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    Café Central

    4.1 (750 reviews)
    Open 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

    Café Central Reviews in Other Languages

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    Figlmüller

    Figlmüller

    4.1(728 reviews)
    0.7 kmInnere Stadt
    €€

    We made a reservation here about a month in advance, and I am so glad we did! This place was packed…read morewhen we arrived, as expected since it is one of the most well-known schnitzel spots in Vienna. I was worried this place was over-hyped and more of a place you have to "check off the list" than somewhere you want to eat because of the food. If you have any doubts like I did, forget about them because this was actually the best schnitzel we had on our trip! Their potato salad and tomato salads, also amazing! I love that they had option for their schnitzel - the chicken and original were our favorites! Definitely check this spot out when in Vienna - you won't be disappointed!

    This is probably one of the most popular schnitzel restaurants in all of Vienna. Do not come…read morewithout a reservation unless you're prepared to stand outside for quite some time. I had a reservation at 11:30am and there was already an insane line just to get in. Then once they opened the doors other groups of people completely ignore the line outside and just start rushing in. They're in absolutely no rush to seat you so don't have any hope that they'll let you in early. Once you're seated the service is pretty fast. The schnitzel is quite large and good for sharing. I had the original schnitzel with pork. It was thin and crispy but under seasoned in my opinion. The potato salad was the star for me I could have had one all to myself. It was creamy, a little sweet, and tangy. I also tried the soup with clear beef broth and sliced pancakes. Nothing memorable but a nice clean soup if you're in the mood.

    Photos
    Figlmüller - Dining area

    Dining area

    Figlmüller - Thin meat, delicate crisp outside breading. Sublime

    Thin meat, delicate crisp outside breading. Sublime

    Figlmüller

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    Figlmüller - Best dessert ever

    Figlmüller

    4.0(206 reviews)
    0.8 kmInnere Stadt
    €€€

    I had dinner there as part of a party of 9. If you have a larger group I strongly recommend making…read morea reservation in advance. That lets you skip the long queue and get seated right away. The place was huge inside, bigger than expected from the outside. It was packed with people in a good way and the decor was tasteful and inviting. The wait staff were really friendly and attentive and visited just often enough to make sure we had what we needed. The food was great, and the classic schnitzel was massive but thin enough that it didn't feel overwhelming to eat. I paired it with the potato salad that included greens and both were excellent. If you're getting the schnitzel I suggest the longenberry preserve because the schnitzel itself is on the blander side.

    We couldn't get reservations for the original location but was able to get one here right near by…read more There was a kine outside when we arrived for a 2 pm reservation. We were seated right away. The inside js a lot more spacious than it looks from outside. As we had dinner in a few hours, we got the pork schnitzel to share with lingoberry sauce, field greens, and grape juice. The schnitzel was lovely- nice thin good meat and crispy breading. It was HUGE! I have never had this vegetable before but it was delicious and the dressing was excellent. I also really enjoyed their grape juice. The staff were very nice and service was quick. This is not a dish I would want to eat every day but I enjoyed the meal.

    Photos
    Figlmüller
    Figlmüller
    Figlmüller - Storefront | July 2023

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    Storefront | July 2023

    Plachutta Wollzeile - Bread and butter

    Plachutta Wollzeile

    3.9(274 reviews)
    1.0 kmInnere Stadt
    €€€

    *******READ FINE PRINT ON MENU*********…read more I have issues with this place. My review will not change the trajectory of how this place operates. However, it is unlike any place in the world I have ever visited. We were seated at a table that was meant for 6 people and got taken down to two people as there was another couple sitting there. The place for lunch was absolutely slammed, so it is obviously a popular spot. Without asking, they drop bread off at the table. With a place of this atmosphere it was expected, as this is what I would expect out of a finer food establishment. The schnitzel was very light and had plenty of flavor. No other sides came with the schnitzel so I had the potato salad which was good, but different. The beef stroganoff did have an immense amount of flavor. They lacked the very small amount of noodles that are given with this dish. The fastest uninterrupted service we got was when I waited and finally asked for the check. They were quick to give me a dessert/after food drink menu. They were quick to be on top of me to see if I wanted anything. I declined and paid the bill. What I will tell you is, that is completely OUTRAGEOUS is the charge listed as 2 - Gedeck. A quick review told me that it is a "Cover Charge" at a euro rate of 4.90 per person. A further Google review told me that it is also because they placed bread on the table (I do not know what is factual). Regardless of whatever the charge is or whatever they want to call it, I have never ever ever paid a "Cover Charge/Gedek" charge to occupy a restaurant. If this was a late night spot that I decided to pop bottles at or had "dancers" at the business, I could get there, but for a sit down lunch, what a complete utter rip off. This in itself would cause me never to return to this establishment. Make sure if you eat here, that you read the fine print or look at my pictures. They have very small print that notifies the consumer of them charging cover charge as well as what they charge for sharing of some dishes. All I can say is be mindful and do not be taken back like we were when the bill comes.

    I stayed at a nearby hotel and when I told the concierge I went here for schnitzel. He stated that,…read moreas a local, this wouldn't be his first preference and seemed to respectfully imply that I had expensive taste (but did say it was a good spot). I should've responded, "I'm a tourist, so yes, I do have expensive taste." (not quoting some Icelandic-Chinese singer or anything, of course) While I know that their Tafelspitz is their signature, I wanted some schnitzel. However, I ordered a bowl of the broth the beef was cooked in, which also comes with root vegetables. Surprisingly (or not), this was the best part of the dinner. The broth's depth of flavor is apparent and it's so savory. The broth is also clean and clear. This was definitely one of the best broths I've had and this alone puts the restaurant at a 5. I went for the schnitzel and got suckered into getting the potato salad. The salad was fine; a little tangy, with the potatoes keeping their definition. However, it's nothing amazing. The schnitzel is super-thin and breading is nicely browned. The veal is rather tender, but you need the lemon to "wake-up" the schnitzel. The bread basket was a bit diverse and the selections were fine. I thought the wheat roll was the best of the choices. The apricot juice was really thick, so it definitely appeared to be legit juice. My server was pretty friendly for Vienna and actually did a little bit a conversation. The decor is classy but not stuffy. Plenty of folks came in with smart casual but also some were more dressed up.

    Photos
    Plachutta Wollzeile
    Plachutta Wollzeile
    Plachutta Wollzeile

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    Café Central - cafes - Updated September 2026

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