Viennese gourmets prize Steirereck as much for chef Heinz Reitbauer’s daring mod-Austrian menu (think mountain trout seasoned with lime salt, and char cooked in hot beeswax) as for the fin de siècle charm of its Art Nouveau dining room overlooking the river Wien. The restaurant’s enduring popularity, however, meant that despite a renovation a few years ago, diners were beginning to feel somewhat cramped. Steirereck’s recent extension by local architects PPAG looks sets to win over more converts. Occupying what used to be a terrace leading to the children’s playground, the new wing comprises a series of silvery glass pavilions. Depending on the weather, entire panels rise vertically like escape pods on a mother ship to open up the dining room to the park outside. Inside, compact concertina screens – made of industrial timber and curling like lemon peel – section off clusters of tables. All the better, we think, to provide the illusion of serene isolation while tucking into the chef’s tart pudding of quince served with burnt milk and lavender.
INFORMATION
ADDRESS
Am Heumarkt 2A
Vienna
Austria
-
Oliver Spencer’s winter collection is a lesson in good outerwearPrepare for sudden temperature drops with Oliver Spencer’s Alpine-inspired winter collection, ‘Postcards from Lech-Zürs’, whereby outerwear – crafted from traditional British fabric – is front and centre
-
The Volkswagen Passat is a sober, straight edged estate car that feels increasingly out of timeWhy would anyone pass on a Passat? Volkswagen’s big load lugger proves that the old ideas are still the best
-
Italian designer Enrico Marone Cinzano fuses natural perfection with industrial imperfectionEnrico Marone Cinzano's first solo show at New York’s Friedman Benda gallery debuts collectible furniture designs that marry organic materials with upcycled industrial components
-
This mountain retreat in the Alps will seduce you into stillnessAt an elevation of 1,500 m, mountain retreat Eriro reconnects guests with nature through its serene interiors and relaxing offerings
-
Spend the night at Vienna’s Imperial Riding School, a revitalised hotel with a horsey heritageImperial Riding School, a former military equestrian camp, canters back into Vienna’s hotel scene after a contemporary refresh led by Goddard Littlefair
-
The Hoxton, Vienna is a hotel rooted in history and quirkinessThe Hoxton, Vienna offers everything from a dynamic auditorium to a Cuban-inspired rooftop bar and pool
-
Take a dip at Badeschloss Hotel, a storied bathing sanctuary in AustriaBadeschloss Hotel in the Austrian spa town of Bad Gastein is newly renovated by BWM Designers & Architects and bubbling with vitality
-
Villa One at the One & Only Palmilla — Los Cabos, Mexico -
Martim — Wroclaw, Poland -
Tattersalls Hotel — Armidale, Australia -
KLoé Hotel — Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
