{"id":46102,"date":"2022-05-10T04:45:00","date_gmt":"2022-05-10T03:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/?p=46102"},"modified":"2025-06-01T17:27:59","modified_gmt":"2025-06-01T16:27:59","slug":"genussfestival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/events\/genussfestival\/","title":{"rendered":"The Genuss Festival"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/genuss_small.jpg\" alt=\"Cheese, ham, walnut and bread\" class=\"wp-image-8536\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/genuss_small.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/genuss_small-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Every now and then, an Austrian province makes camp in Vienna to convince us of their local culinary delights. Consider the Genuss Festival a &#8220;best-of&#8221; equivalent; it showcases high-quality regional food and drink from throughout the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Open-air event with dozens of booths<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Excellent place to try (or buy as gifts):\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Regional wines<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Local delicacies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Unusual foods<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Activities for kids, too<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Located in the central Stadtpark park<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>2026 dates: May 8-10<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Book a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/en\/food-tours-vienna-tickets-l205283\/?partner=visitingvienna&amp;tq_campaign=LG_FandD\" rel=\"sponsored\">food or drink experience<\/a>* in Vienna<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>See also:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/may\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"15492\">Vienna in May<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/traditional-food-drink\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"1654\">Traditional food and drink<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Quality meets tradition<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/genussfestival.jpg\" alt=\"Genuss Festival entrance sign\" class=\"wp-image-46099\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/genussfestival.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/genussfestival-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Translates roughly as &#8220;come on in&#8221;, a message I can endorse)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most of Austria consists of mountains, forests, vineyards, and small farm holdings. Often all in the same place. And each province is fiercely protective of its local character. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Which makes Vienna as a city\/province something of an exception. Although, to be fair, it also has hills, woodland, agriculture and even a significant <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/vienna-wine\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2414\">winemaking sector<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While &#8220;industrial&#8221; food production certainly exists, Austria still follows this strong regional and small-scale agricultural tradition. And, like any country, it has a range of its own food and drink specialties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Genuss Festival brings all the regions and their products together in one place, so consider it a gourmet trip around the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the event, numerous small booths line the footpaths inside a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/stadtpark\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"3254\">city-centre park<\/a> normally known for its monuments to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/strauss-monument\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"3271\">Strauss<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/schubert-statue\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"4215\">Schubert<\/a> and others who worked with bows and batons rather than beans and barley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div align=\"center\"><em>Ad:<\/em><br><\/div><div data-tiqets-widget=\"discovery\" data-cards-layout=\"responsive\" data-content-type=\"venue\" data-content-ids=\"205283,205280\" data-partner=\"visitingvienna\" data-tq-campaign=\"DA_FandD\"><\/div><script defer src=\"https:\/\/widgets.tiqets.com\/loader.js\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>All these participants bear the <em>AMA GENUSS REGION<\/em> quality seal, which marks family-owned farm shops, manufacturers and restaurants with a focus on high-quality regional food using traditional skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the beverage front, expect vatfuls of wine (including contributions from those Viennese vineyards mentioned above), but also schnapps, fruit juices and beer, for example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As for food\u2026 expect sausages and cured meats; breads and pastries; fruit and veg; bottles and jars filled with special vinegars, chutneys, oils, dressings, jams, mustards, honeys, herbs, spices and spreads; glass containers of pesto, sugo, goulash, curries and chili con carne (or con tofu).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many of those might make good gifts for back home. Not that everything is to take away; many stalls sell food and drink for immediate consumption, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Organic (&#8220;Bio&#8221; in German) products are common. As are vegetarian and vegan alternatives alongside meat dishes and products.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/genussfestival2024.jpg\" alt=\"Important people examining a food booth at a market\" class=\"wp-image-71720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/genussfestival2024.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/genussfestival2024-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Minister for Agriculture Norbert Totschnig and Vienna&#8217;s Mayor Michael Ludwig at the 2024 Genussfestival; press photo courtesy of and \u00a9 BML\/Hemerka)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And the food often has an innovative or unusual touch to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On one visit, for example, I spotted rare breed sausages and deer salami, vegan ice cream, sea buckthorn spreads, black garlic, and mountain shrimp. Not to mention wasabi from the province of Burgenland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A couple of tented activity stations typically keep the kids engaged, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Dates, tickets &amp; tips<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Genuss Festival is free to wander around and normally pops up for three days in May. The 2026 dates are May 8th to 10th.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Opening hours last time out were:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Friday: 11am to 9pm<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Saturday: 10am to 9pm<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sunday: 10am to 5pm<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Given the joys of taking a culinary journey through rural Austria, the event attracts a lot of visitors. We try and get there just after opening, even if it means an earlier glass of wine than we&#8217;re used to (all in pursuit of accurate journalism).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you miss the Genuss Festival, you might still catch one of those province-focused events mentioned in the introduction. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/events\/waldviertelpur\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"413\">Waldviertelpur<\/a>: the Waldviertel area is well known for its poppy seed products and beer<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/events\/steiermark-fruhling\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"3191\">Styrian Spring<\/a>: Styria is a mountainous province particularly famous for pumpkin oil dressing, apples and wine (and beer)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/events\/burgenland-kultinarium\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"15017\">Burgenland Kultinarium<\/a>: the flatter province of Burgenland has a strong wine tradition, too. Look for Uhudler<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/events\/wienliebe-festival\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"70484\">#wienliebe<\/a>: Vienna&#8217;s own self-portrait in food and beverage form, with music and handicrafts too<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to get to the festival<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Stadtpark has a U4 subway station at the western end usefully called, um, Stadtpark; the station pavilion is one of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/culture\/jugendstil\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"31716\">Jugendstil<\/a> white &amp; green designs by the famed architect, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/footsteps\/otto-wagner-in-vienna\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"4917\">Otto Wagner<\/a>. The eastern end has the U3 Stubentor station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>(The event stretches from one end of the park to the other.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Alternatively, jump on the 2 tram to the Weihburggasse stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Address: Parkring, 1010 Vienna | <a href=\"https:\/\/festival.genussregionen.at\/\">Website<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div align=\"center\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/d\/u\/0\/embed?mid=1XQtry9T5x-yEU9Y9rWjHw7CYjEw\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A showcase for high-quality regional food and drink from throughout Austria<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":8536,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-46102","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-events","8":"entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46102","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=46102"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46102\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":83860,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46102\/revisions\/83860"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8536"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=46102"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=46102"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=46102"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}