Cocktails, whether fruity, tropical, sweet, or bitter, suit every season. Who doesn’t love them? Because they have a special power: their taste takes us to distant countries, to the past, to vacations on the beach, and to romantic sunsets. im7ten has embarked on a journey to 7 special cocktail bars in the third smallest district. Come with us, discover new taste experiences, and get one or two insider tips for the next sundowner with friends.
A base for everyone and a breakfast cocktail—Das Vivet
At the start of our sophisticated cocktail tour, we naturally treat ourselves to a good base. Das Vivet is a perfect starting point because here you can not only find fantastic cocktails but also excellent food. And even better: there is something for everyone here. A gluten-free, vegan, and lactose-free burger? We’ll find it here. Read more about it in our article about the restaurant (German version). If you start before 4 p.m., the cocktail tour begins with a breakfast cocktail. We start full of anticipation with the Froot Loop, an almond drink with Licor 43, cinnamon, and Fruit Loops.
It will live
The name Das Vivet means something like ‘it will live’. This is the motto of the owners Nikola Senjic, restaurant manager, and Blazenko Jurkovic, bar manager. Because at Das Vivet you will find a lively feel-good atmosphere in a modern-baroque inspired design. In addition to comfortable upholstered armchairs and rustic wooden tables, a portrait of Sisi in a black and white dress adorns the bar. Blazenko put together the cocktail menu himself. Many of the creations on it are homemade, such as the syrups, popsicles and cocktails. Try the Cinnamon Sour, the combination of Bulleit Bourbon, Grand Marnier, homemade cinnamon syrup, lemon and egg white is simply stunning.
Das Vivet
Check out the restaurant’s website: here
Diabolical coffee for adults—Die Parfümerie
We move on to Die Parfümerie (meaning: the perfumery). Gilles Reuter and his team, also affectionately known as ‘la famiglia’, serve unusual drinks made from homemade syrups and essences. Just like in French perfumes, only select ingredients go into the glass. The bartenders serve high-quality, self-created cocktails with humor and the occasional conversation. The casual and hip ambience lets you completely forget the stress of everyday life. We enjoy the fiery red cocktail Johanna and Johannes in Die Parfümerie Bar.
If you need some caffeine after dinner, la famiglia has the right recipe: Kaspar, the coffee for adults. Espresso liqueur, Ethiopian coffee, tonka beans, brandy, vodka, spices, and orange zest are mixed into a strong pick-me-up.
Cocktails with character
Also try the unusual cocktail Bernd with Aquavit, La Famiglia Gin, dry vermouth, mustard, orange-dill cordial, and orange bitters. Or try the cocktail Johanna&Johannes—a love affair between cognac, Pineau de Cahrente, the Kasper espresso liqueur, sherry, and raspberries that can only end well.
Die Parfümerie
Check out the bar’s website: here
A journey through time from the 1920s to the 1950s—Agent Oscar
One stop further on, we fall into the time of the 1920s to the 1950s. Agent Oscar has a jazz and blues atmosphere, where you can sit and philosophize on the comfortable red upholstered benches over a dry martini. We are taken on a journey to the times of prohibition, but the current zeitgeist is skillfully woven in. The bar area with its high brick walls is decorated with three crystal ball lamps. “They are not only an eye-catcher but also unmistakably connected to our bar. If someone sees a photo somewhere and the lamps are in it, then everyone knows straight away that it is Agent Oscar,” says Yeter from Agent Oscar.
Incorruptible experience
Frank Hassfurther founded the American Bar in 2016. He is Mr. Agent Oscar and has been in the industry for over 35 years, over 20 of them in Vienna. With his wealth of experience, he has created his own oasis of well-being in the middle of the 7th district. Ideas that have been maturing in his head for years have been incorporated here. The name of the bar is inspired by the film character Agent Oscar Wallace in The Untouchables.
Incorruptible selection
The selection here is also incorruptible. There are over 300 cocktails and another 300 drinks and spirits on the menu. We think about it for a moment, how long will it take us to taste all 600 options?
Incorruptible taste
Agent Oscar has a large selection of cocktails. Here, attention is also paid to the excellent quality of the ingredients. But aside from the large selection, Mr. Agent Oscar pays particular attention to the authentic taste of the high-quality spirits and the self-created drinks. When we ask about the signature cocktail, the bartender names a few; no wonder given the selection. But we should definitely try the Agent Oscar Special, the More Issues Than Vogue, the Himalaya Cocktail, and the White Russian Royal.
Incorruptible popcorn
Agent Oscar deliberately does not serve wine or beer. The focus is entirely on the spirits and cocktails—and also on the freshly homemade chili popcorn.
Agent Oscar
Check out the bar’s website: here
You heard it through the grapevine: the secret bar behind the drinks machine—Fitzcarraldo
Our cocktail journey through time takes us further to a speakeasy bar. These bars were popular in the USA during the Prohibition era. You weren’t allowed to be too loud, and you had to be careful who you told about the bar so that it remained secret. Hence its name.
A hedonistic fantasy world
The Fitzcarraldo is Vienna’s secret bar behind a drink vending machine. That’s right, thirsty people have to know exactly where they want to go. Whoever presses the button on the machine is let in. “We want to offer a kind of refuge. As soon as the secret door opens, our guests take off their everyday mask and immerse themselves in a multi-sensory, hedonistic fantasy world,” says Sammy Walfisch, who opened the bar together with Hank Ge in 2022.
The ambience can best be described as a mix of Art Deco and a botanical garden at night. Gold accents and sparkling lamps exude a cozy, warm atmosphere that can be admired from the emerald green velvet seating boxes.
A visual highlight
The real visual highlights here are the cocktails. The creative team decorates them with tasty clouds of foam and smoke-filled ‘soap bubbles’. You absolutely have to try the Tropic Daiquiri, which is served with white rum, lime, passion fruit and sugar cane with a sweet coconut cloud. A glass from another time The Cloudy River, on the other hand, is served in an antique-looking beer pipe, which is a special experience in itself to drink from. People also liked to drink from it in the late 19th and early 20th century.
Fitzcarraldo
Check out the bar’s website: here
On a long-distance journey with gin and tonic—Spear
Our tour continues to Spear in Neubaugasse. Spear is known for its delicious burger creations. They have everything from rice buns to homemade brioche buns, from juicy beef patties to vegan burgers. Those who enjoy delicious bar food in between will also find what they are looking for here and can choose between handmade fries, onion rings, and buffalo wings.
The choice is yours
However, we are looking for a special gin & tonic selection and we get it here. Spear has a particularly large selection of gin & tonic combinations. Friends of this drink will be delighted with 17 different gins from Austria, Germany, Spain, England, Scotland, France, Asia and Poland. The trained palate of the staff will be happy to help you choose the right fruit and vegetable.
Spear
Check out the restaurant’s website here.
Bloody Marys and oysters, Canadian style—Rinkhy Bar
The Rinkhy Bar is a real insider’s tip! When you enter the charming little bar, you immediately notice the many nautical details. The white wood-paneled walls are decorated with tinned fish cans, and the lamps hanging from the ceiling are stylishly embraced by an octopus. The bar’s specialty is fresh oysters, which can be sampled every Saturday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. In keeping with this, the special happy hour for Bloody Marys takes place at the same time. And with six variations, there is probably the largest selection in all of Vienna. We try the Rinkhys Bloody Mary with oyster nectar and a fresh oyster and are delighted.
Staycation
“We want you to feel like you’re at home and on vacation at the same time. We wanted to open a bar where you can enjoy a drink and a snack with friends but also make new friends,” says owner and Canadian-born Andrew Rinkhy, who aims to offer all his guests a cozy, feel-good atmosphere.
Maple syrup and honey
When we look at the cocktail menu, we discover creations refined with maple syrup or honey. “I can highly recommend the whiskey sour with maple syrup, it’s sensational,” we get as a tip from Peter, a regular at the Rinkhy Bar. The Sweet Bee Drink is prepared exclusively with Bee Gin and lavender honey from Wald & Wiese at Kaiserstraße 33 or Neubaugasse 26. It’s always nice to see when local products from the neighborhood are included in the menu.
Cocktail roulette and a beer garden on Spittelberg—Bestens. Die Bar.
The last stop on our extensive cocktail tour takes us to the Bestens Bar on the edge of Spittelberg. Homemade cocktails are served here with love in a cozy atmosphere. Only high-quality spirits, homemade syrups, and homemade liqueurs are on the cocktail menu. The bartenders can be creative when preparing the cocktails. “We are simple, honest, and straightforward. We don’t have cocktails under smoke bells, but honest cocktails with high-quality ingredients and staff with attention to detail,” say the operators Daniel Knoflicek and Christian Susitz. “We are a classic American bar with history and a love of the art of cocktail creation.” You can read the im7ten interview with Daniel Knoflicek here.
The best creations just for you
We tasted the Salberry cocktail with tequila, strawberries, and homemade sage syrup. But if you can’t decide, the cocktail roulette will help you. Choose the type of alcohol and then two words from the roulette, such as sweet and floral, and be surprised by what is created especially for you.
Gin & Tonic with vegetables from the Bestens. Die Bar
The Bestens Bar also has a surprise in store for gin lovers. Create your own Gin & Tonics with one of the over 30 types of gin, tonic, and vegetables (such as rosemary, orange, jalapeño, or ginger). You definitely have to try the house-made Bestens premium gin with juniper berries, forest honey, sage, and selected botanicals.
Cocktail courses with the best
After this evening, we feel like trying our hand at the cocktail shaker ourselves. We can learn how to do this at the popular cocktail courses here in the Bestens Bar. The cocktail experts provide exciting background knowledge about cocktails and their history. You mix your own cocktails and, of course, taste them straight away.
Bestens. Die Bar
Check out the bar’s website here.
Too beautiful to drink?
Take photos! That was our fruity-tropical, sweet-spicy journey through the 7th district. Even though they are often far too beautiful to drink, we hope you try one or two cocktails and enjoy a little break from everyday life. Feel free to send us your photos and cocktail experiences on Facebook or Instagram or by email to blog@im7ten.com.
Originally written in German by Martina Simon
Translated by Veronika Fischer
