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every half hour. Tickets cost only about $14; and if you have
kids aged 14 and younger with you, they ride free. In addition,
the highly advanced Hauptbahnhof central railway station, It would be a shame to miss the opulence and charm of Hotel
opened in 2014, provides seamless domestic and international Sacher. And don’t assume your local clients will be blasé about the
train service to other cities in Europe. experience, particularly at the sight of the famous Sachertorte.
Although best known for its creative industries including
music and art, the city hosts such international organizations
as the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and
the International Atomic Energy Agency. Vienna also serves
as one of the United Nations’ four headquarters, along with
New York, Geneva and Nairobi, and in 2016 it nabbed the No.
2 spot in the world as a top conference destination, according
to the International Congress and Convention Association.
In 2016 the Vienna Convention Bureau hosted more than
700 international conferences, and one of those events, the
Pioneers Festival, celebrates the city’s increasing reputation as
an important incubator of startups.
When it comes to power breakfasts and business lunches,
you’ll need to keep a few things in mind. Yes, it’s perfectly normal
to talk business over a meal, but take your cue from your client,
and don’t rush. Viennese meals, even power breakfasts at interna-
tional hotels, are more leisurely than we’re used to, and lunch at a
local establishment can be a lengthy affair.
Options for dining include such familiar brands as
the Park Hyatt Vienna and the Dstrikt Steakhouse at
The Ritz-Carlton, Vienna. Or go out on a limb and
enjoy the city’s famous café scene — just be sure to pick
the right one. There are literally hundreds of cafés from
which to choose; and while some retain the bohemian
vibe that’s attracted students and artists for generations,
others morphed into more business-like establishments.
The 140-year-old Café Central in Herrengasse, for
example, once attracted famous figures like Freud and
Trotsky but now is likely to be populated by bankers,
especially during the work week. Bear in mind you can
make a reservation Monday through Friday — and we
suggest you do — but not on weekends. Like all good
Viennese cafés, it offers a vast and complex coffee menu.
Be forewarned: Your concoction might arrive with a
tower of whipped cream instead of frothy milk if you
don’t order carefully. The accompanying breakfast can
include anything from smoked salmon and eggs to gor-
geous pastries that defy any attempt at low-carb dining.
Café Central also serves lunch and dinner and stays
open until 10 p.m.
Depending on the industry, people typically start
their office day between 8 and 9:30 a.m., but an 8 a.m. The city also offers abundant options for business lunches, TASTY TRADITIONS:
power breakfast might be considered a little aggressive. Your best and — unlike Spain, for example — hours for midday dining Hotel Sacher's famous
bet is to suggest an 8:30 or 9 a.m. reservation. typically begin around noon. Meierei in Stadtpark, part of the torte (top), and Café
If your clients skew toward millennials and you think they well-known Restaurant Steirereck, serves up Austrian fare at its best, Central in Herrengasse
(bottom)
would be more impressed by your knowledge of barista-style including a daily four-course, wine-pairing menu along with a stagger- PHOTO: © METSCHURAT
coffee in a minimalist setting than an old-school café, try Kaffemik ing 120 varieties of cheese and a selection of pastries and cakes. | DREAMSTIME, © ROMAN
in the city’s 7th district near the trendy MuseumsQuartier. Two IT Dinners typically start anywhere from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., and PLESKY | DREAMSTIME
professionals created the café to reflect their appreciation of high- many of Vienna’s restaurants offer private dining. One to try, the
end, specialty java supplied by independent guest roasters and Winter Garden at the Hotel Bristol, a Luxury Collection Hotel,
served via espresso or filter methods with a simple croissant. features Art Deco décor and an opulent setting.

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