An off-space in a more classical sense, Ada is an eclectic merge of a crumbling Viennese apartment and technology-enthusiastic DIY. Among witty interventions and mismatched wallpapers it offers a relaxed, but solid program focused on media art.

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.

If Dogs Run Free is a great place to have coffee or a cocktail or both. It is located between Naschmarkt and Museumsquartier and always worth a stop. It has a calm and cool atmosphere. They also serve some great homemade sandwiches. They offer a small but great selection of drinks and at night it is usually packed.  It is designed by two architects and the ceiling installation is changing every year.

Tenderly covered in snow is oskar kokoschka, the artist that gives name to the square from which you enter the university, it is not out of patriotisme or for promotion that I list this institution here, but for viennas art and creative scene this is a center in its own rights. You can come and visit one of the many different applied art classes, with a little self esteem use most of the facilities, drink a coffe that is cheap and surprisingly good in the mensa or get yourself the cheapest automat-can beer for 90 cents. There are various talks in english if you look for them and in summer there is a good chance you will find a barbecue party in the garden or a film screening. If none of this is the case, there is always a chance to meet people, find a gallery to go to at night, or a room to rent. the library and the magazine reading room are free and well equipped with a great selection of avantgarde cinema, that can be watched on computers.

Smartly curated and art savvy, Mauve has been putting together reliably excellent shows with a focus on contemporary painting since 2012. Mauve’s bar features a neon cactus, a choice of favourite drinks and a crowd of artists in their natural habitat.