Welcome to Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus, previously unloved and neglected amongst Vienna’s increasingly well-to-do Bezirke. Jewels like the Stadthalle, the Rudolfsheimkirche and Brick-5 have traditionally been nestled amongst tacky internet shops, broken concrete fountains and graffiti-ed anarchist slogans.
Yet all that is beginning to change. There’s probably nowhere else in the city improving as rapidly as the 15th, and places like Café Z are at the forefront of this. As winter rolls into spring, Z and its charming little guest garden will bloom into life, and more people will be drawn in to eat some of the excellent crepes, or to enjoy a cup of coffee.
Naturally, there are also great cakes. For many years, Café Z was a Konditerei, and after opening in 2014, the owner shrewdly decided not to break the link with the past. “The challenge is to appeal to younger crowds without alienating the people who come here already”, she says. The previous owner still has a stall on the Meiselmarkt, making cakes for Café Z on the side. It’s a unique selling point
The links to the past are retained in the decor, elegant 50s style fittings mixed with the modern, sleek lines created after refurbishment. The breakfast also reflects the mantra, a refreshingly traditional feel with a modern twist. It’s also easily accessible, just a hop and a skip from the U3 station Johnstraße. Perhaps it’s worth visiting the outer city after all.