Oh Vienna, I Love Your Cafés

I love Vienna for its old trams, beautiful architecture and historic cafés. It is also a special city because of its traditional coffee houses. But what is so special about Viennese coffee?? Let’s find out about more.

Viennese Coffee Houses

The Viennese coffee houses are not just coffee shops but institutions of social events and culture. They are places to hang out or simply read the newspaper. They are places where you can sit and write whole day! They are also places laden with marble tables where the piano is played and a group of gentlemen play cards in the corner. There’s a cosmopolitan air in the Viennese coffee houses. Here’s showing you a list of my favorite cafes in the city, which by sheer coincidence  (#NOT) are historic! 😉

Café Sperl:

Fans of the movie Before Sunrise will easily recognize this place. I visited it only because a major part of the movie was shot here. Remember the telephone chat?? It was so sweet. Right in the middle of the elegant Sperl! This place has been serving coffee since the year 1880 and stepping in will make you feel as if you walked back in time. Velvet upholstery, old furniture, dainty cups and impeccably dressed servers, Sperl is such a treat. Do try their famous double mocha with or without cream, a specialty that the server suggested me.

Cafés in Vienna

Café Landtmann:

I saw more locals in Landtmann than anywhere. And also locals staring at me! It was as if I had invaded their space. This café is on a slightly different street, a walk away from the main landmarks and maybe that is why not as heavily thronged by tourists. A local suggested me to visit here and I am so glad for that. On both my visits to Vienna, I spent a good amount of time here with delicious goodies on my table. Their line of pastries are probably the best I saw. Ever.

Cafés in Vienna

Café Griensteidl:

The Griendteidl is one of my favorites! Horse drawn carriages outside and a view of the Hofburg Complex is just what you need. Griendteidl has been a regular meeting place for literary influencers as well as locals. Being a 19th century café , Griendteidl is very charming. The interiors are lovely and sandwiches are excellent. Griendteidl  is also slightly more easy on the pocket despite being in the centre of Vienna. That being said, I saw very few tourists here too.

Cafés in Vienna

Café Central:

There is a queue to enter this café. Yes! I couldn’t fathom how a queue that covered more than half the street would help me get that famed cup of coffee. But it was in about 10 minutes that I had got a seat next to the pastry counter. I wasn’t complaining 🙂 I doubt if they ever have a moment of peace. Cafe Central in Vienna is always jam packed but their service is super fast. Try any of the delicious pastries at the counter or if its too cold maybe a vegetable soup since.

Café Sacher:

Located in four different Austrian cities, Cafe Sacher is another coffee house in Vienna. It is part of a big hotel chain in the country. It is famous for inventing the Socher Torte which I went to try after a 3 hour walk in the city. The cozy atmosphere of Sacher Cafe made me long to see the Opera. Their torta is a chocolate cake, slightly pricey, but worth trying because the recipe goes as far as the year 1832.

I was fortunate to visit Vienna (Wien) twice in the past year. If you haven’t read my post on Imperial Vienna with Context Travel do read. It will give you a little more understanding of this elegant city!

"Where time and space are consumed, but only the coffee is found on the bill".

-The Intangible Cultural Heritage

• Iva’s Yummy “Ljubljananjam” Food Walk
• Experience the Herbal House “Slocally”
• Lake Bled- Out of Grimms' Fairy Tale