Aurora Rooftop Bar
Bar, Nightclub
Arsenalstraße 10, 1100 Wien
Arsenalstraße 10, 1100 Wien
Recommended
walterluttenberger.com
Review
Old Swede!
Photo: Heribert Corn First of all, a little confession: I love Scandinavia. I've always loved it. I was head of the local Wickie club as a child, had a yellow and blue motorcycle as a teenager, always liked Björn Borg and Ingemar Stenmark and knew the Ikea catalog by heart. And last December, I canceled my building savings contract to travel to Stockholm for a weekend. Interestingly, the management of the new Andaz Hotel chose the theme "North" for its rooftop bar. As a Scandinaviac, this naturally makes you curious. And your curiosity is rewarded. Because the hotel, which still sticks out a little lonely on the edge of the new Belvedere district, has a lot to offer. Renzo Piano design, for example, then a hotel restaurant called Eugen21, where I definitely ate the best roast pork I've ever had in Vienna, and a few other good things too; a very relaxed café called Cycliste and then the rooftop bar on the 16th floor called Aurora. Okay, the philosophical thoughts on the subject of "But where is 'UP NORTH'?" stuck to the inside wall of the lift in gold letters are a bit ridiculous, but it doesn't matter, because the view is simply amazing. Not somehow Swedish, but simply sensational, so close to the city and so high up, you can't get that anywhere else, you could only see the Belvedere or the Arsenal from above from a helicopter until now. The interior design of the panoramic glass bar is Scandinavian, they say, well, it's okay, a few sofas, armchairs, coffee tables in wooden block design and two raw wood tables, every Swedish train is more stylish. But nobody here cares, because the only people inside are those who didn't get a seat on the terrace, which is quite likely from Wednesday onwards and becomes more and more likely towards the weekend, according to the service staff, who are in a pretty good mood despite the crowds. The menu is also a bit Nordic. A beer has been brewed with juniper, which is good, and as a consolation for the long wait there is a small aquavit cocktail with lime, elderberry and bitter lemon. The bread for the smørrebrøds was unfortunately out, a shame, but the deep-fried spike fish with beer mayonnaise was absolutely terrific, fluffy and crispy in tempura style, the portion was ample for two (€13). There's also a very good hot dog, but it's the pickled salmon on Finncrisp that really lets the Halvar of Flake hang out, so tender, so fine, with turnips, a little apple horseradish and dill, really great (€ 12). Unfortunately, there's no sürströmming, you have to bring your own. By the way, you'll have the terrace all to yourself in no time. Summary: Currently the best view of the city. And a pretty decent bar to boot. And some very good northern snacks too. Aurora 10, Arsenalstr. 10, tel. 01/205 77 44-0, daily 2pm-2am,Details
Arsenalstraße 10, 1100 Wien