Kiosk Zur Libelle

Review

On the summit of the Leopold

If you remember the drama surrounding the height of the Museumsquartier and the Leseturm in particular, it is actually a miracle that the so-called Libelle, a panoramic glazed event space that was placed on top of the Leopold Museum, could be realized without social upheaval. But there have been 25 years in between, which makes us confident that a certain amount of relaxation will find its way into Vienna for once. After the corona-related construction delay, the thing is now finished. A fast lift whizzes up the 25 meters to the roof along the outside wall, a friendly gentleman in a suit checks the smooth entry and exit and reminds you to put on a mask for the lift ride. Then you're up there, get out - and somehow expected a bit more. I mean, it's a great view from here, of course, down to the MQ courtyard, over to Maria-Theresien-Platz and the countless architect's dream attic extensions all around. The shell limestone of the three levels - the top Dragonfly level, the middle restaurant level and the lower viewing platform - shines white in the September sun, and an SPÖ election event is being prepared in the Dragonfly glass pavilion. But somehow the air doesn't really stay away. What the Leopold terrace can do, the restaurant terrace of Möbel Leiner right behind it can also do somehow, it's even a little further up ... Incidentally, until a few weeks ago, it wasn't even clear who would run the small, also white kiosk Zur Libelle on the middle level, but the "Gyoza Brothers" around Ra'mien founder Tie Yang, who have also been running Café Leopold in the same building for three years, were apparently able to prevail. However, they do not offer Vietnamese summer rolls, gyoza stuffed with duck and spicy noodles with Japanese craft beer, but very mass-market snacks à la a high-end sausage stand. Which is understandable, but also a bit of a shame. The menu offers a few impeccable everyday local wines at the price of top local wines, a few craft beers, three of which are from Vienna after all. And "finger food", such as Joursemmerln with a small piece of "champagne truffle liver cheese" or "jalapeño cheese liver cheese", which you can find after a quick Google search as coming from a producer in the Hausruckviertel (€ 4). Or Sacher or Budapester (Debreziner) sausages in the format of children's thumbs, which do full justice to the term finger food, sausage sweets so to speak (€ 5). It certainly lives up to expectations, perhaps there will be a bit more in the future. Summary: The first really new restaurant in the Museumsquartier in 15 years is a sausage stand with truffle liver cheese on the roof terrace. Die Libelle, 7th, Museumsplatz 1/Leopold Museum roof terrace, daily 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.

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