Historic Beer Culture in Ottakring

Neulerchenfeld, now part of Vienna’s 16th district (Ottakring), was once considered the largest concentration of taverns in the Holy Roman Empire, which ended in 1806. Its thirst for beer continued long afterwards: in 1835, there were 92 inns and two dance halls in just 157 houses. With names like “The White Swan,” “The Six Krügerl” and “The Blue Bottle,” the neighborhood had a sense of humor. Today, only the “Golden Pelican” survives as Weinhaus Sittl. The Bockkeller once welcomed up to 1,500 guests in its beer garden, while the goat on its façade advertised Bock beer, served there until the 1960s.