Many pubs, popular among the district's large student population, are located in the Spittelberg neighborhood.

The Volkstheater Wien, one of Vienna's large mainstream theatres, and the Austrian Ministry of Justice are located in Neubau, as well as the Museumsquartier, a centre dedicated to modern art, housing for example the Leopold Collection.

In the 2001 communal elections, Neubau became the first district in Austria with a Green Party plurality (32.6% of the votes).

Like Mariahilf, Neubau is known as one of Vienna's districts with the youngest, most liberal, and urban population.

After the Second World War, the ÖVP had the largest party vote until 1991, when it was displaced by the SPÖ.