Wiener Rathauskeller — Restaurant in Vienna

⚠️ Avoid at All Costs – Total Tourist Trap at Wiener Rathauskeller (Folklore Dinner)

❌ Rude Service & Accusations Over a Minor Billing Error

I had a deeply upsetting experience at Wiener Rathauskeller during what was supposed to be a memorable folklore dinner in Vienna. Despite having paid over €170, the staff shouted at us, treated us like criminals, and demanded payment for €17 worth of drinks that we hadn’t realized weren’t included. We had no intention of not paying—it was an honest misunderstanding due to the chaotic way billing was handled at the venue.

To make matters worse: • The waiter literally ran after us into the corridor like we were thieves. • The manager accused us in a loud and disrespectful tone, showing no willingness to listen or deescalate the situation. On the contrary, he enjoyed repeating that the drinks being not included was written everywhere…. Honestly, paid 170 euros, would you be cheating for 17 euros ??? He was repeating it several times instead of saying no worries, let’s settle this and thank you for coming… what a horrible experience… • I had made the reservation via email, not through their website, and that became another point of confusion they unfairly blamed me for.

⚠️ What You Should Know Before Booking • Disrespectful treatment of paying guests. There was absolutely no courtesy or professionalism. • Lack of communication about what’s included in the package—leaving room for unpleasant surprises. • The entire experience ruined our evening, and the folklore atmosphere was overshadowed by how we were mistreated. • Absolutely not worth the price. Vienna offers better food and culture without this kind of humiliation.

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✅ Final Verdict

This was by far the worst dining experience I’ve ever had in a tourist-centric city. If you care about respectful service and transparency, do not go to Wiener Rathauskeller—especially for any special event like a folklore dinner. There are plenty of other restaurants in Vienna that offer local charm without the drama and arrogance.

I really don’t know how many times I would like to say horrible horrific experience … to accuse people who are your guests of being thieves is beyond my...

Please don’t go! They don’t deserve your money! I was there with a friend and we had a stroller and 2 babies with us. First of all, since there is no elevator, I asked a lady at the reception to help us with the stroller. Well, she answered in a very bad way saying that she was at the phone and did not want to be bothered! After I waited for 5 minutes (and she was still at the phone), I went to search to someone else, and finally found a waiter who helped us to bring the stroller down. Well, that was only the beginning! We wanted to try the gastro week menu, but in addition to that we would had liked to try also a soup from the regular menù (in other restaurants it was always possible to combine the two menus). We were shocked when the waiter just answered with a very annoyed “NEIN!” He said we can take the soup from a second gastro week, for 20 euros more, which was crazy. With the same bad tone he said NEIN when we asked for a place where to change a diaper. Just a sofa or table somewhere would have been enough (the place is huge). He was so unfriendly, I think he should change job. In addition to that we were not happy at all with the food. The schnitzel was very hard (probably old), my hausegemachte limonate was actually a fruit jouice full of sugar, and the dessert dry (obviously very old as well). Of course we did not leave any tip

UPDATE Answering to the restaurant reply… I never said which day I was there, so how can you tell me that there was no lady with stroller? I was there with another women and we were there with 2 babies and...

Very unwelcoming staff. We stumbled upon this restaurant today and asked the male staff member if there was a table for us being two adults and three children age 12,10 and 7. Reluctantly we were told we could have a table and sat down in the restaurant where there were a few other tables. We were made to feel very unwelcome, other tables who came in after us were served before us and when we expressed to the wait staff that we were ready to order, he proceeded to stand in front of the till doing nothing for several minutes and then decided to clear some dishes from another table. I don’t know what the problem was but even when we got up to walk out neither of the staff members were bothered at all. If it was because they didn’t like children, we would understand if they had just said no tables free. Such a shame as we are in Vienna for only 24 hours. However we did manage to find a much more friendly and welcoming restaurant down the street. Rude staff, zero customer services, such a shame as it’s a beatiful setting. I don’t know what...