Vienna Culture Shopping – quality and luxury gift guide

Vienna Culture Shopping. In general, the best souvenirs don’t come from souvenir shops. When in Vienna, do take advantage of Vienna’s heritage of quality craftsmanship. As old family businesses are evolving their range both local Viennese and visitors (re-) discover the Austrian style. To make your visit to Vienna easier, I’m sharing a list of my favourite shops for quality and luxury gifts with authentic origins below.

Augarten Porcelain

Vienna Culture Shopping. Why buy? Essentially, Augarten hosts our most precious objects of fine domestic culture. Not only does it stock traditional coffee sets, dinner plates and figurines, it also sells bold beautiful pieces from contemporary designers. While its flagship store is located in the city center you can shop at its outlet after touring Augarten porcelain manufactory.

What’s on offer? Hand painted porcelain dinner, tea and coffee services, vases, gifts, figures, lamps.
My tip: Create Vienna coffee mornings at home with one of the Vienna mokka sets, from traditional Biedermeier to Josef Hoffmann’s Art Deco Melon Service.

Lobmeyr Glassware

Vienna Culture Shopping. Why buy? Investing in glassware from Lobmeyr is like buying into Austria’s designer scene.

Actually, Lobmeyr’s list of designers from almost 100 years reads like the Who is Who of Viennese art and design: from Ringstrasse architect Theophil Hansen, Wiener Werkstätte co-founder Josef Hoffmann and 1950ies star designer Oswald Haerdtl to architects Clemens Holzmeister and Adolf Loos to Fantastic Realist Ernst Fuchs and designer Mattheo Thun.

As illustrious as the designers are some buyers, such as international top chefs Alain Ducasse and Ferran Adria, certain palaces, embassies and MOMA New York.

What’s on offer? fine muslin glass drinking sets, crystal vases and delicate small bowls, and palatial chandeliers
My tip: get a Wiener Achtelglas set of typical wine glasses, or the Josephine water jug topped with a glass;

SHOPPING TIP: To make your shopping trip as efficient yet fun as possible, this award-winning local shopping guide will take you straight to the best Austrian home accessories and design shops, among other things.

Rozet and Fischmeister

Vienna Culture Shopping. Why buy? Can you believe this shop came into existence when baroque Empress Maria Theresia was ruling the Habsburg Empire? Definitely the shop’s elegant facade reflects its heritage, along with its shiny antique silverware. Located almost opposite Demel cake shop within call from the Imperial Palace, the former Imperial supplier is heaven for fine homeware and accessories, but also antique fine jewellery.

What’s on offer? antique tea and coffee sets, contemporary glass jugs with fine rim decorations; decanters and silver bowls, but also vintage, Art Nouveau and antique jewellery;
My tip: get a suitcase-friendly salt and pepper set, or go for a fine Jugendstil brooch or ring;

Dorotheum Vienna

Vienna Culture Shopping. Why buy? Largest Vienna antiques store; 300+ year old local institution housed in beautiful neo-baroque palace; both auction and ‘buy now’ facilities; largest auction house in Central Europe with booming contemporary and modern art auctions; Dorotheum staff advise on and organise the shipping of larger items abroad;

What’s on offer? pictures, porcelain, silverware, glass, rugs, furniture; great value antique and modern jewellery; well sorted 20th century decorative art;

My tip: check the ceramics, glass and silverware in the Glashofdownstairs; the jewellery in the second floor;

Österreichische Werkstätten

Vienna Culture Shopping. Why buy? If you are a fan of Art Nouveau and Fin-de-Siecle Vienna you may know designer Josef Hoffmann from museums and art books.

When in Vienna, visit the shop that he himself had founded just after World War II. With Österreichische Werkstätten, Hoffmann wanted his ‘baby’, the arts and crafts movement Wiener Werkstätte, to live on. My favourites there are the Ver Sacrum wallets and handbags, based on one of Hoffmann’s fabric designs.

What’s on offer? home accessories, fashion accessories, jewellery, regional crafts.
My tip: Watch out for the Austrian Jugendstil / Art Nouveau range of fabrics and glassware.

R. Horn’s

Vienna Culture Shopping. Why buy? When a handbag is called Wiener Kipferl you can rightly assume Viennese craftsmanship behind it. Free from ornaments and rich decoration, Robert Horn designs and manufactures clean functional leather ware that draws inspiration from modernist Viennese designers Otto Wagner, Adolf Loos and the Wiener Werkstätte. What I love most with R. Horn’s products is that their design and quality outlive many fashion seasons.

This photo shows one of R. Horn’s shops in a historic courtyard in Bräunerstrasse, but do also pop by at their brand new stylish location in Herrengasse (close to Café Central).

What’s on offer? fine leather ware in a range of colours, from briefcases and handbags to travel bags, wallets and agendas.

Walter Weiss

Vienna Culture Shopping. Why buy? ‘Everything for the daily stylish care’ promises this retro chemist close to Museumsquartier. Opened just after the end of World War II, in May 1945, Walter Weiss has become a local institution and symbol of success against large retail chains.

Far from ostentatious, the loyal clientele of third-generation Walter Weiss loves his perfectly crafted, branded wooden brushes, natural sponges, body care products and jewellery in shiny horn, and luxury nail care sets. 

What’s on offer? hair brushes for ladies and gentlemen, fine combs, shaving brushes with wild boar hair, natural tooth brushes, beard oils, nail care sets, fine soaps, shampoos and shower gels;

 

My tip: There are so many more fantastic shops out there! If you’d like to blend your gift shopping with your sightseeing program, find out about Vienna Unwrapped’s travel itineraries;

Other great shopping tips:

Shopping in Vienna Austria (private insider shopping tours),

Austrian Design Shopping (best gift shops), 

Vienna Shopping for Luxury (international designer brands)’

Austrian Jewelry, 

Austria Fashion Shopping,

Dirndl Dresses,

Evening Dress Shops in Vienna,

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