Friday Night Pub Crawl for Professionals in Vienna, Austria

Pickwick’s sets an unusual tone for a pub crawl: this Vienna pub began as a book and video shop, and some of that past remains in the room. From there, the night moves through a local bar and two dance venues, with an English-speaking guide and a welcome shot to get things started.

I like two things in particular: the mix of pub character and dance-floor time, and the practical perks, including free entry at the last two stops. The four-hour route gives you a ready-made evening and a chance to meet people without having to plan each venue yourself.

One consideration: drinks are not included beyond the welcome shot, and long drinks at the final club cost about €8 to €12. There has also been a report of a participant unable to find the group, so check your messages and confirm the meeting point before setting out.

Four stops, from pub shelves to club speakers

• Pickwick’s begins in a former book and video shop: Browse the remnants of its old life, settle in for the first hour and collect your included welcome shot.
• Vulcania Bar is the local-value stop: You get 10% off your check, which helps if you order a drink or two.
• Funky Monkey brings the disco mood: Entry is included, and most weekends feature a live DJ. Tiki drinks give the menu a different angle.
• Kaktus Club finishes underground: Entry is included, with a live DJ on most Friday and Saturday nights and long drinks priced around €8 to €12.
• The evening runs in English and starts at 8:30 pm: Expect roughly an hour at each venue and a finish at Kaktus Club.
• The group can reach 50 people: That can make the night social, though it is a sizeable group rather than a small pub tour.

An 8:30 start at Pickwick’s

Meet at Pickwick’s Pub, Marc-Aurel-Straße 10-12, in Vienna’s first district. The tour starts at 8:30 pm and spends about an hour here. This is not a generic bar chosen only as a convenient meeting point: Pickwick’s was once a book and video store, and traces of that past remain. You can pick up a book to read, and the pub also holds movie nights.

That makes Pickwick’s the most distinctive stop for anyone who likes a little character with a drink. It gives the crawl a gentler opening than beginning in a dance club. The included welcome shot is a small perk, not a reason to overdo it early. You still have three venues ahead, and you will pay separately for any additional drinks.

An English-speaking guide is included, which helps if you are new to Vienna or simply prefer to spend the evening following a plan rather than figuring out where to go next. One guide, Salma, was described as friendly and joined in the dancing later in the night. Guide assignments can vary, so don’t count on a particular person, but the account suggests the social tone can be part of the appeal.

Take a moment to make sure you have found the right group before the crawl moves on. A participant once reported arriving to find no guide; the organizer said the tour was running and that attempts to reach the participant had not connected. That disagreement does not tell you what happened at the meeting point, but it does make one practical tip clear: keep an eye on booking messages, arrive at the stated address, and ask staff specifically for the 5AM Club Bar Crawl if you are unsure.

Vulcania Bar and the 10 percent discount

The second hour is at Vulcania Bar, described as a local favorite with some of the area’s best prices. You receive 10% off your check. That discount is useful, but modest: treat it as a welcome reduction on a drink you already planned to buy, not as a major saving that pays for the tour.

The stop also changes the pace. Pickwick’s offers an old-pub feel, while Vulcania is the place to settle into the neighborhood bar side of the evening. An hour is enough for a drink and conversation, though the schedule is not designed for lingering over a long meal or exploring a venue at length.

You pay for everything you order here, apart from the discount. The tour price is $28 per person, so your final outlay depends on your choices across the night. If you are budgeting closely, decide in advance how many drinks you want and remember that the final club’s long drinks are listed at €8 to €12.

Funky Monkey starts the dance-floor stretch

At Funky Monkey Bar, the crawl shifts from pub stops toward a party. The venue is described as a disco bar, with a live DJ on most weekends and a dance floor that draws local patrons. Admission is included, so you can enter without paying a separate cover charge.

The bar also serves tiki drinks, a detail that gives this stop a different feel from the first two. The tour does not specify drink prices here, so it is best to check the menu before ordering if you are watching your spending. As at the earlier bars, drinks are on your own tab.

This is the point where the crawl may suit you best if you came for music and dancing rather than a guided history lesson. The itinerary allows about an hour, so you get a taste of the venue without making it the entire night. A live DJ is usual on weekends, not guaranteed every time, so think of the music as a likely feature rather than a promise.

A group of up to 50 can make a dance stop feel lively and social. It can also mean you are sharing the room and the guide’s attention with many people. If you prefer intimate bars and quiet conversation, this may not be your ideal format. If you enjoy meeting people and letting the evening gather momentum, the group can be an advantage.

Kaktus Club, the final hour

The tour ends at Kaktus Club, an underground club on Seitenstettengasse 5. Entry is included, and the venue has been renovated. On most Friday and Saturday nights, a live DJ plays a range of music. The description promises variety, but does not name a genre or guarantee a particular set, so go ready for an open-ended dance floor rather than a specific music night.

Long drinks cost about €8 to €12. That is the clearest price detail for drinks on the route and a useful figure when you plan your budget. You are not required to buy anything beyond the included welcome shot, but this is a club stop, and the final bill can rise quickly if you order several drinks.

The crawl is scheduled for about four hours, with roughly one hour per venue. Starting at 8:30 pm points to a finish around 12:30 am, though the stated duration is approximate. The end point is on a main street where taxis should be easy to find, according to the tour details. You finish at the club rather than returning to Pickwick’s, so plan your onward journey from Kaktus.

What the $28 price does and does not cover

For $28 per person, the package includes an English-speaking guide, one welcome shot at Pickwick’s, 10% off your check at Vulcania, and free entry at Funky Monkey and Kaktus. Those last two entry perks are the strongest value if you would otherwise pay a cover charge at either venue. The tour also saves you the work of choosing a sequence of bars and coordinating a group across the night.

The price does not cover your other drinks. That matters more than it might on a daytime tour, since the evening is built around bars and a club. A sensible comparison is not just the $28 tour fee against a single pub visit. Consider whether you value having a guide, a group to join, and admission at two dance venues. If you would visit those places anyway, the included entry can make the fee worthwhile. If you prefer to pick your own bars and keep the night quiet, you may get less from the package.

The tour is recommended by 93% of participants and has a 4.7 rating from 14 reviews. That is a positive signal, though the small number of ratings means it should not be treated as a guarantee of the same night for everyone. One account praised a guide named Salma for her friendly manner and for joining the dancing. A separate account described a failed meeting, while the organizer said the group had gone ahead and that several attempts to contact the participant had not succeeded. Taken together, the useful lesson is simple: the social experience can be a real plus, but clear meeting communication matters.

Who is likely to enjoy this crawl

I would consider this tour if you are visiting Vienna and want a social night without building your own bar route. It suits solo visitors, couples, or friends who enjoy meeting new people, moving between venues, and having both pub time and dancing in one evening. The English-language guide makes the experience easier to follow if you are not comfortable navigating a night out in German.

It is also a good fit if free entry at two dance venues matters to you. The crawl gives you a structured way to sample different settings, from Pickwick’s book-and-film traces to Kaktus Club’s underground dance floor. You can join for the route and group atmosphere without needing to know Vienna’s nightlife in advance.

It is less suitable if you want a small-group experience, a quiet evening, or a tour focused on architecture and local history. The group can reach 50, the itinerary gives each bar about an hour, and drinks are extra. This is a guided night out, not a deep account of Vienna’s past or a food-focused pub tour.

The tour requires a minimum number of participants. If that minimum is not met and the experience is canceled, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time; cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded. It is often booked about 25 days ahead, so reserve early if your dates are fixed.

Should you book it?

Book this crawl if you want a ready-made Vienna night with a friendly guide, a mix of pub atmosphere and dancing, and two included club entries. Pickwick’s gives the route a memorable starting point, while the discount at Vulcania and the free access at Funky Monkey and Kaktus help make the $28 fee easier to justify.

Skip it if you would rather choose each venue yourself, dislike large groups, or need a tightly planned music experience. Budget separately for drinks, check your messages before leaving for Pickwick’s, and be ready for a late finish. For a social evening that takes the planning off your hands, this is a practical option.

FAQ

What time does the pub crawl start?

It starts at 8:30 pm at Pickwick’s Pub, Marc-Aurel-Straße 10-12, 1010 Vienna.

How long does the tour last?

It lasts about four hours, with roughly one hour at each of the four bars.

Where does the tour end?

It ends at Kaktus Club, Seitenstettengasse 5, 1010 Vienna.

What is included in the $28 price?

The price includes an English-speaking guide, one welcome shot at Pickwick’s, 10% off your check at Vulcania Bar, and free entry at Funky Monkey Bar and Kaktus Club.

Are drinks included?

Only the welcome shot at Pickwick’s is included. You pay for all other drinks you order.

How much do long drinks cost at Kaktus Club?

Long drinks are listed at about €8 to €12.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The tour is offered in English, and an English-speaking guide is included.

How many people can join?

The maximum group size is 50 people.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded.