Wrenkh is one of Vienna's pioneering vegetarian restaurants, tucked away on Bauernmarkt in the Innere Stadt. The menu is creative and seasonal — you can go fully veg, vegan, or even add meat if you want — but the real draw is how seriously they take their vegetables. The space is retro-modern, not your typical cozy Viennese Beisl, and it doubles as a "Kochsalon" (cooking salon), giving it a lively, interactive vibe.
One of Vienna's first dedicated vegetarian restaurants, serving creative seasonal plant-based dishes in a striking retro-modern space on Bauernmarkt.
Go for lunch to get the best value — the lunch menu is well-priced and draws a steady local crowd, so arriving early or booking ahead is smart.
Vienna's vegetable pioneer with a modern twist
Wrenkh has been doing the vegetable-forward thing in Vienna since before it was trendy, and it shows — these folks know how to make plants sing. The menu changes with the seasons, and you can go fully vegetarian or vegan, though they'll also add meat if you ask. Dishes are creative without being precious; think refined takes on humble ingredients that actually fill you up. The lunch menu is particularly good value and draws a steady crowd of locals from the surrounding offices.
The space itself is worth talking about. The interior, designed by Eichinger Offices, is retro-modern with clean surfaces and a deliberate departure from the cozy-Beisl aesthetic that dominates Vienna. Some reviewers find it a bit cold, but most appreciate the fresh, contemporary feel. The "Kochsalon" concept — part restaurant, part cooking salon — adds an interactive layer that you don't get at most places in town.
Service is generally attentive and friendly, and the 4.6 Google rating from over a thousand reviews tells you they're doing something right. It's not the cheapest lunch in the first district, but the quality-to-price ratio is solid. Go for lunch if you want a lighter, quicker experience, or book a table for dinner if you want to linger over the full menu.