Figlmüller Wollzeile

Figlmüller is the address that most visitors to Vienna have heard of when it comes to schnitzel. Johann Figlmüller opened a wine tavern on Wollzeile in 1905, and the original restaurant, tucked into a narrow passage a couple of minutes from St. Stephen's Cathedral, still bills itself as the birthplace of the city's most famous schnitzel. The family now runs several restaurants, including a larger branch round the corner on Bäckerstraße.

The house special is Figlmüller's own interpretation of the Wiener Schnitzel. It is made with pork rather than the veal used in the classic version, beaten very thin and fried until golden, and it is famous for being so large that it overhangs the plate. It is served simply with lemon, and the traditional accompaniment is a Viennese potato salad dressed with vinegar and oil, or a mixed salad. The menu also offers other Viennese classics and desserts. At Wollzeile the restaurant pours its own wine, a link to its origins as a wine tavern.

The dining rooms are small, cosy and traditional, with wood panelling and closely packed tables, and the service is quick. It is very popular with visitors, which means queues are common at peak times and the atmosphere is lively rather than intimate. That said, it is a fun and reliable place to try a schnitzel in the old town, and families, groups of friends and first-time visitors all tend to enjoy it.

The restaurant is open daily from 11:00 to 22:30, with the kitchen serving until 21:30. Book ahead online or by phone, particularly for dinner and at weekends, or come at an off-peak time such as mid-afternoon. One schnitzel is a big meal, so consider sharing if you also want a starter or dessert. Vegetarians will find fewer choices here than at more modern restaurants, so check the menu online first.

Wollzeile leads east from Stephansplatz, and the restaurant is about two minutes' walk from Stephansplatz station (U1, U3). If Wollzeile is full, try the Bäckerstraße branch nearby. Afterwards, the cathedral, the Graben and the old lanes around the Jesuit Church and the Old University are all within a short stroll.