Vienna; Cooking Class: Make Schnitzel & Apple Strudel

Vienna’s grand cafés and pastry shops are fine, but this class takes you into a real city apartment, where Lena teaches family recipes in a Biedermeier house from the 1800s. You’ll make chicken schnitzel and apple strudel from scratch, then eat what you cooked.

I like the personal setting and the amount of food covered. You may prepare potato soup, schnitzel, cucumber salad, potato salad, and strudel, depending on the group size. I also like that you do the work yourself, rather than watching a chef perform while you stand at the edge of the kitchen.

The main consideration is space. Groups can reach 12 people, and one recent participant found that hands-on time was limited when the class was full. The apartment kitchen may also become hot in summer, and alcoholic drinks are not included.

Key points to know before booking

• Cook in Lena’s central Vienna apartment: The class takes place in a colorful home filled with antiquities and modern art, inside a typical 19th-century Biedermeier building.
• Prepare several Austrian dishes: Depending on group size, you may make potato soup, chicken schnitzel, cucumber salad, potato salad, and apple strudel.
• Eat the meal you create: Dinner is included, with the class sitting down together after the cooking is finished.
• No experience is needed: Lena teaches in English and German, and the class is designed for beginners.
• Plan for a small-kitchen setting: Groups range from two to 12 people, so the amount of hands-on work can vary.
• Bring containers if you have them: Leftover food may be available, but storage containers are not provided.

A Viennese cooking class in a real home

The appeal here is not a polished culinary studio. You ring at Top 20, walk up to the second floor, and enter Lena’s apartment in the city center. Her home combines antiques with modern art, and the building itself dates to the 1800s in the Biedermeier style.

That setting gives the class a clear sense of place. You are not simply following a recipe in a rented room. You are cooking in the home of someone born and raised in Vienna, using recipes that have been prepared in her family for generations.

Lena connects Austrian food to the old Austro-Hungarian world, with influences from Bohemia, Hungary, Italy, and the former monarchy. This is useful context because Austrian cooking is not one narrow tradition. A plate of schnitzel may look simple, but the food reflects centuries of movement across Central Europe.

You spend the full three hours in the apartment. There is no sightseeing transfer or second location to reach, which keeps the pace straightforward. You only need to arrange your own way to the building and ring the bell at the stated apartment number.

What happens during the three-hour class

The class begins with an introduction to Austrian cuisine and an explanation of the dishes you will prepare. Lena then takes you through the recipes before you start cooking.

The exact menu depends on the number of participants. The advertised meal can include three courses:

• Viennese potato soup
• Chicken schnitzel with cucumber salad and potato salad
• Fresh apple strudel

With some group sizes, the class prepares two courses instead of three. If the full menu matters to you, check the details for your selected date before booking. The meal is still substantial either way, but the amount of cooking and the number of recipes can change.

The class is meant to be practical. You cook as much as possible yourself, which matters if you want to repeat the dishes at home. Lena is not simply handing you a finished plate and explaining what happened. You should expect to mix, prepare, shape, cook, and assemble parts of the meal under her direction.

That hands-on approach is especially helpful with schnitzel and strudel. Both dishes look familiar, yet small choices affect the result. You can ask questions as you work, then taste the finished food immediately while the steps are still fresh in your mind.

The dishes you are likely to make

Potato soup for a Viennese first course

The meal may begin with Lena’s grandmother’s Viennese potato soup. This gives you a look at the home-style side of Austrian cooking before the better-known schnitzel arrives.

Soup also makes a sensible first lesson. It is less delicate than strudel and helps the group settle into the kitchen. You get a warm, traditional course while learning how the class operates.

Chicken schnitzel with two salads

The main dish is chicken schnitzel, rather than the veal schnitzel often associated with restaurant menus. That makes the recipe more approachable for many home cooks and keeps the lesson focused on a dish you can realistically repeat after returning home.

The schnitzel comes with cucumber salad and potato salad. These sides matter because they turn the fried meat into a full Austrian meal. You are not learning one isolated recipe. You are learning how the parts fit together on the plate.

You should also know that this is not presented as a wine-pairing class. Alcoholic drinks are not included, and one participant specifically wished a glass of wine had been offered. If you want wine or another alcoholic drink, do not assume it will be available as part of the class.

Fresh apple strudel for dessert

Apple strudel is the sweet finish, and it receives plenty of attention in the class. You make it fresh, eat it with the group, and may have some left to take away.

Bring a food container if you have one. Tupperware is not included, though leftovers may be available. One participant took home extra strudel and was looking forward to finishing it later, so a container can be a useful little bit of preparation.

The strudel also makes the class appealing to families. Children took part enthusiastically in one family booking, and the dessert proved popular enough for second and third servings. That does not mean every child will enjoy every cooking step, but the meal offers several tasks and a clear reward at the end.

How much hands-on cooking should you expect?

The honest answer depends on group size. Classes range from two to 12 participants. A small group should give you more access to the work area and more chances to handle each recipe directly.

A full group can feel different. One participant found that hands-on cooking was possible for only about half the time because there were too many people. That is the key drawback to keep in mind, especially if your main reason for booking is detailed practice.

Still, even in a larger group, the class has a social side. You cook with people you may not know, then sit together for the meal. A solo visitor can fit in comfortably, as can couples, families, and older or younger adults. The host’s apartment and shared table help keep the mood friendly rather than formal.

If hands-on time is your top priority, I would choose a date with fewer participants if the booking system shows group size or availability. If you mainly want an introduction to Austrian cooking and a pleasant dinner in a local home, a larger group may be perfectly acceptable.

Why the apartment setting matters

Vienna has plenty of cooking schools, but this class offers a different kind of contact with the city. You see a typical Biedermeier apartment building from inside, and you spend time in a home filled with personal objects rather than in a commercial venue.

That does not make the class luxurious. In fact, the lack of air conditioning is worth noting. Viennese apartments generally do not have air conditioning, and the kitchen can become quite hot in summer. Wear comfortable clothing and expect a working kitchen, not a cool demonstration room.

The apartment setting also means space is limited. This is part of the charm and part of the compromise. You gain an intimate, personal atmosphere, but you may share counters and cooking tasks with several other people.

The meal at the end

After the cooking, everyone sits down to eat the dishes prepared during the class. Dinner is included in the price, as are the ingredients and recipes.

I like this format because the meal gives the class a proper ending. You are not rushed out after the last instruction. You can taste the soup, schnitzel, salads, and strudel together and compare how each dish turned out.

The shared meal is also a good reason to book this as a social activity. It works for solo visitors who want an easy way to meet people, and it suits couples or families looking for an evening away from another restaurant meal.

Do not expect a full beverage program. Alcoholic drinks are not included. Bring your appetite, and consider carrying a reusable container for leftovers if you have room in your bag.

Price and overall value

At $153 per person, this is not a budget cooking lesson. The price needs to be judged against what is included: three hours of instruction, all ingredients, a two or three-course dinner, recipes, and the personal setting of Lena’s home.

The value is strongest if you want more than a meal. You are paying for instruction, participation, and recipes you can use later. You also avoid paying separately for dinner after the class, since you eat the food you prepare.

The value is weaker if you mainly want to watch a chef or enjoy an inexpensive introduction to schnitzel. A full group can reduce your time at the counter, and the absence of included alcohol means you are not receiving a food-and-wine evening.

The class has earned very strong ratings, including a 4.9 rating from 33 listed ratings and more than 340 Airbnb reviews with a 4.91 average. The most consistently praised elements are Lena’s friendly teaching, the cozy apartment atmosphere, the quality of the food, and the surprising number of dishes covered in one session.

Who will enjoy this class most?

I would recommend it most strongly to:

• First-time cooks who want clear guidance
• Families with children who enjoy practical activities
• Solo visitors looking for a shared meal
• Couples who prefer a local home setting to a standard restaurant
• Anyone interested in Austrian food beyond café desserts
• People who want recipes they can recreate at home

It is less suitable for vegans, since the activity specifically lists vegan diets as not suitable. Dietary restrictions are generally possible if you advise Lena in advance, but you should not assume every restriction can be accommodated without prior notice.

Vegetarians and people with other dietary needs should contact the host before booking rather than wait until arrival. The advertised menu centers on chicken schnitzel and traditional accompaniments, so advance planning matters.

Practical tips for a smoother visit

Wear comfortable clothes that are suitable for cooking. You do not need to bring equipment or ingredients, and no prior cooking experience is expected.

Bring a camera if you want photos of the food or the apartment. Ask before photographing people or private areas, especially since this is Lena’s home.

Allow time to find the building and identify the correct entrance. Once you arrive, ring at Top 20. Lena will open the door, and the apartment is on the second floor on the left.

The class is offered in English and German. If you have food restrictions, mention them in advance. In summer, dress lightly because the kitchen may be hot.

Cancellation is flexible up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms are useful if your Vienna plans are still changing, though you should check the exact booking conditions attached to your date.

Should you book Lena’s schnitzel and strudel class?

Book it if you want a personal, hands-on introduction to Austrian home cooking, especially if you like the idea of eating a meal in the same home where you prepared it. Lena’s family recipes, central apartment, and warm teaching style give the class a clear personality.

I would be more cautious if you dislike group cooking, need a spacious professional kitchen, or want wine included. If the class fills to 12 people, your hands-on time may be limited.

For most visitors, the best match is a curious beginner, family, couple, or solo diner who values food, conversation, and useful recipes. Choose a smaller group when possible, bring a leftover container, and expect a warm kitchen with a generous meal at the end.

FAQ

Where does the cooking class take place?

The class takes place in Lena’s apartment in central Vienna, inside a typical Biedermeier-style building from the 1800s.

How do I find the apartment?

When you arrive at the building, ring at Top 20. Lena will open the door. The apartment is on the second floor on the left side.

How long does the class last?

The cooking class lasts three hours.

What food will I make?

Depending on the number of participants, you may prepare Viennese potato soup, chicken schnitzel, cucumber salad, potato salad, and fresh apple strudel.

Is dinner included?

Yes. You eat the dishes prepared during the class, and dinner is included in the price.

Are ingredients included?

Yes. All cooking ingredients are included, and you do not need to bring cooking supplies.

Do I need cooking experience?

No. The class is suitable for beginners, and no prior cooking experience is expected.

Which languages are available?

The class is offered in English and German.

Can dietary restrictions be accommodated?

Dietary restrictions are generally possible, but you must advise Lena in advance. The class is not suitable for vegans.

Are drinks included?

Alcoholic beverages are not included. Tupperware is also not provided, so bring your own container if you want to carry home leftovers.