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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
Long wait but the wait is worth it if you're there to get the apple strudel. Best apple strudel I've ever had!! I've heard their schnitzel was good too. Beautiful interior with paintings read more
This is a must see place for any visitor to Vienna. It's a beautiful place with arched ceilings and very comfortable seating. When I came on a Saturday morning it wasn't crowded and I found a seat easily. The service was friendly and quick. I ordered the Vienna melange, which is somewhat like a cappuccino, and an apple strudel. The coffee was a little bit of a disappointment, but the strudel was excellent. I had a large size melange, but to me it was a small portion. I've also had better quality coffee. They didn't seem to rush me at all, which was nice, so one could easily sit there and read a paper and enjoy the setting. As a side note, they have excellent wifi for their guests, which is not something you find too often in Vienna. read more
Cafe Central is one of the most popular cafes in Vienna, aside from Cafe Mozart. There's almost certainly going to be a wait during prime afternoon coffee hours, but things move quickly; I've never waiting more than 5-6 minutes. They've got the full array of Viennese sweets on offer, including an amazingly good chocolate cake with ice cream - "Mohr im Hemd mit Vanilleeis" - for less than 7 euros. The coffee is a lukewarm ho-hum, but it'll serve to deliver the caffeine. read more
10 years ago
This place is CRAZY BUSY. I came in shortly after it opened at 10am on a Sunday. There were already a lot of people inside and more streaming through the door. I was able to snag a seat right by all the pastry displays. The inside is really spacious and the decor is beautiful. The ceiling has domes, arches, and a range of color. Ultimately just got the apple strudel with ice cream. I don't think you can go wrong ordering anything from here, but I figured I'd go with a classic. The presentation was beautiful, with the thin apple wafer resting on the whipped cream as a nice touch. It took forever for a waiter to take my order and again for me to get my check. Normally I probably wouldn't have minded, but I was only in the city because of a short connection and had to get back to the airport. As I was walking out, a line had already formed that went out the door. Overall, this is definitely a destination point given its history, but the popularity slows down the speed of service. read more
9 years ago
Best deserts I have had in Austria with a beautiful atmosphere that makes a poor man feel like royalty. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone. read more
11 years ago
Alright first of all, as the other reviews say, it is a cafe with nice decor. There is a lot of seating inside and a few tables outside. It gets crowded though due to popularity so you may have to wait. Lots of cakes are on display in the center of the hall so you can essentially choose your cake when you order. We came in looking to just enjoy the atmosphere and maybe have some sweets. We told our waiter we wanted to share the torn pancake with plum sauce (8.90 euro) as that seemed popular with the other customers, and he asked "Is that it?" When we responded yes, that we wanted to share, he literally rolled his eyes at us, hmphed, and walked off. Are you kidding me? Look at the picture below - that plate is huge, no one could eat that as a dessert for one. The both of us couldn't even finish it though we were hungry to start. The plum sauce was really good, not too sweet and complimented the pancake well. read more
10 years ago
Super gorgeous layout, amazing interior design, and chill ambiance for a coffeehouse. A unique and elegantly designed cafe with a black piano right in the middle of the room. Read that this cafe is about 140 years old, and was a popular meeting place for Sigmund Freud, Peter Altenberg, Arthur Schnitzler, and Leo Trotski. Waiters were really polite and friendly, even though you could tell the cafe was really really busy. There was a long line to wait in to get seated, so you should probably should come before or after peak times to get a seat quickly. Had one of their weekly Viennese lunch specials with red wine and sparkling water, then ordered a traditional Viennese coffee and apfelstrudel with vanilla sauce for dessert. Food was delicious and came out really fast. There's also free Wifi available with a pretty decent connection speed. read more
7 years ago
A must visit when in Vienna! Beautiful cafe and architecture. There will be a wait but it goes by pretty fast and the restaurant is large inside. Service is good and fast. The presentation of the food is really nice too! Definitely get some cake. read more
8 years ago
Only stopped in here cause there was no line to try the infamous sachertorte. (Tried to stop by the day beofe and the line was insane) Unfortunately, it was on the dry side, nothing special. Probably much better in other places. This is Vienna after all! But service was quick, the spot itself is very cute and they do have free WiFi for those of you traveling. read more
The ultimate Vienna Cafe experience. We came here twice while we were in Vienna. It's just a small walk from the Royal Imperial Apartments/Spanish Riding school. Stop by and enjoy the live piano, regal but relaxing atmosphere. We enjoyed the ice chocolate drink, tea, as well a selection of their desserts. read more
The hundreds of reviews and fairly high star rating was enough to get myself, husband, and sister in here while we were waiting for our tour of the Spanish Riding School to begin. Ideally located near the Hofburg, Central Cafe is a great place for some coffee, tea, and a bite to eat. The inside is really beautiful. It's like what the Cheesecake Factory tries to be and fails miserably. The paint job is just really stunning. The true eye candy of Central Cafe is their pastry display case, and eye candy it is! Fun Fact: the deserts taste as good as they look! Not too sweet, and very flavorful. Our server was professional and quick to serve us. After an intense day of walking and long night of drinking, we each took a pot of coffee and ordered a hearty breakfast of smoked salmon and toast (trust me, it was hearty enough). After staring at the desert case for so long, we finally agreed to split apple strudel and a strawberry shortcake like creation. The apple strudel has an essence of cognac to it and wasn't as sweet as I expected, which I really enjoyed even though it wasn't what I was expecting. The strawberry cake desert was really wonderful too, and again the flavor profile wasn't what I was expecting. While not a spot you want to go when starving, the quality of the food was great, the servers professional, and plenty of seating. A little on the expensive side, but you're paying for the experience, I suppose. And an experience it was! It was a good stop before a big day in Vienna! read more
8 years ago
10 years ago
It's a beautiful building and the desserts all look amazing. It was pretty packed when we got there and we were exhausted, so we got a sacher torte to go. However the line actually moved pretty quickly, so we probably could've been seated in the amount of time it took to order the dessert to be boxed up. Their sacher torte is DENSE. It's like eating a pound cake that got flattened in someone's suitcase before it got to me. The flavors were great, but I actually couldn't finish it since it was so filling. Their whipped cream helps it go down, but it's unsweetened so you don't have a sugary overload. read more
Cafe Central was probably the only restaurant in Vienna that literally had a line out the door. So based on the recommendation and line I figured I'd have to try. The line moved quickly...I would say we got in when it was basically to the curb and we waited maybe 20 minutes. I am not sure if it's European culture that I am not well-adjusted to or what but the service was incredibly SLOW and a little rude. We had the goose ravioli and the wiener schnitzel and finished it off with the apple strudel. Overall, I thought it was decent but not THE BEST. The goose ravioli was ok. The wiener schnitzel was pretty good. The potatoes were buttery and soft. The apple strudel was mediocre as well. read more
4 years ago
The second I saw the restaurant, I was astonished by the display and fancieness of such a brilliant cafe. The hospitality made an immediate impression the second I walked into the cafe. There was a somewhat big line forming, but that wait was just a mere 2 minutes as I was able to quickly get a table. Even though I did make a reservation prior to coming, this was still a bit surprising as normally I would still have to wait in line to be able to get a table for the other restaurants I've been to. I was immediately seated at my table and looked through the well formatted menu items that were beautifully organized and readable to the eye, both in German and English languages. I had an Café Central Backhendl, Wiener Apfelstrudel, and Kaffee Verkehrt. My immediate perception of the beautifully structured coffee was impressive. I loved the layer of the colors ordered by the white milk at the bottom, the espresso in the middle, and the foam at the top. . The chicken had a crispy breaded outside with juicy and savory cooked meat on the inside. The Café Central Backhendl the proper amount of proper seasoning, the chicken was not too salty nor had minimal salt, as it was perfect. Now for the final dish, and probably one of the best desserts I've ever had, I present the Wiener Apfelstrudel. Where do I even begin? Obviously stated twice already, I don't have to mention the presentation, as the constant emphasis of presentation is displayed for every dish they serve. The whipped cream on one end, the apple strudel on another, and the ice cream on the other. Mixing a small portion or each item in the dessert created an explosion of sweetness that I immediately fell in love with. Overall the great hospitality, the wonderful dishes, and the presentation all culminated into a wonderful experience at Cafe Central, and it is a must visit when coming to Vienna. read more
4 years ago
8 years ago
Food (pastry): 5/5 Coffee: 5/5 Service: 4/5 Wonderful quintessential Viennese cafe - grand interior, perfect pastries, and delicious coffee. Expect a bit of line, but it moves relatively quickly! We really enjoyed the apple strudel and the wiener melange coffee (very similar to a cappuccino). Best way to enjoy this cafe is to plan to sit, chat, and relax and enjoy the atmosphere! read more
We went on a bus tour through Vienna and the tour mentioned Cafe Central as a historic restaurant. They said it was a place where a lot of famous people were regular patrons of in the past (Hitler, Charlie Chapman, and Freud). So of course we had to stop by since it was right next to our air bnb. When I walked in, I was amazed at the intricate details that were surrounding the restaurant. It was very beautiful and had an elegant and vintage vibe. We went in and decided to eat their desserts and coffee. They also had a food menu, but we were going to cook at home, so we just stopped by for dessert. We got seated and we had to go up to the dessert counter to order the desserts we wanted. They gave us a ticket with the number on it and then the waiter collected our tickets to get our desserts, which was kind of confusing. We got five desserts and a coffee and the bill was not as expensive as we anticipated. It was worth the price! I saw the lavender cake which looked so beautiful and has a shiny light purple coating over the cake. I was so excited to eat this cake, but it ended up being my least favorite. It had a chewy outer layer and the cake had a chemical taste. It made for a pretty picture, but I would not get this again. My favorite was the chocolate mousse. The mousse was so light and fluffy. This was decadent and had a strong chocolate flavor. I loved the raspberry jam inside the middle of the cake! It was the perfect combination. I would highly recommend this place if you are visiting Vienna or if you want a nice place to eat dessert! read more
Coffee shop extraordinaire. This is a coffee enthusiast's type of place. Extensive menu but since we already had breakfast at our hotel, we ordered a melange (cafe latte) and a salon einspanner (espresso with whipped cream.) Both were excellent. Comes with a small glass of water and chocolate. Highly recommend! read more
Having seen this restaurant on many lists, and as it was within walking distance of the hotel...we decided to try it out, for a late evening treat. The place is beautiful, and creates a great atmosphere for a nightcap. Unfortunately, we were not thrilled with the service. Took a while to get seated, after having to negotiate for a nice table... and then it took a while to get someone to take care of us... even then they seemed rushed. meal was not very memorable... but the space is worth the visit. read more
8 years ago
This is good experience for me. I liked the food here. All the people from different corner of the world come here. read more
7 years ago
A very cozy café with lots of delicious cakes and a very well-priced two course menu lunch. The staff were excellent and managed to keep it all organised! read more
Good food, good drinks. We went here twice because it was so good The piano player is very talented and sets the mood well. The staff are friendly once you are seated. The prices are reasonable and they have a decent torte. My traveling companions enjoyed the ice coffee and I enjoyed the Irish coffee. It is very touristy but I recommend going at least once. read more
8 years ago
While in Vienna for five days, I came here more than once because the pastries were so divine! The variety of pastries, the beautiful decor and the lively visitors make this is a must while in Vienna! read more
8 years ago
Waited outside for around 15 minutes, but we were able to have some of Vienna's specialties. Wish I had realized that the cafe menu was the small booklet on the table instead of the big menu the waiter gave us. It contained the coffees and desserts from the case out front (which were not in the big menu) read more
10 years ago
Coming back year after year, and the service get worse and worse (socialism , I do understand) but compared to other Cafés the attitude of the waiters is despicable Choice of food is good, more of tourist spot . Yes food is OK, typical of Austrian , great and a must for tourists! That's it Oh yes, it's a great reminder about how communo-socialism ruins it for business: waiters don't care, slow horrible service , with and Eastern European non challenge, a Germanic attitude, and a cold lack of humor, well lack of any emotions! Many arrived, sat at the table for 30 mn without service , and left . When you point to the waiter "yes I know" He almost said it "and I don't care, in 1 hour I will complete my 40 hours week, and then go to enjoy my pathetic life, preparing for my union meeting to see how I can work less and get more !! Besides its beautiful art scenery , a must reminder to your kids what this almost-communism infestation did to the society I love Vienna !! read more
7 years ago
4 years ago
8 years ago
Great location, great food, expensive but not surprising based on the area! Much better than Demel across the street and you'll get a seat read more
8 years ago
Beautiful building and a historic venue. We went there after 5pm and enjoyed live piano music. The local Austrian wines we picked were good. We bought four cakes as seen in the photos and while they were good we thought the cakes were dry and could have been better. The four stars are for the atmosphere, presentation of the desserts, the warm interiors and generally a nice tourist spot to experience. read more
4 years ago
9 years ago
We stopped here after dinner and everything met our expectations! We didn't have to wait too long to be seated and the live piano music provided plenty of entertainment and ambiance while we waited and enjoyed our dessert. We ordered the chocolate cake with ice cream and an ice coffee. Unbeknownst to us, the ice in the coffee was more ice cream! Both dishes we heaven and the atmosphere was exactly what we were hoping for! We were also surprised at the decent prices all things considered. Would definitely recommend. read more
4 years ago
4 years ago
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