4 modern Speakeasys in Vienna

Many things in Vienna are large, easy to find, and impressively beautiful. You can spend your time in coffee houses, in or near the grand palaces such as Schönbrunn or Belvedere, in churches, or in museums. All of these are, in a sense, things you naturally do when visiting the city. But some things are hidden away and not so easy to find. We went in search of clues and discovered four of these Speakeasys that only allow entry to those who know where to knock.

1.  The Chapel

The Chapel Bar lives up to its name not because it’s a place to pray, but because it’s a cathedral for cocktail fans. Also the decorations are perfectly set, with colorful church windows, mystical light and drinks with names like “Forgive Me Father”, a visit there is a experience. Sacred style meets sinfully good drinks.

The entrance is via the neighboring restaurant “Let’s Be Frank”. Only those who know that a door to the “chapel” is hidden there are allowed to enter.

📍 Haidmannsgasse 8, 1150 Wien
🔑 Access: through the “Let’s Be Frank” restaurant

2.  Fitzcarraldo

An ordinary vending machine on the side of the road. No one would suspect that one of the coolest bars in the city is hiding behind it. If you press the right button (or ring the bell), you will see the back wall open and step into the world of Fitzcarraldo. The décor: dark wood with  golden accents. The menu offers fancy drinks.

The bar plays with the concept of illusion and reality, just like the legendary movie after which it is named. A little surreal and still quite elegant.

📍 Neubaugasse 38/1, 1070 Wien
🔑 Access: through a vending machine (with drinks)

3.  Tür 7 (Door 7)

Possibly the most intimate bar in Vienna. No bar sign, no music, no directions. It’s just a doorbell. If you ring it, you’ll let in “Tür 7“. The concept is simple: no menu, no signature drinks. Instead, the bartender asks for your preferences – sweet, bitter, smoky – and then mixes the perfect drink for you.

The interior looks like a living room from another era: velvety furniture, subdued lighting, golden glasses.

4.  Krypt

Hidden underneath an old building in Wasagasse is a vault that looks like it never left the 1920s. Concrete walls, brass, soft light a homage to the classic cocktail culture and the speakeasy bars. Only one door that leads directly into the depths. If you go down here, you will find a bar out of time. The drinks are precisely composed, the atmosphere quiet and mysterious. A place that deserves its name: hidden, mystical, timeless.

Vienna’s secret Speakeasys

Whether accessed via an inconspicuous bell, a vending machine or a combination lock, Vienna’s secret bars offer a little adventure. They blend the elegance of bygone eras with contemporary cocktail culture, evoking the spirit of the speakeasys of Prohibition-era America.