Zwölf-Apostelkeller

Useful Information

photography — Zwölf-Apostelkeller, Wien, Österreich. Public Domain.

Location:	Sonnenfelsgasse 3, 1010 Wien. (48.2098211, 16.3757309)
Open:	All year daily 11-24. [2025]
Fee:	free. [2025]
Classification:	Cellar Restaurant
Light:	Incandescent
Dimension:
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Zwölf-Apostelkeller, Sonnenfelsgasse 3, 1010 Wien, Tel: +43-1-512-67-77. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

12th century	Cellar built.
1339	first written mention.
1716-1721	Baroque façade of the building created by the Viennese master builder Lucas von Hildebrandt.
1952	Zwölf-Apostelkeller opened to the public.

Description

The Zwölf-Apostelkeller, known to connoisseurs as 12-A, is a traditional Viennese restaurant located in a vaulted cellar dating back to the 12th century. However, the cellar was first mentioned in 1339. The cellar vaults were built from large natural stones in round arches, as was customary in the Romanesque period. Parts of the cellar were probably reworked in the Gothic period. The building itself has a much younger Baroque façade. It was designed in 1716-1721 by the Viennese master builder Lucas von Hildebrandt, which is why the building is also known as the Hildebrandthaus.

The cellar has three underground levels. The lowest is called the Brunnenkeller and is the only completely preserved Gothic well room in Vienna. All three floors are used by the restaurant. It has a total of 390 seats, but due to the many vaults there is not a large room. The largest room is the 12 Apostelstüberl with a capacity of up to 50 people.

The restaurant serves traditional Viennese cuisine, with dishes such as Wiener Schnitzel (the real thing!), roast pork, smoked pork, suckling pig and cellar platter. Famous Viennese pastries such as Topfenstrudel, Sachertorte and Kaiserschmarren are also on the menu. The restaurant describes itself as a Heuriger restaurant, which means that there is live music every evening from 7 pm and that the menu includes various Austrian wines.