Fine Viennese Cuisine In Vienna: Review of Gmoakeller Tavern
Vienna restaurant review: Gmoakeller
Fine Viennese Cuisine In Vienna.Gmoakeller is a 160-year old tavern located at the border of the first and third district, close to Ringstrasse boulevard and Wiener Konzerthaus. Evolving from a traditional family run restaurant Gmoakeller has managed to stay true to excellent Viennese cuisine while broadening up its menu to include contemporary dishes.
Because Gmoakeller started as a local community (‘Gmoa’ in Viennese dialect) basement venue it still bears the name Keller (basement). Today, the main restaurant runs on the ground floor, while the basement hosts event space. To visit other traditional basement restaurants access my shortlist of the most romantic Keller Vienna restaurants.
The interiors boast three large but cosy rooms with vaulted ceilings, globe lamps, dark wood panels and herringbone parquets that are so typical for brasserie-style Viennese Gasthäuser. On some walls, chalkboards announce the week’s specials. In addition to the occasional landscape painting and vintage beer ad Gmoakeller also nods to next generation locals with modern paintings.
Because of its popularity lunch or dinner reservations are highly recommended. Do expect to sit amidst a mix of local professionals taking their lunch break, visitors and local families dining out.
Fine Viennese Cuisine As We Love It
Fine Viennese Cuisine In Vienna. Our last family dinner at Gmoakeller in 2025 represented a cross section of Gmoakeller’s finest: While Wiener Schnitzel was the clear favourite, Viennese onion roast with baked potatoes (Wiener Zwiebelrostbraten mit Braterdäpfeln) and Tafelspitz landed on our table, too. On the more exotic side, my son opted for the grilled octopus.
If we had had more space, we would have ordered Gmoakeller’s fantastic Frittatensuppe (soup with shredded pancakes) Leberknödelsuppe (liver dumpling soup) and the small Grammelknödel (pork crackling dumplings) with warm sauerkraut. All in all, the menu focused on the best of local cuisine. All dishes were finely cooked – crispy, juicy, slightly al dente in the most appropriate ways.
For dessert, we shared warm apple strudel. In fact, Gmoakeller still prepares the dough the way my mother did – by hand pulling it until so thin you can see through.
A note for Vegetarians: Gmoakeller’s puristic dedication to Austrian food means there is little room for non-meaty dishes. There are usually one to two vegetarian options on the menu.
Practical Information
- Am Heumarkt 25, 1030 Vienna
- 11am to midnight, closed on Sundays and public holidays;
- take metro U4 to Stadtpark, walk down Johannesgasse until Heumarkt; alternatively take tramway 2 along Ringstrasse boulevard to Schwarzenbergplatz, walk down Lothringerstrasse to Heumarkt;
- Visit website
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Insider Tips
Get Your Time in Vienna Sorted
Discover Vienna’s charm effortlessly! Start with a stroll through the historic city center, visiting St. Stephen’s Cathedral and Hofburg Palace. Explore world-class museums like the Kunsthistorisches Museum and the Belvedere.
Vienna Unwrapped Partner Guides
Local Connections
Taking you a step further: To apply the insight provided here my local partner guide Claudia and her team take over when you arrive in Wien. From meeting the Spanish Riding School’s Lipizzaner horses backstage and crawling through the attic of St. Stephen’s Cathedral to exploring neighbourhoods where locals still play cards in cafés.
Themed Small Group Tours
