more. The great thing about Museumsquarter is that you have dance, theater and concert venues there as well (check out the Vienna Festival Week in May/June). Last but not least, they have great restaurants - and lots of them. In summer (I was in Vienna in August also), you can sit outside near the water fountain, get a suntan and enjoy brunch. Scattered about the courtyard are strange islands of cobalt blue. The locals play, eat lunch, read, tan or just chill on these eye-catching creative alternatives to the ordinary park bench.

Then there is the music scene - I just mention two names: Kruder & Dorfmeister. You can meet them in cafes and they DJ!!!! Check out WUK. Pulsinger and Tunakan even have a small shop on "Electric Avenue" (in the Museums Quarter).

What about shopping? It has gotten so cool. There are so many new young Austrian designers who have opened their own small stores. My latest find was: Elfenkleid in the 4th district. I loved their simple yet sophisticated designs. Also in the 4th district, on Schleifmuehlgasse, you will find all the contemporary galleries in Vienna. The American artist Lisa Ruyter has just opened her gallery in Vienna!! If you are there during openings - it's a fantastic scene. Of course, there are great bars around there. POS (Point of Sales), the bohemian Cafe Anzengruber and many more! While you are in the neigborhood: be sure to check out the Naschmarket (on Saturdays they have a flea market) and remember that they also have a great brunch there.

Well, I have to admit Vienna has changed, and these days it will be a pleasure to go back. I already look forward to my next trip to Vienna in March.