Perched on the 7th floor of the Steffl department store on Kärntner Straße, Sky Bar is Vienna's original rooftop bar — iconic since 1998. You'll get sweeping views over the Inner City skyline and St. Stephen's Cathedral while sipping creative cocktails in a dark, modern interior or out on the rooftop garden. It's a bit of a tourist magnet and prices reflect the location, but the panorama alone makes it worth the elevator ride.
Vienna's original rooftop bar since 1998, perched atop the Steffl department store with sweeping views of St. Stephen's Cathedral and the Inner City skyline.
Go for a late afternoon cocktail on a weekday to score a terrace seat with cathedral views before the evening crowd arrives.
Vienna's original rooftop with cathedral views
Sky Bar at Steffl has been Vienna's go-to rooftop since 1998, and honestly, it still earns its reputation. You take the elevator up to the 7th floor of the Steffl department store on Kärntner Straße — yes, through a shopping center entrance that feels a bit odd — and step out onto one of the best panoramic terraces in the city. The view over the Inner City rooftops with St. Stephen's Cathedral front and center is genuinely stunning, especially at sunset when the light hits the spire just right.
The cocktail list is solid and creative, and there's a decent soul food-inspired menu if you're hungry. Service is generally attentive — reviewers consistently praise the hostesses and waitstaff. Prices are on the higher side, which you'd expect from a rooftop bar in the 1st district, but you're paying for the view as much as the drinks. It gets busy, especially on warm evenings and weekends, so timing matters. Go for a late afternoon cocktail on a weekday if you want the terrace without the crowd.
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Le Sky Bar au Steffl est le rooftop viennois par excellence, et ce depuis 1998. On monte au 7e étage du grand magasin Steffl sur la Kärntner Straße — l'entrée par le centre commercial surprend toujours un peu — pour découvrir l'une des plus belles terrasses panoramiques de la ville. La vue sur les toits de l'Innere Stadt avec la cathédrale Saint-Étienne au premier plan est tout simplement spectaculaire, particulièrement au coucher du soleil quand la lumière baigne la flèche.
La carte des cocktails est créative et bien pensée, accompagnée d'une cuisine de type soul food qui tient la route. Le service est soigné — les habitués saluent régulièrement l'accueil chaleureux des hôtesses et du personnel en salle. Les prix sont élevés, comme on peut s'y attendre pour un rooftop dans le 1er arrondissement, mais on paie autant pour la vue que pour les boissons. L'ambiance se remplit vite, surtout les soirs d'été et le week-end. Privilégiez un cocktail en fin d'après-midi en semaine pour profiter de la terrasse sans la foule.