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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!
2 years ago
7 years ago
Great experience! We had to wait outside for about 15 minutes but the long line moved very fast. We got their famous kaeserschmarnn and it was great! Came out pretty fast, and the plum sauce was delicious. I wouldn't get other things on the menu as it seemed to be very expensive. The service was very good and the inside of the restaurant is beautiful. I would definitely recommend it! read more
3 years ago
Actually not delicious but we had a really good time here reading the pedophilic and misogynistic poetry of one Peter altenberg. Wine with elderberry syrup was okay because if the sparkling. Lox was good because lox is lox. read more
5 years ago
8 years ago
This 150-year-old cafe is a gem in the city center of Vienna. To sit where Freud, Trotsky, and Polgar sat and have tea in an exquisitely decorated space is quite the experience. And that's why tourists come: the experience. I arrived on a Tuesday evening at 7:00pm and waited only a few minutes for a table. I was seated next to the piano, and moments later, a musician began performing. I had only intended to stay for tea, but the music enraptured me and I stayed for dinner as well. The tea runs in the €4-6 range. My früchtereigen (fruit infusion) tea was delightful, and there were other intriguing combinations I wanted to try. For dinner, I ordered a cup of gulaschauppe (goulash soup), which came with a round dinner roll (€5.90). Must have! I also had the Cafe Central Toast (€7.90), which was a panini-style grilled cheese with sliced beef and a sour cream dip. Both were light and tasty. The service is intermittent, but the wait staff was hustling. If you're relaxed with time to kill, this is your spot! Tables are small and not many babies were present, although there were plenty of kids and teens. The piano players take requests--I heard Mozart, The Sound of Music, even The Beatles and Frank Sinatra!--so be sure to leave a tip! read more
Such a cool place to visit while in Vienna! The interior is gorgeous and elegant, but the atmosphere is casual. I went for dinner and there was a live pianist playing beautiful classical music. I ordered the torn pancakes with powdered sugar and plum sauce. So delicious!! It doesn't exactly taste like the pancakes I'm used to in the US. They are thicker and almost remind me of a mix between bread pudding and funnel cake because it's moist and fluffy, but also has areas of crispness. Hard to describe. But it's a huge portion! I couldn't finish it even though I spend two hours in there trying lol. Well worth $12.32 for great food, service, and overall experience. read more
Having a cup of coffee and dessert in this beautiful cafe feels very elegant. It is filled with tourists (you can tell by all the guide books and maps) and at times the line was out the door. The line did move quickly and the service was fairly prompt considering how busy they were. If you want a dessert, go to the dessert case to see what is available and the woman there will write your order on a piece of paper and that you can give to the waiter. The service here was friendly and even though the line was long I didn't feel as if they were rushing us out the door to seat the next group of tourists (unlike Sacher Cafe). We had 3 coffees and 3 tortes (raspberry macaroon, raspberry torte, and strawberry torte) and our bill was 25 Euros so it isn't cheap. read more
8 years ago
There's a reason Cafe Central is the most famous cafe in Vienna. Despite the long waiting time and the crowds of tourists, this is hands down the most beautiful cafe in the city. Vienna is the cafe culture capital and visiting Cafe Central is essential to fulfilling the cafe culture experience. Expect a long wait if you go on the weekends. If you want to avoid that I'd recommend going on a weekday, and if you really hate lines then before noon. The service is absolutely terrible but hey, it's Vienna so what can you expect- it's part of the typical Viennese experience. No doubt, this place is definitely overpriced (which is why it doesn't get my 5-star rating) but so are most of the other famous cafes in the city. Most of the cakes are around 7-8€ and the coffee is expensive too, but I'd say it's worth the experience. Aside from the gorgeous decor and the rich history of the cafe, the cakes and other desserts are stunning and delicious too. They are all elegantly displayed around an island in the middle of the cafe, making the whole setting amazing for pictures. read more
2 years ago
When in Vienna or Wien, as the locals call it, you have to experience the Cafe Culture! What better place to experience that than at Cafe Central, conveniently located close by a u-bahn station. Luckily, I was able to snag an outdoor seat. FYI, seats get filled quickly and people stay for a while. After I sat down, a waiter came by and brought me a menu. I knew what I wanted already, the famous Sachertorte which is a chocolate cake. I got that with a coffee with milk. The Sachertorte was quite good. It was not as moist as I liked it to be but it was still delicious. The waiter was a bit impatient, but to be fair, I was told that was Austrians in general. They expect everyone to be very efficient. Overall, it's a decent place to enjoy some decadent dessert while sipping some coffee and have a casual conversation or just people watch. read more
8 years ago
You have to try this place to say you've tried it. Beautiful interior, quintessential to Austria. The minute you pass through the long line to wait outside, you will be greeted by their dessert display. Lunch was nothing spectacular. read more
14 years ago
I ordered the special which included a Tafelspitz soup and Veal with Leeks and Creamed Potatoes. We also ordered the Fried Chicken Salad, Sacher Torte, and an espresso. My soup came out at the same time as the other person's entree. We waited about an hour and my veal still had not come out yet. I wanted to try the dessert here so we ordered the sacher torte and espresso thinking we better order it now because they are so slow. The sacher torte and espresso came out immediately. I proceeded to finish the cake and waited probably another 10-15 minutes before the veal came out. Although the dish was good, the wait was ridiculous. read more
Absolutely gorgeous! One of the most stunning cafes I've seen in Europe. Baroque style high ceilings. Beautiful chandeliers. Cozy fireplace. Walking in, I felt under dressed because of the way it designed but I noticed the other customers weren't too dressed up. The service was kind as the other cafes in Vienna. Delicious coffee and and pastries. It was my last day in Vienna and I hadn't had an apple strudel so I got one here and it wasn't a disappointment. The coffee was equally as delicious. Highly recommend this place. read more
3 years ago
4 years ago
You'll know when you've made it to Cafe Central because you'll see the only restaurant with a line out the door. This is likely Vienna's most popular cafe. The experience is well worth the wait. The food is delicious, the service is great, the prices are fair, and the ambiance is simply spectacular. You'll get the feeling that you're eating in a museum. I highly recommend the Wienerschnitzel. This is one of the best known specialities of Viennese cuisine, it is made of a thin, breaded, pan-fried veal cutlet. They serve it nice, warm and slightly crispy. Squeeze in some lemon and you're set. I also recommend the Schokozauber and Viennese Iced Coffee, although you should probably get your fill of Sacher-Torte while you're in Vienna. There is so much to love about this place. It's a rather unique and memorable, yet remarkably casual, dining experience. read more
Inside the Ringstrasse is Cafe Central; the venerable Viennese Coffee house. It's most famous patron was Leon Trotsky the Russian Revolutionary. They serve breakfast to late night snacks. The coffee comes with a little chocolate snack and is overpriced. The pianist played broadway and Hollywood tunes; no Wagner or Strauss. You can stay as long as you want and you are not rushed. Service is spotty. There is sitting inside and outside. read more
This is my first trip to Vienna and I came here due to all the recommendations from reviewers on TripAdvisor. I rarely give 5 stars but this place lives up to it because the food and service were excellent. After walking for most of the day, I needed a place to sit while I waited for a Mozart concert in another few hours. I waited in line for a table for about a half hour around 4:30pm which wasn't too bad. The service was beyond excellent and I can't say that enough because I love places where service staff are always attentive but not overbearing. I probably sat at my table for almost two almost and never was pressured to leave even after I had paid for my order. I ordered their apple strudel, cafe melange (Viennese version of a cappuccino), and torte. All was delicious. In addition, how can you want to leave while there was a pianist playing the grand piano near the entrance? After all Vienna is the capital of classical music! read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
8 years ago
The wait was very long and we were more curious about the pastries than the food or coffee, so we bought at the counter and took it to go. The staff seemed a little apathetic and dismissive, but it was night time and maybe they were tired, and seeing as we are tourists, they may not have had much patience left for us. While I wish they had been a little friendlier, I get it. We got four different pastries: one hazelnut chocolate, one honey bee, one chocolate orb looking one, and Cici's favorite. The prettiest by far was Cici's favorite, and it was the one I was most excited to try. I payed with card, and the person behind the counter handed me the machine so I could add a tip, which I felt a little weird about, seeing as they were simply placing pastries into a box for me, and they weren't even being very friendly or nice about it. Not to mention the pastries were already not cheap. I now definitely regret adding a tip. I guess the counter person just haphazardly stuffed all the pastries into one box and tossed it into a bag for us, because when we got home our pastries had toppled over each other and Cici's favorite had taken a pretty rough hit, kind of ruining it's beauty and totally disappointing us. We were excited about our pastries, and we felt robbed because this place isn't super cheap and we were really upset to see them arrive in such a trash condition. Unfortunately, what really made us sad, and the reason for my harsh review, is that bottom line- the pastries weren't good. I know that this is just a couple of like minded people's subjective opinions, so take it with a grain of salt (we were also very peeved about their arriving condition, so that probably affected our taste). Still, we really didn't like any of them, except maybe Cici's favorite, which I thought was good, not great. To be honest, this place feels like a rip off and a tourist trap, and I would recommend spending your time and money somewhere else. The attached photo shows how we had to pry Cici's favorite off of the chocolate hazelnut one with forks in an attempt to preserve what we could :( read more
4 years ago
5 years ago
Going here is an exquisite experience. It's unique and one of a kind and completely worth the wait. There was live piano playing when I went last January which added to the experience. The cakes are really rich but also really delicious. I would go just to be in that environment, sip a drink, and catch up with a friend. I do miss this place. read more
4 years ago
I got the Wiener Melange, Cafe Central Sandwich, and Apple Strudel. Each item was a 10/10 for me. I went with my friends and it was the best sit down restaurant experience I've had in Vienna. First off the coffee. As a barista myself, I am amazed at how foamy they got the milk to be and how well it complimented the espresso. It was so good I had finished it before I even received my dish. Now the cafe central sandwich, it came with ham and cheese and their special sauce. This sandwich is quite possibly one of the best I ever had. The bread was crispy and the ham was fresh and delicious. Finally the Strudel. Just thinking about it now is making my mouth water. My fork went through it like butter. It was so soft and the vanilla syrup was the perfect finishing touch. Overall I am very pleased with my meal here. 10/10 for me. read more
3 years ago
I heard that Vienna was famous for their chocolate cake, so of course I had to try it. Cafe Central is a bit of a touristy place, but it's famous for a reason. There was about a ten minute line to get it, but it went by very fast. The waiter that served me was very attentive and kind. I got the chocolate cake and highly recommend it! read more
9 years ago
We went for brunch on a Saturday and got seated pretty quickly and didn't really have to wait that long! I got the torn pancakes with plum sauce and they were really good!! One order comes with a lot and can be split between two people if you're not too hungry or if you're appetite isn't big. My friend got the apple strudel with their vanilla sauce and that was also really good! I recommend getting the Viennese coffee; comes with ice cream so great for if you love sweets! read more
3 years ago
9 years ago
Of the cafes I went to in Vienna, this was my favorite. The atmosphere, food, and staff were all on point. When I went, there was probably a 40-60 split of locals and tourists. I noticed a good number grabbing a quick coffee and dessert but, in my opinion, the experience is enriched if you stay awhile. Grab one of the papers they have on hand. People watch. Or, take a breather from sight-seeing. You'll be glad you did. On to the food. I was a bit hungry so I started with some goulash. I'm not sure I've ever had goulash before so I don't have a frame of reference but it tasted good to me. My wife and I also ordered an apple strudel and the kaiserschmarrn. The strudel was served warm (unlike another place I went to) and was very good. This was a solid choice. But the kaiserschmarrn stole the show. It is likely the best dessert I've ever had! The "pancake," as they call it, is fluffy and has just the right amount of sponginess to it. The plum sauce was a perfect complement. It was pure deliciousness. Thinking about it is making me want to fly back! To drink, we both had melanges, which were comparable to the ones served at other cafes. There's likely to be a line to get in, but your patience will be rewarded. That kaiserschmarrn... read more
3 years ago
8 years ago
I wanted to like Cafe Central. Truly. I've wanted to come here for a while. However, it just fell flat. There was a line out the door, but it moved quickly enough. The man who escorted my group to our table was friendly and professional. Unfortunately, it took almost 15 minutes before anyone came to the table to take drink orders. Another 25 to get coffee and desserts served. I ordered the strudel. Not worth it. The dough was still raw underneath and the filling was just so-so. The vanilla sauce was cold. Really disappointing. The final straw was waiting yet another 30 minutes once we were done to flag down our waiter to pay. After telling him we wanted to pay, we waited another 10 before he returned. The service and mediocre food would have merited a 2/5, but the history and beautiful building and room bumped it to a 3/5. read more
4 years ago
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7 years ago
An historic Cafe located in a popular shopping district in the middle of Vienna. Among its famous customers the Cafe claims to have served Leon Trotsky and Sigmund Freud. And now me! The Apfel Strudel was delicious and the atmosphere was cozy and relaxing. A must stop for espresso and dessert while in Vienna. read more
4 years ago
One of my favorite cafés in Europe. Great food and desserts. Love their apple strudel! The wait and que was long but worth it! It was definitely a memorable visit. read more
9 years ago
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