Café Central
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The famous Cafe Central!!! I was so excited to go here that I almost gave up because of the long line. I went around 9:00 AM. The line moved pretty quickly, though, and I waited about 30 minutes. The interior is stunning. I was completely enamored with the architecture and the structure of the building. I was not overly hungry, but I wanted to try the goulash and the apple strudel. Get the strudel with the sauce. 10/10. Amazing. I would absolutely do it again.
An absolute must-visit in Vienna! Do as the locals do: slow down, sip your coffee, and just enjoy the moment. The line looked intimidating at first but moved quickly, and we even made friends with some fellow travelers from the U.S. while waiting. We went straight for dessert because why not? The torn pancake with stewed plums was massive. It looked a little messy, but wow, it was delicious. We also tried the Café Central Torte, their version of the Sachertorte since the original name belongs to another famous café, which I'll try to review later. Service was slow, but that seems to be the rhythm in Vienna's cafés. No rushing here like in the Bay Area. Bathrooms were clean, which I always appreciate. The ambiance was what really made it special. Grand chandeliers, a stunning interior, and a gorgeous display case full of desserts. To top it all off, a pianist with a Beethoven wig and outfit played everything from classical pieces to pop hits like Bruno Mars. We tipped him in USD since we weren't carrying any EU cash at that time. Overall, Café Central felt elegant but never pretentious, just timeless, cozy, and unforgettable.
Come here for fabulous coffee and delicious pastries. This historic 19th century cafe is a delight for the eyes and well as the pallet. When you dine here you are dining in a truly historic cafe that was frequented by some of histories greatest and also most notorious individuals. Wiki will list these for you. The food is outstanding especially the pastries. Cafe Central employs a dozen pastry chefs. Everything is imaginative and delicious. They vary the pastry offerings frequently, so you will need to come back over and over. Staff here are hyper friendly and our waiter was cheerful, knowledgeable about the food, made great suggestions and was generally chatty. There is usually a line for walk-ins, reservation holders get seated right away. The line for us was about ten minutes. Double highly recommend.
SERVICE 5 stars - with NEZIR was above 5 stars and two thumbs up. He single-handedly made our experience at Cafe Central out of this world. Professionally, NEZIR was quite efficient expediting our food orders and bringing to us hot. He provided great suggestions on the menu as we know Central is world renown for its coffee and pastries but we wanted to try the savory dinner entrees too. NEZIR was right on. Aside from his professionalism, Nezir's friendly welcome set the tone for the entire evening . While he worked quite fast, he managed to share Family stories, background and cafe history . Totally cool! AMBIANCE 5 stars - Over 130 years , frequented by luminaries such as Freud historical background, live piano music , and beautiful architecture. No wonder it's THE PLACE people line up for! FOOD- savory dishes 3 stars salmon - a bit dry 3 stars - chicken also a bit dry but tasty seasoning 5 stars- warm chocolate cake served with vanilla Ice Cream was EPIC! Moist and very rich chocolate, just as I dreamed it would be! Takeaway at display case- Apple Strudel- 5 stars Petit Fours 4 stars Sisi's favorite -5 stars Coffee- 5 stars
Decent amount of food for the price. Super touristy. You have to get here first thing in the morning or pre book. I was there 30 minutes early and there already was a line. They get you in and out so things move quickly. I enjoyed it the inside is super cool and it is worth checking out, not the number one priority though.
I had a chance to visit the famous Cafe Central with the hubby and I am so glad we did. Definitely remember that there will be a huge line here, so if you are able to get reservations, I would definitely get that as the wait can be anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour plus! Hubby and I waited for around an hour before we were seated. The ambiance here was nice and we got to try the warm chocolate cake with ice cream. This was decadent and delicious and I loved the warm and cold combo that this dessert offered. The interiors of this cafe is gorgeous and would definitely recommend taking some pictures! Overall, really good experience here and a nice place to pop in to take a break once your feet start hurting from all the walking if you are a visitor in Vienna!
Out of the famous Viennese cafes, I prefer Cafe Central the most. Yes, it is touristy. Yes, there is a line to get in. Yes, the menu is over-priced. However, I enjoy sitting at this cafe admiring the cathedral-like arches while sipping coffee and devouring pretty desserts. For an old-school cafe, they certainly have some nice modern desserts and pastries. 1 star off: Service is almost absent. It takes a very long time to get an order in, receive an order, and get the check. As a frame of reference, I ordered a coffee and two desserts and it took 1 1/2 hours...no wonder there was a long line outside. What was even worse was that my waiter *insisted* that I give a tip. I will spare you from my rant about the forced tip culture that U.S. has created worldwide.
Café Central is one of those iconic spots in Vienna that feels like a time capsule -- step inside and you're instantly transported to a different era, with grand vaulted ceilings, elegant marble columns, and a refined buzz that makes you feel like a 19th-century intellectual (or at least like you're almost in a novel). The vibe alone is worth the visit. We ordered the apple strudel and a torte, and hands down, the apple strudel stole the show -- perfectly warm, flaky, and not overly sweet, with just the right touch of cinnamon. The torte, on the other hand, didn't quite win us over. It was underwhelming compared to the strudel. Service was surprisingly fast and very friendly, even with how busy the place was. Just a heads-up: there's almost always a line to get in, so if you don't want to wait, definitely make a reservation in advance. Overall, a must-do for the atmosphere, the history and that unforgettable apple strudel.
This is now a must visit for tourists so reserve a table ahead of time thru your hotel. The sweet spot seems to be late afternoon, just before dinner time. When we arrived at 6:30pm on a recent Wednesday, there were still many open tables. By the time we left at 7pm, there was a line out the door. This is a very large cafe so service is a bit slow. We were there just for a drink before dinner elsewhere so did not order any food items this time. The spritz was okay. The ambiance was great. But with that many tourists around you, I'm not sure you can truly experience the Viennese cafe.
A must see in Vienna, cafe central is an old historic cafe. The interior is beautiful, which adds to the charm. Food was delicious we had the salmon, eggs, and toast. They have a whole section for chocolates and pastries, and they had great service as well. We came around 10am on a Monday and it started to get busy shortly after.
Before we came, everyone and their mom told us we had to check out Café Central while in Vienna, and it's a total Instagram magnet. We got to the Cafe around 8 PM to dodge the crazy lines, but guess what? Still a bit of a wait--totally worth it, though! This place is like stepping into a time machine with its classic Viennese vibes with intricate carvings and a jaw-dropping gothic ceiling that's basically art. We went straight for the good stuff: their famous apple strudel and a chocolate lava cake. Both were chef's kiss delicious--warm, flaky, and just the right amount of sweet. The hot chocolate? It was like drinking a creamy, decadent hug. The service was solid, super friendly, and the prices didn't make us wince, which is always a win. Getting there was a breeze with an Uber, so no stress on that front. If you're in Vienna, Café Central is a must for the vibes, the treats, and that old-school charm. Just be ready for a line, even at night!
8 years ago
We came here on the recommendation of our free walking tour. I saw that it's considered touristy from Yelp and Google reviews. There was a short line, about 10 minutes wait. The dining room is amazing. It was classy, and spacious. Now on to the food: - apple strudel - nothing to write home about. It was too dry for my liking, but I honestly don't know whether that's typical of a strudel. - Viennese coffee - tasted like diluted cafe latte. I had much better Viennese coffee at other random hole-in-the-wall cafes. Tldr; not worth the line. Service was ok, considering it's such a tourist spot. read more
The wait is always worthwhile, even if you are a first timer or repeat customer. It is by far my favorite Cafe in Vienna, has the ambiance, live piano, delicious Melange and all kinds of liquor coffees, beautiful pastries, and decent food options. The line may deter you but it does go relatively fast. Opt for weekday late afternoon for shorter lines. You cannot go wrong with the server's recommendations but anything with rum and chocolate, you should try (i believe one is Sisi's favorite). Once seating, go and make a selection from their window. read more
4 years ago
It's a must experience when you're in Vienna. It's one of the oldest and most famous cafe' in Vienna. Long is usually long but we got lucky on a weekday night in late November. The interior was gorgeous. We tried a few desserts like shredded Austrian pancake apple strudel. The shredded pancake was favorite. It was nice and fluffy. The pricing was actually more affordable than I thought it would be. I definitely recommend this place to whoever is visiting Vienna! read more
9 years ago
Upon arriving in Vienna, we made brisk trek with our luggage to Central Cafe. We arrived at about 4:30pm and there was a small wait to be seated inside. By the time we left, there was a line out the door for seating inside! It's worth the wait to dine inside! The interior is super classy, beautiful, and they have a piano for live music. We ordered the following: Beef Goulash - 4/5 This was our first time trying goulash and it was tasty! Chicken Schnitzel 3.5/5 It was also our first time trying schnitzel and it was just ok. I dipped my pieces of schnitzel with some goulash sauce because it was a little plain. It was also served with a side of potatoes (kind of like a potato salad). Goldener Herbst - 5/5 This is a dessert with Isabella grapes, pumpkin & poppy. Every bite was so delicious! Central Surprise - 5/5 This dessert had orange cream, coffee crisp, caramel. I still salivate when I think of both desserts! Viennese Iced Coffee - 3/5 Wow their coffee here is strong. A little too strong for my husband and I. Early Grey Blue Blossom Tea - 4/5 This wasn't the cheapest tea or the biggest tea pot, but it had good flavor and we were able to get more hot water for the tea pot. I wouldn't say the service is top notch, but they let you really sit and enjoy for as LONG as you want (or it seemed like it). I would recommend coming even if it's just for the dessert or dessert to go. read more
4.8 stars for Cafe Central. This was my mom's second time in Vienna, and she kept insisting that we HAD to visit Cafe Central cause she loved her first experience there and also read somewhere that apparently it is the "second best cafe in the world" (second only to New York Cafe in Budapest). And of course my mom is always right, and this cafe turned out to be one of the highlights of our Vienna tour. This cafe is so classy and elegant, filled with rich history and culture, and yet not so formal that it feels stifling or difficult to be casual. My sister and I were drooling over all the desserts in their glass display case in the front. We ended up going with the Sommerkuss, which was divine! The tartness of the raspberry helps to balance out the sweetness of the vanilla custard perfectly. Their torn pancake with plums is also a delicious brunch option, with a nice slightly crispy outer texture and soft and chewy inside. Beautiful atmosphere and great place to relax and have a good chitchat with friends. Highly recommend! read more
Iconic cafe, a must visit while in Vienna! Food is great but the best part is the vibe of the place. The interior of this cafe is beautiful and the live piano music makes it all more enjoyable. We had the schnitzel, onion soup, and central cafe sandwich. Make sure to try their Apple strudel! read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
Food was delicious. Dessert was amazing. Service was fast and attentive. Definitely a repeat visit next time in Vienna. read more
5 years ago
4 years ago
Found this special place by reading Yelp! We used the map in the app to maneuver our way to the line at Cafe Central. Just like previous reviews, our wait looked ominous without reservations, but the line moved quickly and after about 20 minutes with over 25 people in line we were seated at a table and ready to order. What a fantastic view inside! The dessert choices did not disappoint either. My Irish Kaffee went well with my TWO selections ( yes it was worth skipping lunch to have two desserts). Definitely recommend this stop on your tour! read more
This place most certainly deserves 5 stars! To be in the same room that was frequented by Sigmund Freund, Vladimir Lenin, and Leon Trotsky is already something, having great dessert and coffee to boot is something else! Come for the history, stay for the dessert. We came here in the middle of the afternoon on a weekday. There was a short wait, but we were seated quickly. I ordered the Viennese coffee while my friends had champagne. For dessert, we chose the Schokozauber (chocolate mousse + cookie + creme brulee), chocolate almond cake, petit trio, and the classic apple strudel. While the apple strudel and chocolate almond mousse cake were quite tasty, the petit trio and schokozauber were the stars! Each piece of the trio is made with such delicate care, and the small bite contains so many different flavors and textures. The schokozauber is simply the best dessert I've ever eaten. It's not too sweet, not too rich, and the chocolate and creme brulee balance each other beautifully. If I came back, I'd love to try the honey bee. This is a can't-miss spot if you're in Vienna! Solid service and accepts credit cards. Take some chocolates home as souvenirs too :) read more
3 years ago
The line to get seated was out the door, but we were seated within 10 minutes so don't be too discouraged by the long line. The service was fast and efficient. The Nuss Kuss dessert was a hazelnut crisp with milk chocolate cream. It wasn't as heavy/rich as I was expecting which was nice. Shoutout to the incredible pianist they have playing while you dine. read more
Not going to lie, I was a bit underwhelmed by my experience. I have been told by many to make Cafe Central a must but I still don't understand why. There was a long wait to get seated despite our early dinner time. I ordered the veal schnitzel which was good but nothing amazing and our service was SUPER slow (even considering that Vienna's restaurant culture is normally slow placed). read more
2 years ago
Sometimes when youve only got a short time in a city and you're not entirely sure where to go, you gotta try a place that everyone seems to recommend. This place lives up to the hype. The place is beautiful, bustling, and there was a live piano player while we enjoyed the best schnitzel (out of 3) that we had while in Vienna. The wine is reasonably priced and the desserts looked decadent. The waiters are no nonsense but helpful. Overall an incredibly worthwhile stop. read more
This is such a NECESSARY tourist-y stop while in Vienna. Yes, everyone there will be tourists gawking and taking pictures along with you BUT it's totally worth it. We arrived at about 3:30 on an off-season weekday and waited for about ten minutes for a table. We go lucky, by the time we sat down the line for a table was way out the door!! The interior is beautiful and the desserts are great. I loved that they had a Kir Royale on the menu. We ordered the warm chocolate cake which is DEFINITELY the thing to get. It's basically a lava cake minus the lava but so chocolately and bittersweet, with so much warm fudge sauce and ice cream and whipped cream.... wow. We also had the classic milk chocolate torte which was also very solid but not as noteworthy. read more
7 years ago
Amazing place and worth the hype and the wait! The line was around the corner but it moved fast and was about 30 min. Once inside, it is breathtaking and the ambience is great. We got the Kaiserschmarrn and Altenbergtorte. Both were great. The Kaiserschmarrn is a torn pancake with stewed plums and it was tasty and not too sweet. We actually liked the Altenbergtorte better as it was moist and delicious! I would highly recommend checking this place out. read more
7 years ago
We stopped at Cafe Central for a late lunch after a busy morning exploring. We had passed it a day before and decided to go back the next day in the hope that the line would be shorter. It wasn't, but after waiting about half an hour and watching horse-drawn carriage after horse-drawn carriage pass, we eventually made our way in through the ornate entrance. Upon entering, you are welcomed by a colourful array of cakes, a seated statue of Peter Altenberg, and a beautiful vaulted ceiling. We then faced a very difficult decision - what treat to order! As we were hungry, we started with the roast beef toastie and Hungarian goulash soup which were both tasty and the light lunches we were looking for. After lunch, we decided on the Nuss Kuss and a vanilla/puff pastry cream cake called the Cafe Central Schnitte. We also ordered two very frothy cappuccinos. The best part of our lunch was definitely the sweet treats and if we were to go again, we would probably skip the savoury portion and have another cake to split. The Nuss Kuss, a mix of hazelnut and chocolate, was certainly indulgent while the puff pastry dessert was lighter but equally delicious. Overall, we enjoyed the atmosphere and fully accepted that it is a tourist hotspot. Despite the crowds, our waiter never rushed us and we got to enjoy the beautiful interior and cakes. Although it was likely quite different decades ago, it is easy to see how several famous historical figures would have enjoyed spending hours there. We enjoyed our experience here and would recommend it - it's on every tourist's checklist for a reason. read more
4 years ago
Stopped for lunch and stayed to try lots of their desserts. Long line for a table inside but only a few minutes to get a couple of tables outside on the patio for our group of 7. Would recommend the chicken 'schnitzel' over the weiner schnitzel; soups and the chicken salad were also very good. For dessert: Sache torte (ok), cafe central torte (mixed reviews from the group but v good if you like bitter orange), raspberry napoleon (v good), and the peanut caramel (excellent). Service was great! read more
4 years ago
A historic café in a historic place Located in the heart of the historic area of Vienna, Central Café was a welcoming sight. We stopped in for lunch yesterday after visiting the Spanish Riding School. We understood the menu enough to identify they offer daily specials during the week. Being Friday, I had their Mushroom Risotto. The dish also came with a beef consummate soup, which was an excellent start on this beautiful day in this beautiful place. The risotto was also good and was a good quality of food. Even still, my wife and I shared a plum cake that looked better than it turned out to be. Our server was a busy person but was reasonably patient with us. As we are finding on our trip, we must be patient as well when waiting for our turn for a server to circle back around to our area. The food was ready quickly enough and we were ready to take on the Sisi Museum. read more
3 years ago
4 years ago
Long queue in front of the building, half hour waiting and totally worth it. Could recommend the sacher Torte with a cafe melange as well of the Kaiserschmarrn, but the Kaiserschmarr is huge. Recommend to share with your friends. read more
Fun Fact: This place is over a 100 years old...Sigmund Freud, Leon Trotsky, Joseph Stalin, and Adolf Hitler used to be regulars here. Yes, its touristy, I don't know how many local Viennese visit here, but I did see one(I think). But its beautiful inside, and there's AIR CONDITIONING! And the staff...they were friendly and our waiter was humorous with us, which is rare in Vienna. Maybe he is from somewhere else... Surprisingly most of the pastries were less than €5 each, so we got three and some booze. All were delicious, especially the purple Sisi dessert...get that!!! I was expecting higher prices in a fancy schmancy place like this. Best of all...everything is way better than the overhyped and dull personalities at Demel's. read more
4 years ago
food was delicious and ambiance was beautiful and fantastic. definitely have to make a reservation. one of the best meals i got to enjoy in my 3.5 months spent in vienna. the chicken was cooked perfectly and hot chocolate was also rich and fantastic read more
A must live experience when visiting Vienna!! Housed in a historic building, the decor takes you back to 19 century Vienna. The service is excellent, and the pastries, breads and food are amazing! We had breakfast there with some awesome chocolate croissants and strawberry sponge-cake, then we came back later for a Wiener Schnitzel and more pastries. A must visit. One last detail, their air conditioning is the coldest in Vienna, which you will surely appreciate if you happen to visit during the summer. read more
The internet and every tour guide I looked at for Vienna said to come to Cafe Central. They were not wrong, this is a ream gem. My friend and I came here after about 3 hours of sightseeing around 1pm for lunch. There was a very long line but it was worth the wait. Standing about 20 mins to be seated the first thing you see when you walk in is the massive case of cakes, sweet treats, and things you must try! We had a bowl of Viennese potato soup, pumpkin soup and shared a chaser salad and apple strudel with ice cream. Everything was really good and it was the perfect amount of food for 2 people walking around. The interior of this cafe alone is worth coming here but if you pair it with wonderful foods, desserts, coffees and wines. You are in for a real treat! read more
My friends and I came here to just sit and talk, so we ended up just getting coffee and dessert to try out the viennese cafe life. I got a melange and albegtorte, and both were excellent. The melange was similar to a latte, but with a foamier top, and it was quite nicely made. The albegtorte was decadent! It had a rich chocolate taste, with shavings of chocolate that complimented the creamy chocolate center, with pieces of chocolate cake, it was just all amazing and came together really well! Excellent choice for both of them. read more
2 years ago
Beautiful cafe. One of the oldest Cafe in Vienna. There is a wait to get here. Pro suggestion - make a reservation! They take reservations Monday-Friday. We went here at 9 pm on a Wednesday which helped our line situation go faster. We also knew we would come back at the end of the week so we made reservations ahead of time. The goulash soup & bread was hearty. I recommend it. The fried chicken was delicious! Moist & crispy. The atmosphere was fantastic! The pillars were beautiful. Its very touristy here. The cakes are SO GOOD! We had the schokolad and it's a must! Its is chocolate creme brulee cake with mousse inside. It was delicious. We obviously would come back here again & excited to skip the line & head straight for our reservation. read more
3 years ago
8 years ago
This is a very historical and thus famous cafe. It's where tourist collide to cause chaos. So expect a lot of tourists. As a tourist visiting this cafe, I was very pleased. I stopped by for their famous pastries and coffee. I do have to say I had high expectations. I would suggest not going in with such high expectations. Rather go into this place with lower expectations. When I went in with my unrealistic expectations, I was pretty disappointed. I loved how beautiful and dainty each of their pastries were. Please look at my photos to see the detail they have in each of their pastries. The staff is swift and easy to communicate with. They are helpful and efficient. read more
This is a must visit during your stay in Vienna. It is a classic Austrian cafe, with all of the favorites. We stopped in for lunch and highly enjoyed the experience. When we arrived, there was a line out of the door to get in. Don't fret! We only waited for 15 minutes, so they move fairly quickly. We ordered melange coffees, the goulash soup and the Wiener schnitzel for lunch. Both lunch items were very tasty! We finished up the meal with a classic Viennese sachertorte - a dry chocolate cake that's famous in this city. It wasn't my favorite dessert, but interesting to try! Overall, we loved the relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. The wait service was not as attentive as we would have liked, but otherwise an overall great mid-day break. It's beautiful inside, and worth a visit. read more
A must to go to when in Vienna! The desserts are exquisite, especially the "mohr im hemd mit vanilleeis". Customer service is wonderful and the pianist a a good addition. When you get there, if there's a line, just be patient - it goes quick! Enjoy! read more
8 years ago
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