Summer in Vienna is best enjoyed in the open air. And this year more than ever. Numerous bars and restaurants – above all on the Danube Canal – offer the perfect place to chill out, and shorten the warm summer nights.

Just a few paces from Vienna's old city, trendy restaurants and bars along the Danube Canal provide that Riviera feeling with sandy beaches, music, cool cocktails and delicious food. Strandbar Herrmann at the Urania beckons with deckchairs, hammocks, lots of sand, and brunch at the weekend. On the roof terrace of the Klyo restaurant in Urania, cocktails come with a great view of the activities on the Danube Canal.

On the Badeschiff (pool boat) a few steps further along, an outdoor pool and refreshing drinks on the top deck are an attraction on hot summer days. The Motto am Fluss at the mooring point of the Twin City Liner is another hot-spot, with every seat on the terrace hotly sought-after in summer.

On the opposite side of the Danube Canal, the beach club Blumenwiese offers a restaurant and bar to its visitors. A bit further along, the Adria Wien supplies its guests with a large selection of beer and small dishes. A trendy crowd comes together at Tel Aviv Beach for Israeli cuisine, cocktails and DJs. Right next door is an Art Nouveau jewel: The garden of the Otto Wagner Schützenhaus is the perfect place to enjoy the evening sun and Viennese cuisine.
Upstream at the U4 subway station Rossauer Lände is the Summer Stage. The idyllic terrace right by the water is the ideal place to enjoy a glass of wine on mild summer's evenings.

Relax in the MuseumsQuartier: hanging out in the pubs in the open air, chilling out on the trendy loungers, playing boules and minigolf – that's modern Viennese cosiness.

Right around the corner, the Volksgarten Pavillon is a tip for hot summer nights. The pavilion and its terraces form a green oasis with its own stream in the center of the city and were designed in the 1950s by the renowned architect Oswald Haerdtl. In the evenings, a wide range of DJ crews play at the turntables, with a different musical focus on each day of the week.

In the Stadtpark, the cocktail bar Kleinod presents itself with a summer outlet. At Kleinod Stadtgarten, you can enjoy the summer under shady trees. The idyllic location also scores with sensational cocktails and French-Mediterranean summer cuisine, and is a true oasis in the big city jungle.

Something's also happening on Danube Island: The Copa Beach has been created here with sand beaches, deckchairs, parasols, palms and pool area. Culinary catering, cool drinks and Ibiza sounds to match the sunset are provided by the offshoots of city center restaurants. Stand-up paddling is also really popular here.