Graz punches well above its weight when it comes to creative culture. As Austria's second-largest city and a UNESCO City of Design, it has a genuinely thriving scene built around design, architecture, and the arts.
With a large student population, a string of festivals, and a compact city centre that makes running into people easy, connecting with other creatives here is more straightforward than you might expect.
Whether you're a designer, illustrator, filmmaker, or working in any creative field, this guide will help you find your people in the city. From casual meetups to vibrant community events,
Graz
offers countless opportunities to connect, collaborate, and get inspired.
Creative Lunch Club is a global community for people working in the creative industries. Whether you are a graphic designer, a photographer, a marketer, or a filmmaker, the Creative Lunch Club gives you the chance to regularly meet other creatives in your city for lunch.
Illustration Ladies is an international community for female and non-binary illustrators, creating space for connection, support, and visibility through meetups, drawing sessions, and workshops. It’s a space to share ideas, grow creatively, and support each other in an often isolating industry.
Spacelend is Graz's largest coworking space, with 1,400m² across two levels in an industrial-style building in the Lend district. Beyond flexible desks and private offices, it has a sauna, fitness facilities, and a kitchen, making it one of the better-equipped creative work hubs in the city.
Dr. Bottle is a bottle shop and bar at Lendplatz where Graz's craft beer scene really comes into its own. Fridges are stacked with cans from Austria's best small breweries alongside European and American imports, with a few taps for fresh pours and enough room to linger and talk beer with the staff.
Tash Living is a concept store and design studio at Hofgasse 7 in Graz's old town, combining interior design objects, lifestyle products, stationery, and design gifts with a platform for emerging local designers. It's part of Graz's official UNESCO City of Design places map.
Lendhotel is a contemporary design hotel in the heart of Graz's creative Lend district, with each floor and room decorated with works from an extensive private art collection. The rooftop terrace has panoramic views over the old town.
Aiola Upstairs is a restaurant and bar on top of the Schlossberg, accessible by funicular or glass elevator, with sweeping views over Graz's red rooftops and the surrounding hills. Glass fronts fold away entirely in warm weather, merging the terrace and indoor space into one. Go for sunset.
Kunsthaus Graz is a contemporary art museum in a biomorphic blue structure nicknamed the Friendly Alien, designed by Peter Cook and Colin Fournier for Graz's year as European Capital of Culture in 2003. It hosts a changing program of exhibitions focused on international contemporary art, design, and new media.
Der Steirer is a laid-back restaurant near the old town serving a modern take on traditional Styrian cuisine, from Backhendl with pumpkin seed oil salad to slow-cooked roast pork. It's one of those spots where locals actually eat, open daily from 11am to midnight.
Designmonat Graz is a citywide celebration of design packed with exhibitions, talks and workshops, mixing international perspectives with local talent. Recent editions explored “The New Real,” looking at creativity in the age of AI.
Creative Industries Styria is a go-to hub for Styria’s creative scene, connecting designers and businesses through events like Designmonat Graz and projects that champion local talent. Expect collaborations, showcases and plenty of inspiration.
I love Creative Lunch Club because it harnesses the most human way of connecting, sharing a meal. It's an effortless way for creatives to build diverse connections and friendships across various fields and meet people they wouldn't otherwise.
Creative Lunch Club is a great way to get off your ass, meet random creatives, and share a meal. Perfect for getting inspiration, energy, and a different angle on things.
Everything about Creative Lunch Club makes me happy - the concept, the people and the vibe. It is such a fun way of getting to meet like-minded people and make new friends in your city!
