NENI am Wasser
Obere Donaustraße 65, 1020 Vienna, Austria
Web: neni.at
make a reservation

In summer, Vienna's Danube Canal is one of the most popular promenades in the city. As you stroll along the lazily flowing Vienna River between walls sprayed with graffiti, you get into a vacation mood. This is mainly due to the lively local gastro scene. The pubs are hotly contested - not only among the guests, but also among the innkeepers. For a long time, Tel Aviv Beach was considered one of the trendiest.

Opened in 2010 by Haya Molcho, legendary operator of NENI at the Naschmarkt, it attracted visitors from near and far for more than ten years. People ate and drank in a beach atmosphere with a Mediterranean flair. Now Tel Aviv Beach is history. In its place, NENI recently opened on the waterfront. Once again in charge: Haya Molcho and her sons Elior, Nuriel and Ilan.

Water, wine and new values

"At the time, we were the pioneers on the Danube Canal and wanted to present the true Tel Aviv feeling to our guests. Ten years later, however, we knew we had to evolve," Nuriel Molcho is quoted saying. Instead of the sandy beach, there's now an open show kitchen, the plastic chairs gave way to furniture specially made in Bali, and instead of operating purely on a seasonal basis, NENI am Wasser is to be open all year round.

This means that the pub is leaving the days of the beach bar behind. Instead, it aims to bring the beach club lifestyle to Vienna. Following in the footsteps of the big names in Mykonos, Ibiza and Tulum. Consequently, the menu features mainly Mediterranean specialties from the NENI universe. Raw fish, dishes from the lava stone and a careful selection of organic wines from Europe go over the counter here. The plant-based alternatives are particularly thoughtful and refreshingly new. Vegan Mushroom Shawarma, Levantine Tagliatelle, and Green Bean Avocado Salad will make even die-hard carnivores' hearts beat faster.

International flair

The rush is great, so anyone who wants to get a seat at the new NENI on the waterfront should definitely reserve in advance. Two-hour timeslots are allocated. And in other respects, too, the signs point more to "international" than to "Viennese" charm. The language spoken is predominantly English, and as is customary in the U.S., the staff introduce themselves by their first names. The most popular tables are those in the front row, but the entire restaurant is extremely chic. And at the latest when the sun is mercilessly beating down from the sky, you're glad to find a shady spot in the gloom of the back rows.

NENI am Wasser
Obere Donaustraße 65, 1020 Vienna, Austria
Web: neni.at

make a reservation

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