Vienna Restaurant Motto Review: The PERFECT Clash

For decades Vienna restaurant Motto has scored as one of the city’s most extravagantly designed restaurants and bars. Because of its warm atmosphere, cool urban sounds and not least its food the urban cult place has been a meeting point with my local friends for years. To find out about its secret, read my review below.

Located in the trendy fifth district Margareten, Motto has undoubtedly trailblazed a variety of small art and fashion shops, cafes and restaurants in the area. Although the bar and eatery has been around for more than 30 years it regularly adapts its interiors and menu as it keeps pace with the local zeitgeist.

Inside, undone walls marvellously clash with fine dark green velvety upholstered seats and shiny black Thonet coffeehouse chairs. If you look more closely amidst this ‘raw’ Viennese style you still find a few of those painted baby dolls from the previous interior decorating the walls.

What hasn’t changed are the iconic coffeehouse chairs of Vienna restaurant Motto’s original interiors, likewise the marble tables and the chandelier. At the back, Austrian artists have added modern frescoes of nudes to the naked walls.

What about food and drink? Above all, expect a subtle update of Viennese cuisine, in addition to modern fusion food and drinks: For example, Styrian farmer’s salad with field beans and sheep cheese; baked emmental cheese with mixed salad; Schinkenfleckerl (baked pasta with savoury ham and cheese); fried quail; and a wonderfully soft traditional Tafelspitz (boiled beef with aromatic sauces).

For dessert, nothing beats the widely recommended and self tried and tested strawberry/nougat dumplings. Even British actor Jude Law enjoyed them (alongside with chilli steak) when he was in Vienna in April 2011 to do a film and to help celebrate Motto’s 20th anniversary.

My tip: Because Vienna restaurant Motto is a little off path, combine a visit to this restaurant with nearby attractions, such as the Naschmarkt, or go there at the end of your Art Nouveau Walk.

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