Coffee & tea – All our local tips

Vienna’s pink heaven can be found all around the city at 26 different locations. The café and pastry chain has got a long tradition in Vienna and is well known as everything is pink: the outfits of the waitstaff (even the socks) and the cakes itself, such as the raspberry bomb.

Most of the cafés are still in their original 50ies/70ies style. It is popular among senior citizens and pink lovers. Some nice locations are next to the St.Stephens cathedral or in the Wollzeile (old city center).

If you want to bring home a sweet souvenir, buy one of their delicious boxes of chocolates, of course in pink!

Check the Aida cafés website for other locations.

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Aida cafés | Coffee & tea | Sacher cake € 2.60
Wollzeile 28 (and see the website) | Old city/center | +4325826110
Mon – Fri 06:30 – 20:00, Sat 08:00 – 20:00, Sun 10:00 – 20:00

15 years ago a nice little coffee shop was founded in the young university district. But it was not a “normal” coffee shop: Due to Café Berg`s connection with the bookstore “Löwenherz“, which is specialized on gay literature, the spot became a hotspot of the queer-, transgender-community.

But not only gay people love Berg: It is one of the loveliest coffee houses in the district, where organic (and fair trade) food is served, where you do not pay a fortune and everyone is easygoing. A non-smoking-area and a little garden for the warmer seasons exist as well.

Apart from the changing menus full of national and international dishes, the waiters take also care of your dogs – they even have special “doggy-bags” for our hairy friends. As a fan of brunches, I am always thankful for cafés serving breakfast until 15:00 like Berg does.

The whole place is equipped with wireless, but – and this is a little drawback – you have to pay for it: €1 for 30 min, €1,50 for 60 min.

Are you already a fan of the spot now? Then do not hesitate to order one of the “Berg”-fan-T-Shirts and equipment via their website, which is also in English.

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Café Berg | Art & culture, Coffee & tea, Restaurants (Austrian) | Main from € 7.00
Berggasse 8 | Danube Canal Area | +4313195720
Summer 10:00 – 00:00 daily (warm dishes till 23:00), October 10:00 – 01:00

The famous Café Hawelka was one of the centers of Austrian cultural life since the middle of the 20th century. Its charm lies in the owner’s habit of hardly ever renovating the place and keeping the old Viennese coffee house customs from the 20th century like selling single cigarettes in a glass.

The old Mr. Hawelka used to stand at the door and greet the customers but I haven’t seen him in a while. I remember that when I was there once with a friend from abroad, I wanted a list of beverages, so she could order something to drink. I asked Mr. Hawelka, if I could have the menu. He looked at me like I was crazy needing a menu and pointed at the chalkboard on the wall, where the writing was so smudgy that I could not read a thing.

Since the last renovation it is a bit cleaner and there is a well legible chalk board but amazingly the original furniture is still there.

If you go there you have to try the freshly made dessert Buchteln (only in the evenings). They are to die for.

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Café Hawelka | Coffee & tea | Melange € 3.40
Dorotheergasse 6 | Old city/center | +4315128230
Mon & Wed – Sat 08:00 – 02:00, Sun 10:00 – 02:00

There is already a puff piece about Tunnel (check the Tunnel article) on this website, but for those who are a little scared by the crowds and the size of this students “most go”, there is an alternative: Café Merkur.

Merkur, which has been re-opened just recently, is actually the smaller brother of Tunnel and can be found literally around the corner from the other spot. It has the same motto as the bigger brother: International food for affordable prizes.

Moreover, it has the same menu (so for this, take a look at the Tunnel article) and promotes the acts/ music shows and art exhibitions of the Tunnel. But for me, according to food and good service, Merkur is the better option. An additional plus is that in Merkur breakfast is served until 17:00 on weekends – and you almost always get a table there.

So, just enjoy the variety of breakfasts known from Tunnel with one of the (international) newspapers. There is hardly any better start into the weekend…

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Café Merkur | Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (Intern. ) | Snacks à € 2.50
Lammgasse 1 | Inner districts | +4319905413
10:00 – 02:00 daily

The charm of this typical Viennese café, which was founded in 1904, attracts many people from businessmen to students to seniors.

The cozy interiors with its low armchairs in 50s style make you feel at home. Some people use the café as their private office, as free Wi-Fi is available. Others enjoy reading an international newspaper after a lunch from the daily menu and some come to listen to the live piano music on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 19:00 – 22:00!

It is a place where you can spend hours watching people without getting bored.

The kitchen is typical Austrian, pastries such as the apple-strudel are homemade, coffee is served with a free glass of water and the waitstaff is dressed penguin style. Their Sacher cake is another delight, and according to many one of the best in Vienna.

Read more about Viennese coffee culture here!

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Café Prückel | Coffee & tea, Restaurants (Austrian) | Apple-strudel € 2.90
Stubenring 24 | Old city/center | +4315126115
08:30 – 22:00 daily (closed Dec 24th – 26th)

One summer about 8 years ago, it was love at first sight; it felt like meeting someone I have already known all my life. Maybe I felt like that, because the Café Rüdigerhof represents Vienna as it is.

For more than 100 years, the coffeehouse has been situated in one of the famous Jugendstil-buildings of the Wienzeile/ Naschmarkt-area. The golden letters saying “Café Rüdigerhof” invite you to a more glamorous era, and inside it feels like time stood still: The menu still offers traditional Austrian dishes which are prepared in a way like my granny used to cook them.

If you want to be on the safe side, take the “Wiener Schnitzel” but for people who love to take risks I recommend the “glasierte Leber”. If you really want to know what it is, I am sure one of the friendly, relaxed and caring waiters tell you more about it. You get all that for reasonable prizes – especially the lunch menus, which attract a lot of students to Café Rüdigerhof.

But it is not only students whom you meet at the coffee shop, it is everyone – from old ladies to artists; from knitters to couples in love and even some of the high-society of Vienna. In summertime, the crowd is mostly in the beautiful shadowy garden; in wintertime the cosy rooms provide a refuge from the stressful world outside. So, choose a coffee or tea – and enjoy Vienna as it is.

And please: Even if you really want to indulge yourself with a coffee and some desert, do not forgot to take a close look at the building from the outside – especially on the side. The house with lots of blue and golden decors is just one of a kind.

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Café Rüdigerhof | Coffee & tea, Relaxing, Restaurants (Viennese) | Main € 5.50
Hamburgerstraße 20 | Inner districts | +4315863138
09:00 – 02:00 daily

Do not expect tasty coffee or friendly and anxious service, do not expect clean and stylish atmosphere – typical Viennese coffee shops are not about these things. On the contrary, the harsher the service, the more worn out a place is, the better it is. So, what is the mystery behind the Viennese coffee shops then? Well, I guess it is all about experiencing those places and travelling back in time.

Café Sperl, built in 1880 and a listed monument now, is one of the oldest Viennese coffee shops and definitely a must-see and must-go in Wien. In former times the russian occupying forces used the Café Sperl as shelter for their horses. And students of the academy of arts used to trade their hand drawings for coffee – pieces of art, which are now shown in the famous Viennese Albertina.

Now, Café Sperl is often ranked high considering service and other qualities, even though I recently have experienced some really rude waiters. Moreover, I would not recommend having lunch or dinner there, but sticking to deserts like Strudel and cakes such as the Original Sperl Kaffeehaustorte.

Alternatively, just go inside, order a coffee (Attention: Cappuccino is with whipped cream, Melange with milk) or a glass of water, take one of the international newspaper and just suck in the atmosphere of many centuries of Viennese tradition.

NB: You might be interested in this article on Viennese coffee culture on our main website.

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Café Sperl | Coffee & tea | Deserts from € 5.00
Gumpendorfer Straße 11 | Inner districts | +4315864158
Mon – Sat 07:00 – 23:00, Sun 11:00 – 20:00 (15:30 – 17:30 piano music)

The first address after arriving in Vienna by train (if you arrive at the West-railway station) is this old traditional café.

Smoky atmosphere, dark furniture, comfortable benches, and perfectly dressed waiters, that’s the Westend. Don’t expect to be warmly welcomed. The waiters, most of them as old as the place itself, are unfriendly and moody.

But they have yummy cakes, good coffee and the warm atmosphere let you forget about them immediately. Actually these moody characters make this a typical café in Vienna.

The location of the café invites all kind of types of people stopping by for a coffee and makes it also interesting to watch people. Somehow you have the feeling that many people have this hobby here – having a coffee and observing the situation.

You can also find typical Austrian dishes at every hour (breakfast, lunch, dinner).

Even if it is a real smokey place (like almost all the cafés in Vienna!) there is a non-smoking corner. At least you don’t have to inhale the smoke of your neighbor!

Read more about Viennese coffee culture here.

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Café Westend | Coffee & tea, Restaurants | Espresso € 2.20
Mariahilfer Straße 128 | Inner districts | +4315233183
07:00 – 00:00 daily

Austrian Gemütlichkeit, “coziness” describes this place perfectly. It is another traditional café, like so many in Vienna: International  newspaper, late breakfast, typical Austrian fare, comfortable sitting,  are the keywords for our beloved cafés.

The café Zartl was founded  in 1883, and didn’t change a lot since 1919 when a Monsieur called Zartl  took over this place. It has always been a meeting point for writers and  philosophers, especially during the years between the wars, writers such  as Robert Musil came here. Now a days you might come to write a blog entry, taking advantage of the Wi-Fi hotspot while drinking a Melange (Viennese coffee specialty with milk foam).

The waitstaff is not the most  attentive, neither the food has a super quality, but here you can spend hours relaxing, chatting and reading in a comfortable warm ambient. Have a walk at the nearby Prater before coming here!

Read more about Viennese coffee culture here!

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Café Zartl | Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (Austrian) | espresso € 1.70
Rasumofskygasse 7 | Inner districts | +4317125560
07:00 – 00:00 daily

Walking in, the inconsistency of the range of furniture will strike you. And every piece has a price tag attached. Right. They are all for sale. Young and striving designers leave their products in the Moebel, hoping to sell them. But don’t worry, you don’t have to stand while eating or drinking and you will not be charged for spilling.

Being a young and hip place it has to have healthy snacks and beverages like organic, ayurvedic and herbal teas and unfiltered juices. Besides, opening not until 10.00 and serving breakfast until 14.00 it becomes very clear what the targeted clientele is: students and artists.

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Das Moebel | Coffee & tea, Snacks | Beer € 3.20
Burggasse 10 | Inner districts | +4315249497
10:00 – 01:00 daily

When you visit Vienna during the autumn or winter you may want to stop and warm up with a nice cup of tea. At the Demmers Teahouse you will find a huge variety of different black, green and fruit teas… and more. It will take you at least 15 minutes to choose.

There are 5 more shops but the biggest is on the Mölker Bastei (in the center) where you can also sit down and take at least 15 minutes to choose what to order.
There is also a big and beautiful selection of tea pots and cups.

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Demmers Teehaus | Coffee & tea | Tea pot one person € 2.90
Mölker Bastei 5 | Old city/center | +4315335995
Mon – Fri 10:00 – 18:00

When friends of mine invited me to “Hütte am Weg” I would never have expected what I found: Not the rather simple, shabby hut, its name implies, but a rather romantic, stylish place with down to earth food and affordable prices.

Arriving at the Kahlenberg (check the Kahlenberg article) with the huge parking space, you have to know where to go next: A little arrow gives you the direction. Follow the small path to an old looking hut. The first impression might be deceptive. Take a closer look and you´ll see the beautiful garden or smell the freshly grilled trout.

The inside of the hut is even more surprising: It is stylish, modern mixed with traditional parts. There are candles on each table, flower arrangements, a box of citrus fruits in front of the fireplace – everything is well put together. The waitresses wear tasteful “uniforms”, some Austrian Dirndl with a modern touch. With all that you might expect exquisite prices on the menu, but – sorry – another mistake: The dishes such as Sauerkraut, dumplings, sausages, (mashed) potatoes and meat are quite cheap. The variety on the menu, which changes every few weeks, is not the best, but it is enough and really good.

What used to be an old hut providing rest during a tiresome excursion is now, after the re-opening in autumn 2008, really a wonderfully romantic and stylish place – highly recommended not only after a hiking tour.

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Hütte am Weg | Coffee & tea, Relaxing, Restaurants (Austrian) | Main from € 5.00
Am Kahlenberg 47 | Outer districts | +4313203075
Mon & Wed – Sat 10:00 – 22:00, Sun 10 :00 -19:00

A special place for BOBOs (members of the bohemian bourgeouisie – an expression made up by the city’s well known magazine FALTER) It is really tiny indoors and maybe has a greater atmosphere in summer when you can sit outside on the wonderful Franziskanerplatz where you feel like you have hopped on a time machine and entered medieval times (when you first lay eyes on it what I am talking about). – a very intimate and picturesque place in modern Vienna.

If you don’t know it you will probably not stumble upon it by chance. An interesting fact is, that the Kleines Café “starred” in “Before Sunrise” alongside with Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. Even the actor Hanno Pöschlo who runs the Kleines Café makes an appearance in the film – as an extra playing the role of a husband on the Budapest-Vienna train where the two main characters meet.The French student and the American traveler spend about 14 hours in Vienna -discussing love and life while exploring the city. All of these spots are definitely worth a visit.

Side note – an artist of ours, Berenice Darrer (she is a painter), LOVES that cafè – it is her favourite place to be (she already said it on tv so i guess it is fine to say it on a blog) – maybe you will spot her among that extraordinary crowd.

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Kleines Café | Bars, Coffee & tea | Wine from € 2.00
Franziskanerplatz 3 | Old city/center
Mon – Sat 1010:00 – 02:00, Sun 13:00 – 02:00

As soon as the first sun rays come out, there is one spot where people already sit in the sun, enjoying their café latte or their Aperol spritz – and this is Kunsthallencafé located on Karlsplatz.

It immediately gives you a holiday feeling when sitting either on the big terrace of the restaurant overlooking the Naschmarkt (see the Naschmarkt article) on one side or the Karlschurch at the other side. And when summertime is really here, there is also the chance – if you are fast – to grab one of the chairs in the grass and get the impression of chilling out on the beach.

Kunsthallencafé is the little sister of “Motto” (check the Motto article), it is the summer location of Bernd Schlacher, who is the owner of not only Motto and Kunsthallencafé but of another spot, “Halle” in Museumsquartier as well.

The system is basically the same in all three of them: Providing good atmosphere with chill out (and sometimes live) music, Asian-Austrian-Mediterranean kitchen for prices which are affordable but not too favorable, tempting the young, urban, stylish people to go there and have a good time. Well, and this is what you can expect from Kunsthallencafé for sure!

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Kunsthallencafé | Bars, Coffee & tea, Music, Relaxing, Snacks, Restaurants (International)
Treitlstraße 2 (Karlsplatz) | Inner districts | +4315870073
10:00 – 02:00 daily | DJ-Line Summer Wed – Sun, Winter Sat – Sun from 14:00

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Eat vegan and take care of our environment – that is the (inofficial) slogan of “Loving Hut”, an international chain of vegan (!) restaurants, which grows and grows and grows rapidly – and which has finally arrived in Vienna as well.

The main principle and the theory behind the concept is simple: A vegan dish made out of organic ingredients uses 200 times less water than a meat dish. Moreover it produces up to 94% less CO2-emission within a year. You can find this calculation on the website, and it is quite impressive and convincing, isn´t it? Not convinced yet? There are even more arguments for being vegan on the website.

The first Viennese Loving Hut on the Neubaugürtel is quite unspectacular outside and you can overlook it quite easily as it is surrounded by grey-in-grey-buildings. Inside it is a bit nicer: Very light interior, including radio and television radiating music and images from the company owned happyness channel, “Supreme TV”. Soon after the first restaurant, a second Viennese Loving Hut has opened its doors in Favoritenstraße 156.

What food can you expect at Loving Hut? Vegan AND fairtrade dishes are on the menue, some soye products replace meat dishes and lots of the ingredients are from local and organic productions. All the food is also available as take away.

So, I actually could imagine worst things than eating vegan: In the end it´s all about saving the planet while eating, isn´t it?

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Loving Hut | Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (Vegan)
Neubaugürtel 38/5 | Inner districts | +4312939182
Mon & Wed – Sat 11:00 – 21:00, Sun 12:00 – 21:00

Ski lodge flair combined at TOP location “Am Ring” – an insider tip for travelers who did not yet come across Austrian cuisine or conaisseurs who can’t have enough of it.

Newly opened in May 2008 Martinjak breeds Après Ski flair in a tasteful surrounding – stone pine furniture and an open fire place. Dessert specialty – the well-known Viennese apple strudel with cinnamon cream will be the highlight of a dinner in Austrians capital.

One might ask him/herself “Did I just die and woke up in heaven?”. Delightful ambiance, delicious food and courteous waiters -what else does a hungry traveler need? As a saying points out – traveling is not about arriving but about the way itself.

Since it is freezing cold in Vienna at the moment – it is the perfect hang-out without having to risk your life on a real ski-slope;)

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Martinjak | Bars, Coffee & tea, Restaurants (Austrian) | Meal from € 7.00
Am Opernring 11 | Old city/center | +4315356969
08:00 – 01:00 daily

Every now and then, I need a little piece of luxury – and the best place to find this in Vienna, definitely is Meinl am Graben. It is not that I can afford to buy caviar from the Caspian Sea or white truffles; it is just about the experience.

Meinl am Graben is not a “normal supermarket” with coffee-shop, wine bar, restaurant and sushi-bar included, it is a piece of art, a temple of delicious things (most of them out of reach); it is all about food and drinks, about taste and smell. If I have to find one word for it: It is all about luxury.

The range is enormous: Over 16.000 delicatessen from all over the world, things you cannot get anywhere else in Vienna, among them 400 kinds of cheese, sausages, chocolates, pâtés, wines, whiskeys – everything you can imagine, and also everything you cannot imagine.

Just do it like all the others: Stroll and browse around, take a look and inhale the feeling of being there. And if you cannot or do not want to afford goose liver, Meinl also has chips, milk, honey and all the things other supermarkets have for the usual prices. But at least you can say: you bought them in Meinl am Graben.

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Meinl am Graben | Bars, Coffee & tea, Shopping, Snacks, Restaurants (int.)
Graben 19 | Old city/center | +4315323334
Mon – Fri 08:00 – 19:30, Sat 09:00 – 18:00

Despite the sign “Hunde- und Katzenpflege” outside – which literally means “dog and cats care”, Mon Ami is a spot where humans are taken care of. Inside, the location is quite simple, rather plain: An ideal bar for private birthday parties and pre-drinking gatherings.

Soup and Snacks are served daily (€ 3,50 bis € 6,80),you can get a nice cocktails from €6,80 on and the home made sandwiches on Wednesdays are quite filling. There are DJ-Lines and Live music occasionally and you can access WLAN for free. Nothing spectacular, right?

Well, you definitely have to take a closer look: Mon Ami is not only a bar, but a fashion store. Inside the restaurant area hides a fashion shop – or rather a fashion studio of young Austrian designers. During the opening hours of the bar, you can take your drink and browse through the creative clothes, coloursful hats, knitted scarves and many, many other things. Or you can watch a designer creating and sewing a dress which can be found on the coat hooks the next day.

It does not surprise that from time to time, fashion design shows are taking place in Mon Ami too. Coffeeshop, bar, restaurant AND fashion – well, what more can you ask from your friend, mon ami?

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Mon Ami | Bars, Coffee & tea, Music, Shopping, Snacks
Theobaldgasse 9 | Inner districts | +4315850134
Mon – Sat 16:00 – 01:00

Need some spices for a traditional Thai dish – don´t worry, go to Naschmarkt. You want to buy fresh vegetables from farmers – well, go to Naschmarkt. You are craving for sushi – the answer is obvious: Go to Naschmarkt.

For more than 300 years now, the area on the Wienzeile between Karlsplatz and Kettenbrückengasse is used for markets – and it is getting bigger and bigger.

You will find a visit at Naschmarkt recommended in every tourist guide, and it is always quite a challenge to find your way through the crowds. But still the Naschmarkt is not only a place for foreigners, but also for Viennese locals who love the international atmosphere: Little stalls with fresh vegetables and fruits, wines, cheese and sausages; stand-up buffets offering Italian, Turkish, Greece, Egypt, Indian, Slovakian and of course Austrian food; highly motivated sales persons welcoming you in different languages to their house – that´s what Naschmarkt is all about.

For the last years, Naschmarkt has also become the place for Asian restaurants so do not be surprised to stumble over a Sushi or Thai or Chinese bar every two minutes.

As there is also the biggest Viennese fleamarket every Saturday, especially during summertime it seems like all of Vienna is on Naschmarkt. So, if you are more up to go shopping and relax, it might be better to visit the place during weekdays or in the morning. And do not forget to take a look at the surrounding: You will find some of the most beautiful buildings in this area!

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Naschmarkt | Art & culture, Coffee & tea, Shopping, Snacks
Naschmarkt | Inner districts
Mon – Fri 06:00 – 18:30, Sat 06:00 – 17:00 | Fleamarket Sat 06.30 – 18:00

Vienna is growing up. You can tell by the new restaurants, bars, festivals that are popping up here and there. It is becoming more and more of a cosmopolitan city and can definetely keep up with cities like NYC, Paris and Barcelona.

This new bar/restaurant/chill out place is a testimony to this evolution. It comes off as a Berlin cafe – Kastanienallee 103 comes to my mind when I think of Orlando di Castello. Maybe less wanna-be fancy, the waiters are friendlier but are still keeping their cool. Appealing interior design, even the people working there are conformists – corporate design and identity par excellence . Shoes, clothes, even necklaces with the “ODG”-logo (abbreviation for the cafe’s name) – a new brand is born.

The food is yummy – and most important thing of all for people who just LOVE italian way of living. You can have a “cadè al banco” for only 1 Euro. Ain’t that great – something that I really missed about Vienna. Even though we are proud of our coffee culture I have to say that this is on top of my favs-list.

The only criticism I have to add is that the toilets, well actually the waiting room, has some kind of faulty design – people are always cuing in front of it because it is way too small. But apart from that – I’d say one of THE places to be at the moment.

Check it out. It is worth it.

Side note – the coffee (espresso) is good but strong..if you want a real italian coffee, creamy and traditional go to the NEW Vapiano – even though it is a chain and they all kinda look the same to me – the have great coffee and decent priced food…herrengasse 6 to 8 right next to the subway stop u3 “herrengasse”

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Orlando di Castello | Bars, Coffee & tea, Restaurants (Italian) | Main meal € 8.00
Freyung 1 | Old city/center
Mon – Sat 07:30 – 00:00

The Point of Sale is not a retail store but a comfy local hang-out , at brunch and tea time (if you will) packed to the rafters. When I was someone fresh of the boat by that I mean new to the 4th district scene and a fresh(wo)man at university this place was basically my living-room.

This place (and the people frequenting it) and I clicked immediately. In summer 2008 it was redone and has got a fancier look to it now. It is not only eye candy to the design aesthete but also a culinary delight. It has got the charme of a French bistro (or like franchise chains like Pret a manger or Le Pain Quotidien). See and be seen through the huge windows is the motto.

Local comedians, artists and actors use this place as meeting point, to work on their stuff or to just hang out and have a coffee.

Now that it is summertime, you can enjoy a cafe latte outside while observing the bobos passing by.

Italian, Greek, American, Indian bfast – you want it – they have it…

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P.O.S | Bars, Coffee & tea, Restaurants (International) | meal from € 7.00
Corner Schleifmühlgasse 12 | Inner districts | +4319669891
Sun – Thu 10:00 – 01:00, Fri – Sat 10:00 – 02:00

“By the way, the chair you are sitting on is for sale, oh and yes, the  book, which you just grabbed from the bookshelf as well. Of course we sell the record you are listening to.” That’s the phil, a colorful café-bar-bookshop-recordstore-interior shop-flea market and if you find something you can’t buy, then you are probably in the toilet, well actually I’m not even sure about that.

Actually the owner recently told us: “We don’t sell the toilet (except for the lamp maybe), we don’t sell the coffeemachine because she’s from the 60s and something special, we don’t sell the clothes we’re wearing, and we don’t sell the
artists (singers, writers, painters) when one of our from-time-to-time
events takes place.”

Students, young families, artists  and many more appreciate the easygoingness in the phil. The furniture are  mostly 70ies and as mentioned before, they can be bought. There is a  large corner with books, Dvds, records and posters which you can browse and sniff into while having a drink, and if you like it, you bring it home.

The place is non-smoking and food looks and tastes healthy. Bring your laptop to take advantage of the free Wi-Fi and make sure to reserve a table if you plan to come in a larger group.

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phil | Bars, Coffee & tea, Music, Shopping, Snacks
Gumpendorferstrasse 10 – 12 | Inner districts | +4315810489
Mon 17:00 – 01:00, Tue – Sun 09:00 – 01:00

I have been living in Vienna for more than 13 years now, and I am still happy like a child if I locate interesting spots: One of these findings is the “Pure living bakery”. When I accompanied a friend home from a walk in Schönbrunn, we literally stumbled over this tiny cafeteria – and knew: We have to come back!

“Pure living bakery” is unique here in Vienna, it could rather be found in California: Rumours say that the owner, a former stewardess, collected not only recipes and ideas for the delicious cakes, muffins and waffles on her trips but also every little detail of the interior. Soaps, “furniture buttons”, candles, mirrors, mugs, gift wrap paper – it is amazing how much fits in the quite small shop-restaurant. And the good news is: You can buy almost everything you see to decorate your own kitchen or bathroom.

Apart from the cosy atmosphere, the kitchy interior you definitely have to mention the drinks and food: My friend found THE best coffee ever (according to her of course) here and I have to admit, that I am in love with cinnamon roll or the New York Cheese Cake. Moreover, Pure living bakery offers bagels breakfast till 15:00 and on weekends, American Pancakes with maple sirup, strawberry juice and whipped cream. I could go on like this forever and I definitely have to come back – especially in April, when they re-open their beautiful garden…

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Pure living bakery | Coffee & tea, Relaxing, Shopping
Altgasse 12 | Inner districts
Mon – Fri 09:30 – 19:00, Sat 10:00 – 18:00, Sun 13:00 – 18:00

Located around the corner of the Rochus Market, this fancy multi-function place is popular for all-day-long-breakfast, business-lunchs, afternoon-friends-meetings, evening-after-work-cocktails and many other occasions.

Stylish interiors, red armchairs, fancy toilets, a place to see and to be seen. A large variety of food, inspired from the market next door, is served a bit slow, though breakfast and lunch “boxes” are convenient in price and quality.

The loungy atmosphere in the evenings make it a popular gathering place to enjoy a cocktail or two!

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Rochus | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (International) | lunch box € 7.00
Landstraßer Hauptstraße 55-57 | Inner districts | +4317101060
08:00 – 02:00 daily

Originally, the “Schutzhaus” in the allotment site “Schafbergsiedlung” used to be a stockage and a registry – but it did not take long till Anna Hytha opened it as a shelter and guesthouse. This was in 1923. And the Schutzhaus became quite a legendary place, a site for exhibitions and concerts of Austrian musicians such as “Ostbahn-Kurti & die Chefpartie”.

On the 11th of November 2009, some young ambitious people re-opened the “Schutzhaus”: Completely renovated but still in the same old shape, the old snuggeries provide a cosy atmosphere. The kitchen is seasonal and – of course fitting to the traditional ambience – quite indigenous. During the week, which is Tuesday to Friday, you can also get a daily lunch menue consisting of soup and main dish for €6.80. And if you really do not find anything appropriate on the menu, you can also book a table for a fondue menu.

A nice area, gourmet-kitchen, old traditional rooms, nice service, a beautiful garden for summer-leasure-time – all these ingredients should guarantee one thing: The Schutzhaus am Schafberg should be on every must-visit-list in Vienna.

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Schutzhaus am Schafberg | Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (Intern) | Soups € 3.50
Czartoryskigasse 190-192 | Outer districts | +4314792279
Tue – Sat 11:00 – 23:00, Sun 10:00 – 22:00

Süssi derives from two words- the German expression for sweet and the name “Sissi”. Why would you combine these two? Only if you wanted to open up a bakery in the old Empress Sissi’s way.

When you enter, a whole new world uncloses itself. The greatest scents combined with a wonderful décor – a tiny little parlor that offers a great variety of delicious sweets and in summer even ice-cream. Two tables, four seats – as I pointed out – tiny- but really cosy because of the red plush. A portrait of Sissi hanging above the counter, painted by one of the owners himself in his teenage years.

Actually the young painter’s grand grandmother used to be the Empress’ lady’s companion. An original tissue of Sissi provided the logo for this wonderful parlor -a reminiscence to when Austrian was a great and important world player – a place and a time to remember.

Suessi  expanded their parlor recently- so it is not a tiny little tearoom anymore but that doesn’t mean that it lost its charme but it actually means that it is even more worth it to visit since you will have more room to enjoy this beautiful viennese cafe.

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Süssi | Coffee & tea | Ice-cream € 1.00
Operngasse 30 | Inner districts | +4369911294199
Tue – Sat 11:00 – 21:00, Sun 12:00 – 21:00

All movie cinemas offer popcorn, chips, softdrinks, chocolate while watching the newest Hollywood blockbuster? All?! No, not all! One rebellious fighter against mainstream cinema remains: Topkino.

Located close to Mariahilferstraße, Topkino – together with the affiliated Schikander one of the repertory art-house cinemas in Vienna – is known for showing independent movies and focusing on small-budget-pieces-of-art. Another speciality is the Sunday film brunch where you can watch a movie (starting at 12.30) and indulge yourself with a great brunch buffet before or after the film. For those who don´t call themselves “early birds”, there is a special Saturday night line in March and April. And if you want to enjoy a movie together with all your loved ones, you can also rent the movie for private occasions.

As I said though, showing movies is not enough: Topkino is also known as a great hang-out location, restaurant and bar. The menu is quite something and the bar promotes itself on the website as offering everything from “real Italian cappuccino from a venetian coffee roastery to flavourful Single Mal Whiskey from the Scottish Highlands”. All this you can enjoy while surfing on the internet (WLAN is for free if you consume something) or – if you happen to be in Vienna around summertime – in the outdoor area.

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Topkino | Bars, Cinemas, Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (Intern.)
Rahlgasse 1 | Inner districts | +432083000
Mon – Wed 15:00 – 02:00, Thu – Sat 15:00 – 04:00, Sun 10:30 – 00:00 (Jul – Sep Sun from 15:00)