This bar is in the foyer of the viennese popular theater. the name as well as the interior refer to the socialist direction, but if one imagines a dusty place full of missent ex-marxists it nowadays really is just a place with the ambiance of another time, that houses parties and changing clubs. I love the curtains, the fact that it is in the middle of the city and that one really feels a heavy ancient mood, that is forever related to the image of imperial vienna. it is this certain amount of pretentious pomp that makes going there, regardless of what club it is, surreal and nice.

The Kunsthistorisches Museum is Austria’s largest art museum. Its picture gallery houses the collections of the Habsburgs. There’s everything from Brueghel to Velásquez and Vermeer to Caravaggio. I especially recommend getting lost in the Egyptian and Near Eastern collection though.

Miranda is a beautiful little cocktail bar located in a calm side street of the 6th district.  It offers a great selection of seasonal cocktails, a combination of their own creations and interpretations of classic drinks. Designed by Tzou Lubroth Architects, the interior is a tasteful mix of pastel colors. The center piece is a huge green granite bar. Best just sit at the bar and watch the barmen mixing drinks.

One of the biggest parks in the inner city. When I was small, everyone would tell me never to go there, for it was considered the drugs-park of vienna. growing up I realised that it was mere exageration and this beautiful park became my favourite. there is the vienna river running right next to it, for sure it is not the cleanest, but for me it gives an amazing element of urbanity to the whole area. The river is loosing itself in a dark viaduct-like opening, and saga has it that in this tunnels at other times rave partys would take place. the park itself is beautiful, sourrounded by the city, with the fabulously hideous hotel intercontinental building, and the marble statues leading along the river, that changes it size seemingly daily, according to the weather, next to it you find one of vienna’s most beautiful cinemas, the gartenbaukino, as well as nice cafes, my favorite being the “das kleine cafe”. a wonderful experience is limited to summertime and made me often take the long way round when returning late night: you will find yourself in the middle of all kinds of animals lively running about, 5 hedgehogs, 7 rats, 12 ducks, one badger, mice and a heron. I love to find them there crossing the park.

If you are into Brutalism and would like to see something different in Vienna (apart from Schönbrunn Palace and its historic city centre …) this church is worth the journey. On the basis of a model by Fritz Wotruba, the Austrian sculptor, the church was built from 1974–76. (Photo: Thomas Ledl)