Some time ago we told you the story of the famous Viennese shoemaker Scheer. Now we turn our sartorial curiosity towards Knize, Vienna’s arguably most renowned men outfitter. Kniže was founded in 1858 by the Bohemian tailor Josef Kniže (pronounced “Knische”). At the beginning he specialized in making sports and equestrian clothing. The output extended…
For the true shoe connoisseurs, Bräunerstrasse 4 in Vienna’s first district is a sort of pilgrimage destination. It is the home address of Rudolf Scheer & Söhne. Founded in 1816, it is the oldest bespoke shoemaker in world. It is a family business that is making shoes for seven generations now. The highest recognition of the quality…
“Zum Schwarzen Kameel” has been located at the Bognergasse since its founder Johann Baptist Cameel opened the business in 1619 offering exotic foods and spices. The story how “Cameel” became “Kameel” will never be known. Perhaps Johann thought that this name would go well with the symbol of the place, which is a Camel. The…
One of the oft-forgotten perks of living in Vienna is that you are within walking distance from anything of note that happened in Europe for much of its history. Not that everything happened here. But as the imperial capital, it acted as a magnet for ideas, adventurers, fashions and obsessions. Their traces are everywhere, from…
If you walk along the Kohlmarkt you may see a lot of people waiting to enter a shop. You may not know why, but most likely you will check it out as your curiosity would get the better of you. At Kohlmarkt 14 you will read: “Demel”. A sweet world located here since 1887 and…
The history of the Hofapotheke goes back to 1744 when Maria Theresia ordered the imperial court to buy the pharmacy “Zum goldenen Stern” (“to the golden star”). After the acquisition, it became the Hofapotheke (pharmacy of the imperial court). There is a story about money surrounding the Hofapotheke. During the Seven Years War, a war…
The 16th district of Vienna, also known as Ottakring, was established in 1890/1892 when the neighbourhoods Neulerchenfeld and Ottakring were united. The district’s architecture is a combination of small houses that survived modernity, late 19th century buildings, Gemeindebauten (“communal housing” in English), and other, sometimes strange, types of architecture. In all this architectural melange, there…
