A stroll through Viennese cafe society
Viennese cafes are fantastically versatile places which have been around for a very long time (i.e. pre-Starbucks). It’s a place to grab a quick coffee fix or maybe settle into a booth with the daily paper; great for satisfying a sweet tooth, or to eat a more traditional Viennese lunch with a glass of beer. Oh, and they ALL feature free wifi.
For a touristy must-visit, drop by the über-traditional Demel for one of the city’s best strudel. Stick to the lovely downstairs wood-paneled coffee bar rather than the more decorated (and touristy) rooms upstairs. Cafe Diglas, is another great option, but without the stuffiness of Demel. This place is very popular and busy through-out the day. Media types prefer to settle into the booths of Cafe Englander, a lovely Modernist cafe with particularly friendly service, and also one of the best Wiener Schnitzels in town (more on this in a future post). Cafe Leopold is a great option when visiting the many museums in the Museum Quarter. Cafe Hawelka is a classic literary society hangout. Finally, when browsing through the eclectic Naschmarkt (antiques, flea market, food market and cafes all bundled together) a pit stop at the Naschmarkt Deli (great for vegetarian food) is a must.
