A place to visit, sit and have dessert. Don't rush yourself after you've been seated and just enjoy the time with others or by yourself as you contemplate how long this cafe has been around and how long you had to wait in line to get a seat. read more

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Beautiful inside architecture. There was a live pianist and it was beautiful. Lots of cake options and it was delicious. Coffee was not my favorite - it had a shot of alcohol and it was very bitter. There was a queue as well when we got there and waited for about 30 mins. It looks like they take reservations so I suggest that! read more

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Everything about this place was amazing. Thankfully when we went the line was incredibly short, and we were seated pretty quickly. The interior of this cafe is gorgeous, and it is known for having a rich history. We ordered croissants, cakes, and coffee, and everything was delicious. The highlight for me was the chocolate cake, which was extremely rich, and paired wonderfully with the smooth ice cream. Can't recommend this place enough! read more

Café Central - Cakes croissants and coffee - Cafes Near Me - Vienna, 9

I would go here only if you are visiting Vienna as a tourist and want to experience the history and try some apple strudel. The cafe has a nice relaxing atmosphere and was the perfect escape from the rain. All of the pastries looked delightful, and I would suggest sticking to these since the actual food is just average. It was cool to chill in a place where Trotsky and Freud have chilled in. read more

Café Central - Cafes Near Me - Vienna, 9

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Went here having heard amazing things. Coffee was overpriced and tasted horrible. The service was slow. For being such an old and prestigious establishment known for the experience they other, it never felt like a good experience. The only saving grace was the sandwich which was perfectly made and had a side sauce that made for a great taste. read more

Café Central - Cafes Near Me - Vienna, 9

I came here in a party of 2 on a Sunday evening around 6 PM. This is the only place I saw people waiting in line to visit during my entire 5 days in Vienna. Seemed to be a lot of hype! Ended up waiting about 15 minutes for a table. FYI: They do take reservations if you don't want to wait in line. Atmosphere: It's HUGE and lots of tables. It does feel like a very "classic" Viennese cafe and the pianist is playing wonderful background music. However, it's on the louder side, making conversation difficult. It has definitely turned into a tourist spot. There are no locals here. Food: Good stuff but, notably, nothing special. Literally the same exact stuff that most other Viennese cafes have all around the city. Service: Impersonal. Server's goal was to get us out as soon as possible. No chit-chat. In sum, this place is a touristy cafe that has gotten a lot of hype. The place has certainly benefited and is leaning into this. Nothing they have is special or noteworthy, except the pianist, which many other cafes also have. Not sure what all the hubbub is really about but it has certainly allowed them to raise their prices. My recommendation? Avoid the hype and go to literally any other large Viennese cafe for the same experience, less tourists, and lower costs. read more

Do not be deterred by the line. It's both worth the wait and the line appears to be longer than the wait time. It's a huge restaurant. They serve both drinks and food. You don't have to eat a big meal to snag a table. Famous and infamous people all have been here. Yes even Hitler. The food is traditional Viennese. I think you got to have all the cakes. Everything on the menu looked good and behind the glass casing, you would and should just try one of each. I think people in America tend to think we have to eat a big meal in these fancy establishments. But this being Vienna, coffee culture dominates restaurants industry. Do not be afraid to sample a few non main courses here. The place is gorgeous and instagram-worthy. Drink some Viennese coffee and have a few slices of cake. Best time to come is mid afternoon - this being a German speaking country, Kaffee und kuchen (coffee and cake) culture is live and well. I will absolutely return to this spot for more of delicious dessert (after I retire to Berlin and on my annual retreat to Vienna, which is not just an idea but a slow hatched retirement plan). read more

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Besides the interior and the baked goods, this place was disappointing. The service was okay, not terrible not great. It took like 25 minutes to get a small bowl of soup and a side salad. The coffee wasn't good, it tasted like water in my opinion which is weird because everywhere else that I went in Vienna was so delicious. :/ read more

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Love the ambience n the food. We were there when there was a pianist performing and it was a huge bonus!! The pastry looks amazing but we couldn't eat ALL of them! read more

Café Central - Cafes Near Me - Vienna, 9

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We waited in a very slow moving line, then left. Decided to try it late in the evening when there weren't crowds. The coffee wasn't anything to write home about and the pastry was fine, but not spectacular. read more

Café Central - Interior - Cafes Near Me - Vienna, 9

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I was in search for the best apple strudel and I want to say this one was up there. Their apple is solid! SO light and the delicate thin crust surrounding the delicious apples that are soft yet slightly crispy. Ugh, my mouth is watering just thinking about it. We also ordered the traditional breakfast which was a perfectly soft boiled egg (that my husband MMmM'ed about the whole time he ate it), a buttery, flaky croissant, a bread roll with some jam and a drink (we had a coffee). The place is breathtaking. Classy and the staff are friendly which is awesome. We didn't have to wait when we had breakfast but I've heard that the lines can get pretty long. This place is totally worth the hype. ** Did you know that Hitler and Sigmund Freud were regulars here? ** read more

Café Central - Apple strudel - Cafes Near Me - Vienna, 9

Nestled in a central location, this establishment embodies the quintessential Viennese coffeehouse experience, complete with all the classic features that have become synonymous with the city's rich cultural heritage. However, it is now an Instagramable tourist trap. While the service provided by the staff is professional and detached, efficiently compensating for the often long lines of eager patrons, the reality remains that this establishment only holds historical significance. It served as a meeting ground for intellectuals during Vienna's heyday, where luminaries such as Freud, Herzl, Zweig, Franz Joseph, Trotsky, and potentially Lenin, Stalin, Tito, and even a failed rural Austrian painter may have crossed paths--although it is worth excluding some individuals from the aforementioned list. It is apparent that many visitors come here with the primary intention of being tagged or included in someone's Instagram post. The allure of capturing the ambiance and history of this place in a visual form seems to overshadow the focus on the scant gastronomic delights it offers. It encapsulates the essence of Viennese coffeehouse culture, attracting both locals and tourists alike, but ultimately it is for the 'Gram. Being part of the social media frenzy that surrounds this place helps you to grace someone's digital feed. There are better choices. read more

While on vacation in Austria I selected this restaurant so I could have some schnitzel while in Vienna. Little did I know it was a famous historic cafe! When we arrived there was a line of people waiting to get in, so I asked someone if they knew how long of wait it usually was and they said only about 10-15 minutes. So glad we waited! There was a display of a variety of desserts to tantalize you as you entered. We were seated in a corner table and ordered dinner. We enjoyed a lovely meal while listening to a piano player. My schnitzel was a generous serving and really good! Then we had the hard task of deciding just which dessert to get! The food was good and it was really nice to have dined in an iconic place. read more

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This place is totally worth the wait! We went at around 11:30 on a Sunday. The line looked longer than it was. We only waited for around 15-20 minutes. The inside is absolutely gorgeous. The menu is extensive and they have a ton of classic Viennese options. The service was some of the best I've had while traveling in Europe. Our server was excellent! What I ordered: I had the vegan Viennese square noodles (I don't remember the actual name). I loved it! It reminded me of something my grandmother used to make. The portion was big and came w a side salad. For dessert I had two cakes! Both were great. I feel like you can't go wrong w any of the desserts here! It really just depends on what your thing is. This was one of my favorite parts of my Vienna trip! Everything about café central is excellent! read more

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This traditional Vienna Cafe truly lives up to its name. It houses in assortment of pastries, breakfast items, brunch items, and of course coffees and teas. The food is nothing out of this world and it's something that seems to be very consistent among Vienna however, that just means it's good food with a good atmosphere. The pastries are not dried out nor are they too sweet. They are well-balanced of color and taste. Although Vienna gets a bad rap for customer service, from what I hear, I was received with both kindness and attentiveness. I have nothing critical to say about this location and look forward to coming back. read more

This is one Europe's most popular cafe's and it comes with a long wait out the door. The good news is that the wait is worth it. The service was impeccable from start to finish, and the food was excellent. I had the weiner schnitzel with a sparkling water. The schnitzel was crisp but light with a ton of flavor. One thing you must remember to do is leave room for dessert. There are a ton of choices so you can't go wrong with any of them. read more

Café Central - Cafes Near Me - Vienna, 9

Amazing! Worth the wait in line. This is the oldest coffee house in Vienna, with gorgeous vaulted ceilings, pianist playing music live, exquisitely beautiful pastries that are as delicious as they are to admire, incredibly friendly service, and very reasonable prices. For what a mediocre pastry costs in most airports, here you get something utterly divine and unique.This is what I imagine pastries to taste like in heaven. There's a reason there's always a queue round the block, even when it rains or snows. Eating here you have a whole new appreciation for everything Austrian. read more

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Beautiful place. Beautiful food. Great service. I loved every moment of our time here. If you are trying to decide... please do it!

I was told to get lost in the city. I did... and found this beautiful, baroque-style restaurant. I understand why Cafe Central lines are so long. Their food is worth the wait! Staring at this long line ahead of me, I thought, "Either these people are hungry or we are all adventurous foodies." I ordered their Caesar Salad & Viennese Speciality Soup. Have you ever tasted a hearty soup that reminds you of Pho Ga? Cafe Central's Alt Wiener Suppentopf reminds me of a Viennese Pho Ga. I couldn't put my spoon down! I originally asked for a dessert to follow the soup and salad but, opted out of the dessert due to personal time restrictions. They proceeded to bring out the dessert anyway (prior to serving the soup and salad.) The language barrier was not the best but, I thoroughly enjoyed the dining experience. The interior design and architecture reminded me of an art museum. By the way, the lines was even longer upon my departure. read more

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Great service, great food and a must do. The location is historically a must-do for any traveler. I had tried to make reservations but they were booked, but don't let that discourage you. The lines are short and fast! read more

Café Central - Ceilings - Cafes Near Me - Vienna, 9

Another historical cafe! You could spend a day in Vienna just going from one cafe to another. The kaiserschmarrn was a delight: it's like a torn up Dutch baby pancake and the stewed plums that it's served with pairs so well. The Apple strudel is chock full of apples that are still crispy. Both were absolutely excellent. Wash it all down with some Viennese coffee and you're ready to start your day! read more

This place is an establishment and it's easy to see why. It's a beautiful tourist trap that all tourist in Vienna should venture too. There's a long line outside the door, but I felt as if it went by surprisingly quick, but it will give you time to look at the menu and decide. It's very pricey, which is to be expected, it is a tourist city after all. But I would wager that given the location, the city, the building, the quality of service, and the cake....omg the cake, it was worth every Euro. My husband and I were trying to not spend a whole bunch, so we each got a soup, a slice of cake each, while I got wine, my husband opted for a spiked coffee. The soup was nice and warm, which was welcoming cause it was raining outside. Speaking of rain, you might have to wait outside in the elements. Scratch that, you will probably have to wait outside whilst you wait. It's popular, expect it. Come prepared to wait. As for service, everyone was kind and spoke English. Not sure if they spoke anything other than German or English though. Would I come back? Probably not. But the one time visit was more than enough, and if you're reading this, you're probably on vacation so go treat yourself. read more

A must visit for the ambiance and cafe vibe. Although the Sacher cake at Sacher Cafe was much better. read more

Café Central - Sacher Cake - Cafes Near Me - Vienna, 9

Although this is a tourist trap, we had to go. It's a cool experience but seriously their food is mediocre at best. I would strongly recommend saving your money and ordering coffee, dessert or Kaiserschmarrn. We had both food and Kaiserschmarrn, the Kaiserschmarrn was amazing. It's baked fresh and came out hot and ready. It tastes a bit like angel food cake. But I really enjoyed it. As far as food goes, I got the goulash and it was potentially the saltiest food I've ever had. The meat was tender at least. The dumplings were quite bland and mushy. My fiancé got the schnitzel and his was the opposite. Very bland. Which was a shame because it seemed to be cooked well. We did not have a reservation. We waited in line around 11 am for about 15 minutes or so. The line moves pretty fast. The service however was VERY slow. And you're squeezed in by other people at your tables. Our bill was about 80 euros after tip. read more

Café Central - Kaiserschmarrn - Cafes Near Me - Vienna, 9

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Cafe Central lives up to the hype. I'm generally weary of tourist spots but this was the real deal. Fantastic food and coffee. Will return anytime I'm in Vienna. read more

We loved dining here. Walked right in and got seated. Pastries looked amazing, but didn't order one. Had a salmon dish for breakfast and it was fresh and delicious. Coffee was good too. read more

This traditional Viennese coffeehouse has a gorgeous interior, beautiful cakes and thoughtful, knowledgeable and friendly staff. read more

Café Central - Ceiling in Café Central - Cafes Near Me - Vienna, 9

Quite the popular cafe here in Vienna. Right by 2 of the Christmas markets (though I think smaller ones). Be prepared for a line but they do move pretty quickly. The cakes on display look like works of art, so beautiful I can't believe I'm biting into them. When in Vienna, do give the cafe melange a try. Essentially it's an extra foamy cappuccino. Wouldn't say it's my favorite, but fun to try. We got the Viennese soup, a clear broth soup with beef and chicken. Quite good on a cold day. The highlight is the apple strudel, layers of thin sliced apples nestled between the crispy pastry. I ate every last bit down to the crumbs! read more

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They said it's a must while in Vienna. It was a national holiday so the line was pretty long when we got there. But the line was fast. I think we only waited 20 minutes. The ambiance was wonderful. The inside looks old and classy. The staff was friendly. Right away I took pictures of the cakes and pastries. The waiter was friendly and nice. He answered all of our questions about the menu. I ordered the breaded chicken Cafe Central style. And for dessert I ordered their warm chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream. My wife ordered their torn pancakes with plum sauce. First the bad. The bread chicken I ordered was so so. I had to put some salt to have a little taste. Now for the good stuff their desserts. The warm chocolate cake was delicious. And the vanilla ice cream was also delicious. Finished the whole dish very quickly. As for the torn pancakes with plum sauce. It was also delicious and the portion was huge. I helped my wife finished it. We took our time finishing our deserts. They don't rush you like in America. read more

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The ambience is lovely. We had the orange, liquor cake. It was the second worst dessert I've ever paid for after the sacher torte. I was told that this was the best thing in the cafe. Maybe my taste buds and Austrian taste buds for dessert don't align. The service is borderline rude and unhelpful. It was 15% over priced. read more

Famous cafe with great selection of food, desserts and drinks. The service is very fast and inside has a very "old school" feel to it. It's better to come later in the evening because during the day the line is out the door. Define toy a place to stop by! read more

Café Central - Cafes Near Me - Vienna, 9

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Delicious food, exceptional service. We truly loved everything about this experience! The raspberry brownie was divine! read more

Café Central - Every dessert you could ever want. - Cafes Near Me - Vienna, 9

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Bit of a tourist trap, but the service is fast and efficient. We waited almost 30 minutes in line at 6:30 PM, but the staff should be rewarded for their system of taking orders, serving dishes, and settling the check (credit card machines are strapped to their waists) There is a live piano player who is very interactive, but unfortunately the small place gets very loud. Deserts were so-so. read more

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Total tourist trap. This once iconic cafe is not just a cousin to the worlds largest ball of yarn. Probably not a single local goes in there. And although the inside is lovely. The wait time, poor service, and terrible food does not make up for it. The dry cakes are disappointing and the food is sloppy. Servers ignore you and treat you like cattle. Go inside take a picture of the pretty decor then go eat elsewhere. read more

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Was told it was a must because a bunch of historical figures had dined in here. Had their Friday lunch special (monkfish with gnocchi and consommé), salmon, goulash, pork belly, and schnitzel. They were in such hurry to pump out each dish that none of seasonings had a chance to incorporate into food. I bit into multiple clumps of giant salt crystals followed by bites of absolute no flavors. Tourist trap ya. Family wanted to eat here, what can you do?! read more

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Although there was a long line out the door to sit inside, I bypassed it and bought some pastries from the counter, then went outside to a bench and enjoyed the EXCEPTIONAL apple strudel while people watching. It was perfect: flaky crust, crisp tart apples, slightly sweetened...every bite was heavenly. I enjoyed the lemon meringue tart just as much later on. It was also fantastic. Highly recommend- the best pastries in Vienna! read more

A beautiful restaurant. I had the goulash which was delicious. 4 stars because the coffee wasn't great and the waiter wasn't very friendly.

You cannot beat the ambience of this cafe! Gorgeous. The service was fantastic. This was one of our favorite dining experiences of Vienna. read more

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To me, Café Central is a must if you are in Vienna. Here are some tips before going. First, getting a table can be difficult, so if you are willing to just get a coffee and pastry to go you can wait in a line that is long, but moves pretty quickly. If you want to sit down, keep in mind that seating is limited and service is not warm and friendly like it is in North America. You need to be a little bit aggressive to get a waiter's attention and get a table. We ordered a salad and some sausage. Everything was great. Both were actually very light (yes, even the sausage), which was perfect for a hot June day. Also, if you go, make sure to step inside- even if you decided to sit on their terrace. The building itself is absolutely beautiful and deserves to be admired! read more

This place is totally worth the wait! We stopped for an afternoon coffee and dessert break. We waited for about 20 mins before being seated. Many famous people have been here like Hitler and Freud. The inside is breathtaking. The decor is gorgeous and stunning. The ambiance was as if I was sitting in a royal palace definitely instagram worthy. The menu is extensive with many Austrian delicacies. The service was impeccable. I ordered a caffe latte which I'm not a big fan of coffee but the caffe latte was amazing that I became a coffee fan. I also ordered a warm chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream. It was mouthwatering. I would definitely go back when I make my next Austrian trip. read more