Inspiration

Caffeine without the rush

The best cafs in Vienna see our stunning photo gallery on CNTraveller.com
Peter Rigaud
  • The exterior of Caf Central originally built to house Vienna's stock exchange. With its chandeliers and vaulted ceilings...
    Peter Rigaud

    1

    The exterior of Café Central, originally built to house Vienna's stock exchange. With its chandeliers and vaulted ceilings, Central makes the most of people's idea of what a Viennese café should look like.

    Corner of Herrengasse/Strauchgasse, Vienna (00 43 1 533 376 424)

  • Peter Rigaud

    2

    The interior of Café Central: Before World War I, Leon Trotsky was a regular, playing chess when he wasn't squabbling with Josef Stalin, while an obscure artist called Adolf Hitler hawked his daubs around the tables.

    Corner of Herrengasse/Strauchgasse, Vienna (00 43 1 533 376 424)

  • Peter Rigaud

    3

    Café Drechsler reopened in 2007 after Terence Conran was brought in to refit the formerly family-owned café. With its grey linoleum floors and burgundy leather banquettes, Conran's suave, understated overhaul retains the timeless attributes.

    Gumpendorfer Strasse 11, Vienna (00 43 1 586 4158)

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    4

    Café Drechsler combines the sharp good looks of a hip nightclub with the no-nonsense minimalism of the old café.

    Gumpendorfer Strasse 11, Vienna (00 43 1 586 4158)

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    5

    Café Drechsler's round-the-clock opening hours meant that the old spit-and-sawdust café was a familiar dive for night owls and insomniacs, clubbers winding down after a hard night on the dance floor and early morning tradesmen from the nearby market stalls.

    Gumpendorfer Strasse 11, Vienna (00 43 1 586 4158)

  • Peter Rigaud

    6

    Nowadays, Café Drechsler's patrons are a bit more upmarket, but there's nothing stuck-up about the prices. A two-course lunch costs less than 10 Euros.

    Gumpendorfer Strasse 11, Vienna (00 43 1 586 4158)

  • Peter Rigaud

    7

    The entrance of Café Prückel: Opened in 1903 and run by the same family for most of its history, this cosy café was redecorated in 1955 in muted oatmeal hues. Half a century later, it's still a lovely slice of Fifties kitsch.

    Stunbenring 24, Vienna (00 43 1 512 6115)

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    8

    Café Prückel serves homemade pastries, and there's piano music every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The biggest draw is its laid-back atmosphere.

    Stunbenring 24, Vienna (00 43 1 512 6115).

  • Peter Rigaud

    9

    At Café Prückel, the glass of water with the coffee is an invitation to stay as long as you like.

    Stunbenring 24, Vienna (00 43 1 512 6115)

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    10

    Café Sperl is everything the visitor to Vienna expects: with its marbled tables, parquet floor and embroidered banquettes, it's a quintessential kaffehaus.

    Gumpendorfer Strasse 11, Vienna (00 43 1 586 4158)

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    11

    Since 1968 Café Sperl has been run by Manfred Staub and his wife Monika. Resplendent in a bow tie and three-piece suit, Manfred keeps a friendly eye on his café from behind the ornately carved front desk. 'Bitte, kein handy' means no mobile phones, please.

    Gumpendorfer Strasse 11, Vienna (00 43 1 586 4158).

  • Peter Rigaud

    12

    There are dozens if different coffees on the menu, many of them smothered in whipped cream of sweetened with liqueurs. Connoisseurs stick with mokka (espresso), melange (cappuccino) or verlängerter (Americano), either schwartzer (black) or brauner (white).

    By William Cook: this story featured in the December 2007 issue of Condé Nast Traveller

TopicsCity BreaksViennaAustria