Wiener Rathauskeller (Vienna, Austria)
Wiener Rathauskeller
In the heart of Vienna - right on the Ringstrasse - in the vaulted cellar of the famous Vienna City Hall, the halls and parlors of the Vienna City Hall Cellar, which were newly renovated in 2005, are located with their unique ambience. Here the tradition of Viennese hospitality is continued at a high level.
Town halls and mansions frequently had a separate dining room, usually in the cellar, where guests were invited for drinks and sociable get-togethers. Vienna evaded this tradition for a long time.
Even when the city of Vienna built the new grand town hall from 1872 to 1883, no Ratskeller (town hall cellar) was originally planned. However, architect Friedrich Schmidt had made the necessary preparations, which made it possible to add the town hall cellar at a later time.
On 12 February 1899, Vienna finally got its town hall cellar. This cellar restaurant was not merely intended for social gatherings, but was dedicated to Austrian wine. Therefore, a great wine cellar and wine taverns were built. The Ratskeller was only accessible via the courtyard of Magistratsstraße, and paintings gave each room its individual character. The paintings were created by Heinrich Lefler and his brother-in-law Joseph Urban
Despite renovation works in 1925, 1952 and 2005 the Wiener Rathauskeller retained its special artistic character and unique atmosphere.
(Source: Chronicles of the City of Vienna)