Perched on the 57th floor of Vienna's DC Tower 1, this is the highest restaurant and sky bar in the city — and yes, the panoramic views over the entire Vienna skyline are the real headline act. The kitchen turns out modern Mediterranean dishes that are solid if not groundbreaking, but you're really here for the cocktails on the open-air terrace one floor up, where the city stretches out beneath you like a postcard. It's a hotel-restaurant experience (part of Meliá Vienna), so expect polished service and prices to match the altitude.
Vienna's highest bar on the 57th floor of DC Tower — cocktails and open-air terrace with panoramic views that stretch from the Danube to the old town.
Book a window table in advance and aim to arrive around 7pm in summer to catch the sunset over the Danube from the 57 Bar terrace.
Vienna's highest bar — cocktails and a view that stops you mid-sip
Let's be honest: you don't come to 57 for the food alone — you come for the view. At 57 floors up in the DC Tower, this is Vienna's highest restaurant, and on a clear evening the panoramic sweep of the city from the Danube to the old town is genuinely breathtaking. The dining room is sleek and modern, with floor-to-ceiling windows that make every table feel like a window seat. The Mediterranean-leaning menu is competent — think grilled fish, risottos, nicely plated starters — but it's the kind of cooking that's elevated more by the setting than by the flavors themselves.
The real move, though, is to head up to the 57 Bar, one floor above the restaurant. That's where the experience clicks: creative cocktails, an open-air terrace, and the city glittering below you. Saturday nights they run a brunch service that's popular with locals, and sunset is the golden hour to be here — aim to arrive around 7pm in summer to watch the light change over the Danube. Service is polished in that hotel-restaurant way (it's part of Meliá Vienna), and prices reflect the altitude. It's not a cheap night out, but for a special occasion or showing visitors the city from above, it delivers exactly what it promises.
One thing to note: the location in Donaustadt means you're across the river from the center, so it's more of a destination than a drop-in. Book ahead for window tables — they go fast, especially on weekends.