Table Manners: Austrian Eating Etiquette And Blessings

When eating with a group of Austrians, it is customary to wish each other Guten Appetit or Mahlzeit, which means mealtime and is also used as a general greeting around midday. At traditional restaurants, it is considered polite to greet other diners with a hearty Mahlzeit. Austrians are known for their warmth, but they also value formality and have a long history of etiquette, especially in Vienna.

Greeting other diners

When meeting someone for the first time, a handshake is common, and you should offer a formal verbal greeting such as "Guten Morgen" (good morning), "Guten Tag" (good day), or "Guten Abend" (good evening). Informally, women may greet each other with a light hug or two air kisses on the cheek, accompanied by a greeting like "Hallo" (hello) or "Servus" (hi). Greeting people with a simple "Grüß dich" or "Grüß Gott" (God bless you) is also acceptable.

It is considered rude to arrive at someone's home without warning. Austrians value punctuality, so it is expected that you will arrive on time for any event or gathering. If you are running late, it is polite to inform your host or the person you are meeting to avoid any misunderstandings.

Toasting

• Formality: Toasting is a formal part of Austrian dining etiquette. It is customary and expected that the host of the event or dinner party gives the first toast. This is usually followed by the guests returning the toast later during the meal.
• Eye Contact and Glass Raising: When participating in a toast, it is important to raise your glass and maintain eye contact with the other participants. Austrians consider this polite and a sign of respect.
• Common Toasting Phrases: Austrians typically use phrases such as "Prost," "Prosit," or "Zum Wohl" when toasting, all of which mean "to your health."
• Drinking Culture: Drinking is a significant part of Austrian culture, and Austrians tend to drink more than the average European. Therefore, toasting and drinking go hand in hand during social gatherings and celebrations.
• Drinking Age: It is legal to drink alcohol in Austria at the age of 16, so be mindful of this when participating in toasting activities.
• Coffee Culture: While alcohol is prevalent, coffee houses also play an integral role in Austrian social life. Coffeehouses are common venues for socializing, whether it's for a quick coffee or a long, leisurely meal with friends.

Table manners

Austrians follow a particular set of manners when eating. These include keeping your hands on the table during meals, not gesturing with utensils, and not placing your elbows on the table while eating.

It is considered rude to start eating before everyone has been served and the host has indicated it is time to start. The host will usually say “Guten Appetit” or “Mahlzeit”.

At a dinner party in someone’s home, hosts will usually offer a second serving to their guests. However, they will also accept a polite ‘Nein, danke’ (no thank you).

Dinner is often the main meal for socialising. Formally, the host usually gives the first toast – guests return this later. You should raise your glass and maintain eye contact, and say “Prost” (cheers).

The person who extends the invitation for a meal out usually pays the bill – don’t argue.

Try to finish everything on your plate.

Put your knife and fork together on your plate with the handles to the right to indicate that you have finished your meal.

Punctuality

In terms of dining etiquette, it is customary to wait until everyone has been served and the host says "Guten Appetit" before beginning to eat. Additionally, it is considered polite to finish everything on your plate. To indicate that you have finished your meal, you should place your knife and fork together on your plate with the handles to the right.

When invited to a meal, it is customary for the person who extended the invitation to pay the bill. It is not common to argue over the bill, and it is considered rude to do so.

Gifts

When invited to an Austrian home for a meal, it is customary to bring a gift for your host. Gifts should be moderate in price and not overly expensive or extravagant. It is also customary to bring a gift for the host's spouse and their children.

Some appropriate gifts for your host include:

• A bottle of vintage wine, champagne, or brandy.
• High-quality chocolates.
• Flowers, given in odd numbers only as even numbers are considered bad luck.

For the host's spouse, appropriate gifts include:

• High-quality chocolates.
• Flowers, unwrapped unless they are in transparent plastic foil.

For children, appropriate gifts include:

• Confectionery.
• Electronic gadgets.
• Anything foreign or exotic.

Frequently asked questions