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In this Austrian city, traditions include historic Christmas markets, delicious pastries, and some more unusual holiday festivities.

Thanks to Michael Gigl, region manager for North America and Australia, at the Austrian Tourist Office, for sharing some of his favorite restaurants in Vienna.

Overview

Frankfurt’s glass-heavy Main Tower is one of the most iconic buildings in town. The sixth-largest skyscraper in the city—and the first ever constructed in Europe, in 1999—it features a restaurant and lounge on the 53rd floor, with high-end cuisine to match its stellar views. Here, set menus (two- or three-course business lunches and three-, four-, or five-course dinners) change every two months to stay seasonal, but always showcase refined takes on classic dishes like Wagyu beef Tafelspitz and yellowfin tuna with pears and ginger. Adjacent to the restaurant is a sleek lounge with cube tables, lots more window seating, and an impressive range of champagne, fine wine, cocktails, and snacks. Reservations are recommended for both venues.

Cape Town’s Table Mountain National Park, which hugs the perimeter of the city, is so popular that the line for the cable car to the top can be longer than a queue for a Disneyland ride. But why stand in line when you can put your feet to use? There are several routes that lead to the top of the 3,562-foot, flat-topped mountain, including the two-mile Platteklip Gorge trail. Yes, it’s steep, but startling views of the city and the Atlantic await. Trek, get hungry, then picnic on local provisions—crackers, Dutch-style Gouda, and biltong, the thick-sliced South African jerky—before riding the cable car back down.

Perhaps “boiled beef in broth” doesn’t sound quite as alluring as its German name of Tafelspitz. Yet Tafelspitz was the preferred meal of Emperor Franz Joseph, and it remains a favorite Viennese dish. There’s one establishment, Plachutta, that has cornered the market on fine Tafelspitz; the eponymous gastronome Mario Plachutta has raised his preparation of the modest rump cut served with roasted potatoes, minced apples, and horseradish to a gourmet level. The main restaurant sits on the popular Wollzeile shopping street just a block from the Ringstrasse, but the chef has also built a mini empire of jade-toned Plachutta restaurants—including one in a lovely Biedermeier cottage and another near the Schönbrunn Palace in Hietzing.

Across the river from the heart of the old town, the historic Gablerbräu dates back to 1429 and offers the usual mix of Austrian favorites, including schnitzel, Tafelspitz, and goulash, plus seasonal apricot dumplings and the local Salzburger Nockerl pastry. The local draft beer, Gabler Zwickl, is a good choice, but it’s the atmosphere that really makes this place worth a visit. While the chance to dine outdoors on a cool summer evening in Salzburg is hard to pass up, the classic decor inside should not be missed. Ask for a spot in the Richard-Mayr-Stube, a cozy dining area with murals, vaulted ceilings, stained-glass windows, and a charming old tile stove.