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Recommended Reviews - 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!
7 years ago
This was a great spot for a romantic evening. We met friends for a variety of dishes including apertifs, soup, snacks and dessert. My friend and I shared two lovely light cocktails (kir and aperol spritz) and the signature "torn pancakes" and I took home a lovely and gorgeous gingerbread mouse in the shape of Santa's belly. It was one of the best desserts I've had from a pastry shop in years. read more
9 years ago
Overall, OK experience. I am studying abroad in Vienna and have gone to many cafes and I don't believe this was worth all the hype. I came here twice as it is a very popular tourist attraction but you really come here for the beautiful interior and the historic value - not the food. My first time here I ordered a Viennese Melange and an apple strudel with vanilla sauce. The coffee was just ok. The Apple Strudel was unfortunately cold as was the vanilla sauce which was a for sure let down. Also, we waited outside for around 20 minutes in line only to be let in a brought to the back sitting room which was empty! It seemed as if they were making people wait just to say there was a line or something... I know rude waiters are part of the Viennese cafe experience but is waiting out in the cold? I decided to try cafe Central again to give it a second chance since it is rated so highly rated. Stopped back in on a Sunday night to grab after dinner coffee. We were seated very quickly in the front of the restaurant almost on top of another couple. I ordered a cappuccino and a warm chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream. The cappuccino was really not great. The warm chocolate cake was actually pretty good though. My date ordered a hot chocolate and a Hazelnut Mousse cake from the dessert display. The were also both just ok. It's a fun place to go and sit and say Sigmund Freud ate here! Or maybe to take some nice pictures. Other than that it is very expensive (our 2 drinks and 2 small desserts were 22 euro) and overall not my type of place. read more
3 years ago
Five stars for atmosphere: live music, classic architecture and tasty cakes. The Maria Theresa coffee (espresso and orange liqueur) was delicious. Espressos were good Himber Harmonie - brownie raspberry cremoso, chocolate mousse and marshmallow Zitronentörtchen - lemon curd, pie crust, meringue Nus Kuss - hazelnut crisp and milk chocolate This place is full of tourists, but the staff moves them through quickly. We loved the pastries and ambiance. This was a great refuge from an afternoon rain shower and we're glad we stopped by. read more
7 years ago
Just popped in some friends in vienna and they told us to go to cafe central. So we did and were not even intimidated by the queue in front of the building. Once you are seated, you know what this place makes so special: old architecture, one of the sickest dessert buffet in town, superdelicious meals and despite the people going in n out, a friendly staff. I enjoyed the rundsgulasch which was beyond! And the dessert, tough decision to make coz i wanted to eat myself through all the sweets they offered. Although it's crowded and touristic, it is definitely worth a visit! read more
When in Vienna, one must visit a coffee shop. And if one want to visit a hundred years old establishment?? One must definitely come here. Definitely ignore the negative reviews. I came here several times during my week in Vienna. Came here during freezing cold and somewhat snowy Vienna winter. I mean Jan/Feb is still winter here?! European winters are such that a few blocks of walking can take all my energy. And I needed to get warm fast. This place was already on my list to visit because well...when in Vienna, one must visit a coffee shop. This place was BEAUTIFUL!!! it is grand, marvelous, historic, majestic and completely packed. A little discouraging how busy they are with each visits because if you are like me, you walked past a ton of a cute little bars, coffee shops to get here. And most are quite empty. But then again, if you are really like me, you wouldn't leave without eating here :) Fast-forward, I came in with a reservation just to bypass the crowd. I still had to wait a little to take my tinyself through the long angry lines of people sans reservations ( whatever), but I was seated in less than five minutes. Yey!! Now what to get? For a starter, the first thing you see when you walk in is their giant case full of stunning Viennese pastries! So many beautiful pastries and cakes! So much colors! What to doooooo! So I did what any normal food obsessed foodie would do. I started with A glass of wine, Cappuccino Famous dumpling soup, Schnitzel!! And ended with another cup of coffee with several cakes. Apple strudel being the house recommended specials and their raspberry torte because I love raspberries! I spent a good two hours here listening to their piano man play everything from Mozarts to phantom of the opera. It was busy, buzzy, packed. I had a few waiters serve me my different orders but they were all tentative and friendly. As friendly as you can be for a 5 pm rush with lines out the door on a Sunday evening anyway. I never once felt rushed! Such a beautiful evening. The history of it all!! Ahhhhh. All the perfect elements I love in one place??? Yes please. It is and will always be my favorite spot in Vienna unless they start having robots servers and turn this into a discotecca with neons everything. Which I don't see that happening anytime soon. Do you?? :) read more
8 years ago
Cafe Central is a must do if you want to experience an elegant Viennese Cafe/Coffee House and are willing to pay handsomely for the experience. You can almost see fin de seicle Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung having a coffee and arguing about the nature of the unconscious. There was a long line when we got there about 2:30 and given this and the hype, I was concerned that Cafe Central might be a tourist trap but once you are seated you will find the food excellent and service unhurried. Our party was comprised of my wife, our daughter, her husband, our two grandchildren aged eight and five, and yours truly of course. When you enter Cafe Central you are confronted with an array of deserts that can only be characterized as works of art. The photos show some examples. These are concoctions which you could never in your wildest dreams make at home. When you are seated you can return to this display and note which ones you want to order so you can inform your waiter. The goodies are conveniently numbered and I saw a number of customers using their phone cameras as well as jotting down the names and numbers. I love a lemon tart, in German called a Zitronen Tarte, and this one was as good as I have eaten and I ate a lot of tart citrons when I lived in France. My son in law and I each had the Suppentopf which was a clear broth with chicken and goose, carrots, celery, thin noodles, and a matzo ball style dumpling. This was an outstanding soup. My wife and daughter had the goulash soup which I tasted and found less appealing. We ordered frankfurters for the children. In addition to the lemon tart we had the s apple strudel, chocolate cake, and the Maroni Deluxe tart which my wife declined to share so it must have been spectacular. Our server was great. He was courteous and paid particularly attention to the children. This was the sort of place which you might expect to be stuffy but was in fact very friendly. We had some beers and coffee and the tab with tip was 96€ so this is not inexpensive but the experience was worth it. read more
This was a delightful and spacious place to come for a quick coffee and sweet desserts. The interior is grand and has so much history behind it. They had a live pianist at night and their desserts and coffee were awesome. Definitely need to stop by while you're in Vienna. read more
Okay, Café Central in Vienna is very, very, very famous. Okay, Café Central is overrun with tourists. However when I am hosting visitors from other countries, the beautiful Café Central is often a great place to make a lunch stop to convey to them a feeling of Old Vienna while enjoying some very tasty food. That was the case this weekend when a friend from Stockholm, Sweden visited me. Our lunch was very enjoyable. The toasts and salad (grilled cheese & salad) were excellent. And the deserts better than excellent. Since I was a kid I have always loved Café Central's Milchrahmstrudel. I still love it so of course I ordered it. My friend selected a Mohr im Hemd which she found to be delicious. The service was super friendly and efficient. The popular Café Central might seem to be mostly for tourists these days but hey, this is one tourist spot I will def gladly go back to. And don't forget to say hi to Peter Altenberger. He's always sitting at the first table that you pass by when you enter by the front door! read more
So we stayed in a fantastic AirBnB right across the street from Cafe Central and my husband is a big fan...mostly because he has a history of visiting the place. I have mixed feelings about it. My initial recommendation is go for breakfast/brunch...not for dinner. It is a very old restaurant. It opened in 1876 and was actually frequented by high end customers and well-known historical figures like Leon Trotsky, Vladimir Lenin, Sigmund Freud and even Adolf Hitler. Until the late thirties, it was called the Chess School related to the number of chess players that frequented it. It closed after WWII and reopened in 1975. Although it is popular with tourists, you see a decent number of locals there. I'd say more during the day than at night. Try the Viennese Coffee, it's a little stronger than regular coffee and it's local. Let's not forget what Vienna is know for. It has two shots of espresso and is infused with whipped cream instead of milk. The most important thing to do at Cafe Central is to have dessert....you can have the Sacher Torte, but I'd save that for a trip to the Hotel Sacher and try one of their many other desserts...and there are many. I was somewhat boring and had the cheesecake. I was not disappointed. It was lighter than the cheesecake you get in the states. I liked that. We did have a dinner there with clients and I was relatively disappointed. They had a piano player there and it was nearly impossible to hear each other talk. It began to give me a headache quite honestly. The wiener schnitzel was dry and tasteless...I couldn't finish it. Seemed like most of the food at the table was underwhelming. So go during the day and have coffee and dessert. Visit for the history. read more
13 years ago
I'm making Cafe Central my 500th review! I love this place and came here in Aug 2013. Had lunch and tea here and came here twice while there on holiday. It's truly special to have dessert and tea here. I had my birthday afternoon tea and dessert here! Love looking at all the dessert options in the window... great display greeting you right in the entrance. Thank you Cafe Central for making my time in Vienna yummy! Highly recommended if you're in the city looking for good dessert! read more
13 years ago
Great atmosphere - the inside of the cafe is beautiful and elegant.. like the rest of Vienna! :) When you sit down you kind of feel like you're back in the 19th century, in the company of Freud, Lenin, and the other great thinkers who used to frequent this place..! Especially when there's a heat wave outside and you're sweating your butt off, since I don't think they had AC back then... You MUST get the Viennese coffee or "wiener kaffee".. Seriously one of the best drinks ever. Contains ice cream and whipped cream and one of those wafer things.. It is very sweet so it's like a beverage and dessert all in one. After leaving Vienna I find myself having random cravings for this thing all the time. Wish I could go back! Pastries: A few are on the menu. For the rest, go to display case and then tell your server the number of the pastry you want. Apple strudel (on the menu) is their famous one.. do not skimp on the vanilla sauce! Seriously it will be dry without it. The hazelnut mousse dessert (display case) is very good at well. Prices are expensive (5-6 euro per item) but what can you do... read more
5 years ago
Dinner was just okay. Hazelnut cake was delicious. However, 7.5 euro for still water is over price. Bring ur own water when you come in. Without make reservation wait time is like five mins, but better to reserve. read more
Ambiance: Beautiful setting with live pianist! Love love love, truly a gem in Vienna, the color scheme if red and gold makes it so classy! Service: On point, no real language barrier here either, they do recommend pastries too which we are very happy that they did because man they were so good! Food: Everything is so good here! What my group and I ordered and highly recommend; - Cafe royale cake - Nusskuss (pastry) - Apple strudel (a MUST in Vienna) - Chocolate cake (MUST and get it with ice cream) - Melange Viennese coffee (a MUST as they are known for this here) - Irish Coffee (has alcohol) - Cafe central coffee with alcohol - Cold hot chocolate All in all if you're in Vienna or planning a trip BOOKMARK and go to this place!! read more
We arrived around 11:15am and there were 4 parties in front of us. As others have mentioned, the line moves very quickly. We ordered the Viennese coffee, apple strudel and the appricot crepe. Everything was delicious and the service was fast and friendly. I only wish the strudel and more dough/crust! read more
13 years ago
This is perhaps the most famous coffee house in Vienna. Frequented back in the day by the likes of Sigmund Freud and Leo Trotzki, this cafe has held onto its traditional and beautiful decor and attracts Austrians as well as tourists. The cakes look and taste absolutely amazing. The Sacher Torte is the most popular, along with the Cafe Central's own cake (like Sacher Torte with orange marzipan in it). We, however, didn't go for either of these! We tried some of the very finely done cakes such as a lemon tart, and a "Nuss Kuss" and we had the Apfelstrudel - which was perhaps the best I have had in Vienna (choose vanilla sauce with it). They have a nice selection of teas and coffees and you can also eat meals here instead of just coffee and cake. Whilst enjoying your amazing cake, you can enjoy the live piano music that is played from the middle of the room. It really adds a nice touch. The service is, as you can imagine, very Viennese. Meaning that they are not the friendliest or most attentive. If you speak German to them it is better. I do this wherever I go and always find that it works. This is up at the top of the list with Demel and Hotel Sacher. If you have time, visit all three ;) read more
7 years ago
Nice historic building and decor. Wide selections of pastries and coffee. Lunch menu with soup only 12 euro. read more
14 years ago
Beautiful ceiling. Only worth going to when I have people visiting me in Vienna so they can experience Viennese cafes. Both times I have gone it has been very crowded...the service has been slow and there was a line to get a table. The tables are packed into the space, making you feel like you are sitting on top of your neighbor. It is also expensive. The desserts are alright. But, they have free wifi, which is worth at least 1/2 a star in my book!!!!! read more
11 years ago
Beautiful, old, and famous cafe in Vienna. We arrived around 10 AM in the morning aiming for breakfast. Thankfully, there were some open tables and no line had begun at the front door entrance. We were immediately greeted by the pastry displays and a plastic statue of a man sitting on a bench, ready to greet customers. The vaulted ceiling arches are very beautiful, and lends an elegant atmosphere to the entire cafe. Racks of newspapers on posts are also on display, and coat racks abound near every table. Once we sat, my brother ordered the apple strudel and a Viennese ginger ale, while I ordered the full Viennese breakfast, with orange juice and hot chocolate. The drinks were delightful. The apple strudel arrived with ice cream, and perhaps that was why it tasted pretty cold. My breakfast didn't look very big, but it was quite filling. A small cup contained sticks of vegetables (carrots, peppers, etc), the yogurt came with a packet of muesli and even a jar of honey, and the small triangles of bread were obviously meant to accompany the thinly sliced meat. Quite delicious. Cafe culture dictates that you hold the table for as long as you wish, and as such we stayed in Cafe Central for quite a while after we finished eating, simply sipping our drinks, digesting, and enjoying the atmosphere. Eventually, of course, we had to move on to sightseeing, but we left feeling comfortable and happy. By that point it was nearing 11:30 and a crowd was converging on the steps outside. If/when I return to Vienna, I hope to be able to find a table at Cafe Central to order a nice dessert and while an afternoon away. read more
5 years ago
7 years ago
The Olympic medalists at our recent brunch for a party of 5: Bronze: Viennese Apfelstrudel (4,80 Euro): cold. The crust was dry and the apples were bland. I like bland, too. I would rather have had a fried apple pie from KFC or a caramel apple empanada from Taco Bell. Boo! Silver: The Weiner Melange (double 5,30 Euro): Viennese Style coffee, extended expresso with frothed milk. This drink made me replace my large espresso javiva blend with chocolate and caramel syrup no whip @ Peet's with a single latte with a long pull. It will turn your casual love affair with coffee into an addiction on the cusp of intervention. Your weekly visits for a blended, sugary, well-deserved treat after a long week's work become overnight, an estranged and bitter relationship with the barrista you once found pleasant and warm. Your new and improved, refined taste barely remembers the savage coffee bean barbarian it once was. Gold: Weiner Schnitzel (breaded veal cutlet with potatoes, 21,90 Euro): Tasted like they flew in a Netflix-show world-class chef to prepare the SECRET family recipe katsu. And then the coffee bean barbarian inside cannot ever, justify paying more than $18 USD for some chicken-fried steak. Pork-fried steak, your barrista ex-wife corrects you, in between puffs from her long-filtered cigarette. read more
11 years ago
This is history. Just go. Ignore the critical and judgmental reviewers and have a great time. Yes there is always a line to get in. Make the effort to learn a few German words like "hello, please and thank you" - it'll get you farther than you think. The food, desserts and coffees are all fabulous. In the center of the main dining room is this lustful dessert display - this is worth the price of admission alone. Then look up and savor the architecture - just swooning with arches and curves. The secondary dining room is just as lovely, although a bit quieter. In response to rudeness, servers are humans too...being a very touristy cafe, they deal with a lot of different visitors...be patient and enjoy the ride. Remember that Customer Service is different in The States. Excellent Coffee. Excellent Weinerschnitzel. Excellent Desserts. We personally read reviews then ignored them and had a great time. We wished our server had a little more personality, it is what it is and there were no issues. Service can be slow - but then they always have a long line out the door. Again, Old World values are different here than the American rush, rush, rush. Go with people you like and enjoy each others' company - that's what tourism is about. We would most definitely go back - it would be our first stop after checking in to our lodging. read more
7 years ago
10 years ago
Café Central is one of the fancy and famous cafés in Vienna, it is also one or the most popular place for the tourist visit, it is not only because of how the place looks like but also it culture behind it. So don't be surprised if you have to wait on the line to get in. My partner and I with our friends, we were just close by this place so we decided to come to have some coffee and cake time, like I mentioned it early, we got to queue to get in. I think it took us about 10-15 minutes, we were already inside, that wasn't so bad. I was just stunt first how great this place looks. "Another luxury place for coffee" I said. It was really like that, so fancy and classic, they even got a pianist playing music in the central of the café. It made the atmosphere even nicer. The columns stands in the house did remind me some other places, but I like the style. I also saw the portraits of Empress Elisabeth and Franz Joseph I of Austria, one of our friends was telling us the story of them when we were waiting for our coffee. It was quite interesting. I ordered an Ice coffee, I think the coffee was alright, I didn't really find it especial, but the price was total just regular. And other they were also just ok with their order, since they were huge coffee fans, quite a difficult bar to reach. It seems like the locals they like to go some other places if them just want to have good coffee, my friends recommended few to me, there were a lot different pastries and sweets there, I only tried a small piece, it was quite nice. I think, this place it great place just to sit there have a rest, just look around the place and enjoy the view. It a nice places for that, but if you looking for cups of great coffee, I do think there are better places near this area. read more
10 years ago
Ambience is pretty nice. Piano player and the place make for a nice experience. Coffee is way overpriced. Costs almost 5 euros for any coffee or tee (and they serve regular size cups). However at least quality is good. Desserts are incredible here. All the hype is real when it comes to desserts. Ordered the apfel strudel with vanilla sauce (2.50 euros more for the vanilla sauce) but the size and flavor made it ok. Also ordered a Central Torte and was good with delicious flavor but a small portion. Overall the desserts are worth a visit. read more
12 years ago
Cakes, coffee, sweets? Don't go to the French or even the swiss, the Austrians do it better!!! This place is a living proof! After my first visit four years ago , I knew this time I had to go back! And so I did! We had to wait for about 5 minutes in line to get a table but it is worth it! The only downside is you have to wait outside and it's kinda cold! When you go in the staff is really friendly and professional, all of them speak perfect English. Don't forget to take a look at the dessert case on your way in ;) Get coffee and cake, the Viennese way! The maria Therese coffee is delicious and the apple strudel with vanilla sauce is a must! Also tried the cafe central torte which is a marzipan and chocolate, orange cake , not too sweet , not to heavy , just right!! When in Vienna you have to come here, it's a must! read more
11 years ago
This cafe embodies the Viennese experience. It's right in the heart of the city with beautiful, high marble ceilings and a wide array of pastries. Cafe Central was such a vital spot in my abroad experience. I would go there Sunday afternoons to simply enjoy myself. I would try different pastries, drink coffee and just sit, journaling and enjoying the lovely piano. It was also a place to spend with friends- chatting, tasting and marveling at Vienna's beauty and culture. PSA YOU MUST MUST get the pancakes.. See photo for details. "Pancakes" does not do the gourmet plate justice ... it's actually a giant ball of dough with powdered sugar dispersed throughout. It is the most incredible thing I have tasted. read more
8 years ago
This place has amazing history with artists, musicians, scientists and political leaders being regular patrons. Our waiter wasnt friendly but silently quick, efficient and accurate, qualities I appreciate far more. Food is of very good quality, including traditional foods like Zachertorte and Apfelstrudel. The champagne is amazing and the Viennesse coffee comes with a chocolate at the side. There is a classical pianist serenading and newspapers from different European countries available. Honestly a 11 on 10. read more
15 years ago
7 years ago
A hot tourist spot in town. You actually have to wait in line to get in, but not too long - a few minutes only. The food is great, they offer 2 course lunch specials Monday to Friday - price is very reasonable. The best part, of course, is the dessert, so many to choose from. I asked for waiter 's recommendation for something light and not too sweet. I ended up choosing Himbeer Harmonies as he recommended and it was excellent. The service was great, I did not feel rushed at all, even though I was by myself. Worth visiting if you are in Vienna!! read more
9 years ago
-Good food, we had an almond croissant, an apple strudel and the local dish Wiener Schnitzel. Everything for €32. We actually paid 35 because the waiter asked us for tip which was very unusual since it's Europe. -the environment is good but there's a lot of movement since it's always packed. -service isn't too good since they are busy. -not a quiet location but worth to try out -located right in the city center near a shopping area and the imperial apartments read more
This restaurant is very popular among the locals & tourists. We found out about this because of a voucher we received from a tour company for a free cake & coffee. Little did we know that there is a historical significance that makes this very interesting. While Hitler was still an art student in Vienna, Lanin & Strotsky were planning the revolution here against the Czar Nicholas of Russia. Other famous nobles were here too. Anyways, the food is considered to be a bit pricey. But the desserts are just spectular. The moment you walk into the door, you're facing this glass display of desserts. One forgets about the other items served on the menu. But that's how they attract the tourists. The Sachertorte & Apple Strudel was about €4 each. Soda is €3.80. Other drinks are priced the same. At lunchtime, my husband ordered the Wiener Schnitzel (breaded veal & fried) with potatoes for €19.80 while I ordered the Tapfelpitz (boiled beef with julienned vegetables) & pricey at €18.80. With 2 soda drinks, our bill was at €47, 10% tip not included. That's equivalent to a $50 meal in the US. I liked the Wiener Schnitzel better. The boiled beef had good flavor but the veggies were soggy & bland. This place is always packed but they have a lot of seats. Service is typically slow. We did not get our food for 45 mins-1 hr. But the waiters are very pleasant. It is customary to leave a 10% tip. No reservations needed. Walk ins mostly. We went early for lunch and were seated right away. If money is an issue, I would recommend going somewhere cheaper to eat. But come back for the desserts. It won't disappoint. The architecture inside is also something to behold. Around 5pm, a pianist graces your presence with some classical music while you indulge your senses with their food. I recommend coming here for the experience. read more
7 years ago
Line moved quickly. Interior was nice. Our server was awful. Came for lunch and had a sandwich before coffee and dessert. Would just come for coffee and dessert next time was definitely the best part. Don't be in a rush coming here. read more
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