Löwenherz

Opened in 1993, Löwenherz is much more than an LGBTQ+ bookshop: it is a genuine piece of Vienna’s queer history. Located on Berggasse in the city’s elegant ninth district, this independent bookstore has been giving gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, intersex and queer stories the space they deserve for more than three decades. In a world where LGBTQ+ books are still too often confined to a lonely shelf at the back of mainstream stores, Löwenherz proudly puts them front and center.

The shop carries an impressively broad selection of books, with a particularly rich collection devoted to gay life, culture and history. Visitors can browse contemporary novels, literary classics, biographies, essays, poetry, graphic novels, photography books and academic works exploring sexuality, gender, politics and queer movements. There are titles for readers looking for a romantic escape, an intellectually challenging essay, a deeper understanding of LGBTQ+ history or simply their next excellent vacation read. German-language books dominate the shelves, but international visitors will also find a selection of English-language titles and works imported from other countries.

Löwenherz is not only interested in entertainment. Its shelves document queer struggles, victories, desires and everyday lives across generations. Alongside gay and lesbian literature, the bookstore offers important works on trans and intersex experiences, feminism, psychology, psychoanalysis, social sciences, Austrian history, the Holocaust and National Socialism. The result is a collection with real depth, shaped by people who know that queer culture cannot be reduced to rainbow merchandise and a few bestselling romances—although there is absolutely room for those too.

One of the pleasures of visiting Löwenherz is receiving a recommendation from its knowledgeable booksellers. Whether you already have a precise title in mind or only know that you want “something gay, clever and not depressing,” the team can guide you toward a suitable discovery. The store also organizes readings, conversations and cultural events, maintaining its role as a meeting point for Vienna’s LGBTQ+ intellectual and creative community.

The atmosphere is welcoming, calm and pleasantly old-school: this is a place where you can take your time, inspect the shelves and leave with a book you did not know you needed. It makes an interesting daytime stop between museums, cafés and Vienna’s livelier gay venues. Freud fans may also appreciate that the shop stands on Berggasse, close to the Sigmund Freud Museum.

Löwenherz is open Monday through Friday from 10 am to 7 pm and Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm. It is closed on Sundays. Even if your German is imperfect, step inside and have a look. Supporting an independent queer bookstore is always a good idea—and taking home a little gay literature is far more memorable than another generic souvenir.