There are hundreds, if not thousands, of Vienna coffee houses spread throughout the city. So when you feel the need to take a break from sightseeing and relax with your favourite caffeine fix and a delightful slice of cake, it can be tough to choose where to go. So you don’t waste your time on an average Viennese coffee or acceptable slice of sachertorte, here’s the ultimate guide to the very best Vienna coffee houses.
Set in the newly gentrified 2nd district of Vienna, Leopoldstadt, Balthasar Kaffee Bar is a minimalist cafe that focuses on what’s important — the coffee. The interior features a simple colour scheme of whites, greys and blues with some funky golden lampshades over the counter for a pop of eye-catching style. The cheerful, attentive staff use state-of-the-art coffee gadgets to brew their wonderfully strong coffee with a deliciously smooth taste. The La Marzocco Strada coffee machine is the highlight of the place and guarantees pure delight in every sip.
As well as a several coffee options including espressos, flat whites and lattes, Balthasar Kaffee Bar also delivers buttery pastries, homemade cakes, big chewy cookies and great sandwiches, making a fantastic place to call into early morning or lunchtime. Just make sure you take cash with you because this place doesn’t accept cards.
Opening hours:
Mon - Fri 7.30am - 7pm
Sat 9am - 5pm
Address: Praterstraße 38, 1020
Open since 1861, Cafe Schwarzenberg is famous for being the oldest cafe on the Ringstrasse, the ring road which encircles the city. Despite being open to the public when Vienna was brimming with cafe-dwelling artists, composers, writers and musicians, Cafe Schwarzenberg attracted mostly businessmen looking for somewhere to quietly enjoy their newspaper and a coffee after work. And nothing much has changed.
The cafe prides itself on using exclusively Fairtrade coffee beans sourced in Honduras to make their speciality coffees which are almost too beautiful to drink. Keeping in line with their traditional roots, Cafe Schwarzenberg advokates traditional table service, delivering coffees on shiny silver trays, with small stirring spoons and glasses of water. But coffee isn’t all that’s on offer. You’ll also find a selection of tempting breakfast dishes, as well as sweet and savoury Viennese classics. Make sure you try their apple strudel!
Opening hours:
Mon - Fri 7.30am - 12am
Sat - Sun 8.30am - 12am
Address: Kärntner Ring 17, 1010
Although it didn’t launch until 2004, Cafe Espresso is known for its distinctive 1930s vibe, created by its fabulously retro interior. Padded doors, red leather booths and pop culture-inspired art from various decades will make you feel like you’ve entered a time warp the minute you step through the door.
The open-all-hours establishment is equally great for early morning espressos, leisurely afternoon lunches and late-night drinks. Although the coffee is what really makes it stand out in our eyes. Caffeine hipsters will fall in love with their speciality coffee menu, boasting cult classics such as vanilla lattes, carajillos (espresso paired with a Spanish brandy) and, of course, all the Viennese staples. The breakfast dishes here are an absolute must-try, especially the Espresso Toast, made up of a piece of golden, crunchy toast topped with prosciutto, peperonata and parmesan cheese.
Opening hours:
Mon - Wed 7.30am - 1am
Thu - Fri 7.30am - 2am
Sat 10am - 2am
Sun 10am - 1am
Address: 57 Burggasse, 1070
Even though this Vienna coffee house didn’t open until 2014, Süssmund Kaffeebar is so amazing at brewing drool-worthy artisan coffee that it only needs to open two days a week to stay in business. The staff here are more like coffee sommeliers than baristas, expertly equipped to fully explain the different roasts and flavour profiles so you can choose the perfect coffee to suit your palate.
The simple stripped-down decor complemented with comfy sofa-style seating gives the place a serene, relaxed feel, perfect for enjoying a slow-paced cup of coffee and watching the world go by through the windows. If you fall in love with a particular bean or blend, you can buy it onsite or order it online from the cafe’s website and have it delivered to your door so you can continue to enjoy the flavour of Vienna back home.
Opening hours:
Fri 12pm - 6pm
Sat 10am - 6pm
Address: Zieglergasse 68, 1070
Cafe Central first began serving coffee in 1876 and shortly after became the cafe of choice for some people soon to become some of the most prominent names in history, including the revolutionary Trotsky and the psychoanalyst Freud, along with a handful of important writers. The cafe is built in the style of late Romantic Historicism that was popular in the 19th century and still features many original aspects, despite being renovated following WW2.
If you want to drink and dine in the same establishment as some of the best historical figures the world has ever seen, you’ll be treated to a menu filled with traditional speciality coffees, classic Viennese dishes and decadent pastries created at the onsite patisserie. The interior design, which combines original architecture with modern touches, invites you to take a trip into the past while enjoying incredible food and drink made possible by contemporary coffee and kitchen appliances.
Opening hours:
Mon - Sat 7.30am - 10pm
Sun 10am - 10pm
Address: 14 Herrengasse, Innere Stadt Wien, 1010
Did we miss your favourite Vienna coffee house? Tell us about it in the comments. We always love finding new places to discover in our city!