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    Café Central

    4.1 (750 reviews)
    Closed 7:30 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Café Central Photos

    CAFÉ CENTRAL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Touristy
    Classy
    Dogs allowed

    Recommended Reviews - Café Central

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    Sherise K.

    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.

    Red C.

    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.

    Oh my...
    Jerry M.

    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.

    Dessert Case. Decisions, decisions...
    Carolyn S.

    If I had to think about the top five things I've ever eaten, this place would take the cake (figuratively and literally, hehe) in terms of dessert. Like Demel, Cafe Central is a MUST visit when you go to Vienna, where the coffee houses are a sight to behold on their own. Yes, the wait is quite long. Every time I pass by, there's a line, but it actually goes rather quickly and if you can find something to do to pass the time, it's like nothing at all. First off, the interior is STRIKING, a work of art in its own right with marble columns, stylish looking cafe tables, and paintings every where you go. Apparently Sigmund Freud has been a frequent patron here. Even if you were to get nothing at all, just the experience of sitting here is worth your eyes absorbing. But, oh!--the cakes--and the coffees! I had me an iced coffee that had a great body mixed with a delicate flavor to give me a jolt through the day. The hazelnut cake was airy and fluffy, not at all too sweet like American desserts have a tendency to be! The staff here move efficiently, and I love how there's no pressure to hurry up and pay your bill or make your order. A repeat place to be sure if I were to go back to Vienna. My twin and I went on Sept '25 for our vacation.

    YUMMM
    J F.

    Out of this world. Just amazing. You think you come here for the coffee, but the deserts are to die for. Awesome service and they treat you like a local. Danke!!!!

    Take away torte
    Sharon S.

    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

    Kyle M.

    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.

    Chocolate cake
    Prasiddha H.

    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!

    Ally W.

    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.

    Sarvin K.

    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.

    Christopher N.

    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.

    Kasey G.

    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.

    Vienesse coffee
    Ria S.

    Great experience while we were in Vienna, Austria. I recommend to make a reservation or you will wait in line. Service is really great. Our server even took our group photo. It was a nice experience to come to this cafe.

    At the entrance

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    Page 1 of 19

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    Demel - Sacher torte (€7.9)

    Demel

    3.8(505 reviews)
    0.2 kmInnere Stadt
    €€

    This review is specifically for the Kaiserschmarrn, which was unbelievable!…read more When you arrive at Demel, there are two areas - one is a window for quick takeout and the other is to be seated. We waited in the takeout line for about 15 minutes and ate the best Kaiserschmarrn ever! Something I didn't even know existed until visiting Vienna. Highly recommend checking out this spot!

    I visited Demel Vienna on August 19 during breakfast. I have always loved Demel from my previous…read morevisits, and I know it is a world-renowned and historic establishment, which is why this experience was especially disappointing. I ordered my usual Kaiserschmarrn and a drink. I had noticed that the table next to me had a drink that looked good, so when the waitress took my order, I specifically told her that I wanted the same drink the table next to me was having. When my order arrived, it was brought by a different waitress. The drink looked completely different from what I had pointed to, so I asked her what it was. She told me it was a double espresso. I explained that I had not ordered a double espresso and again pointed to the drink at the table next to me, which was clearly a hot chocolate. The waitress then called over the waitress who had originally taken my order. Instead of simply acknowledging that there had been a misunderstanding, she insisted, "That's what you ordered." When I explained again that it wasn't, she told me, "It's the same thing." A **double espresso and a hot chocolate are obviously not the same thing.** What bothered me even more than the incorrect order was the way both waitresses spoke to me. Their attitudes and tone were extremely rude, dismissive, and demeaning--as though I was stupid for pointing out the obvious mistake. The interaction became uncomfortable enough that people sitting at other tables were looking over at us. To make matters worse, my Kaiserschmarrn was **cold**. It tasted as though it had already been sitting out for some time before it was brought to my table. I understand that mistakes happen. Had they simply apologized for the misunderstanding and corrected the drink, I would not have had an issue. Instead, I was argued with and spoken down to over something that could have been resolved in seconds. This was genuinely one of the worst customer-service experiences I have ever had at a restaurant, and certainly not what I expected from an establishment with Demel's reputation. After several previous visits that I enjoyed, it is extremely disappointing to say that I will not return and will no longer recommend Demel to my friends.

    Photos
    Demel - Bar area sans customers, towards their closing time

    Bar area sans customers, towards their closing time

    Demel - Apple strudel- the national dessert of Austria

    Apple strudel- the national dessert of Austria

    Demel - Inside shop

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    Inside shop

    Cafe Hawelka - Strudel

    Cafe Hawelka

    3.8(248 reviews)
    0.4 kmInnere Stadt
    €€

    Wanted a more "traditional" coffee experience so whittled the list down to three and then selected…read moreCafe Hawelka. We were met outside by a host who led us to a seat inside the cafe. Loved the decor, made me feel like we were transported back in time. Our waiter came, dressed in his formal clothing despite the heat outside, and took our order. For me, an espresso, for my wife, a chocolate cake and water. My coffee was delivered on a neat little tray with a glass of water to go along with it. The waiter then pretty much left us alone as we took our time eating and drinking. Pricewise, the cafe seemed similar to other coffee shops we had visited during our trip. So why not more stars? Largely because the food being offered isn't vegan friendly. Maybe that is due to tradition, fine I understand that if that's the case, but I've heard that there are other traditional cafes in Vienna that do have vegan options. Just give me one. That's all I'm asking.

    We went to this lovely Cafe on the recommendation of our cruise director, and because of its…read morehistory (opened in 1939 and frequented by the likes of Arthur Miller and Andy Warhol). We went in on a lovely Sunday, and were pleased to get a table for the 4 of us right away. The place was cozy and felt like a living room or breakfast nook. The owner sat nearby enjoying a coffee and came by an asked us how we liked our visit. The coffee was very good and the strudel was delicious as well. Highly recommend!

    Photos
    Cafe Hawelka - Interior

    Interior

    Cafe Hawelka - Gulaschsuppe

    Gulaschsuppe

    Cafe Hawelka

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    Café Central - cafes - Updated September 2026

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