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.

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.

Vienna has three mountains, “house-mountains” as we call them in german, in fact they are more like 3 connected hills that house the famous viennese vinyards, beautiful forests for scary winter midnight visits and restaurants for autumn walks. one can find cheap wine and great traditional food in the green. for me and my friends, taking the bus from the city to go up there has become a ritual in a way, a symbolic voyage to clear our head up there in the fresh air while watching vienna from above. the names are Kahlenberg, Cobenzl and Leopoldsberg. The bus 38A accesses them all, (start from station Schottentor) in summer picnic is a good idea. if you happen to have a car or take a cab at night, the stars are bright from any meadow and you can watch and listen to the city youth drift in their cars on the big public parking space.

Minimalist Bar with a pleasantly dark atmosphere in the 5th district. Exceptionally good espresso and equally good cocktails. Drinks are made with love and passion. In addition, smaller, freshly prepared Italian snacks such as tramezzini are also served. Nice music. Family atmosphere.

The Palmenhaus is located in the gardens of Schloss Schönbrunn. One hundred and thirteen meters long and 28 meters high, it features a central and two lateral pavilions. Each of the three pavilions has another climate and is filled with botanical treasures from all over the world.