Best Cafes in Vienna

Austria is known for its coffee and beer culture. With plenty of places to sit and relax for a lunch break and re-caffeinate to get through the workday or for an after-work relaxation spot with your friends, Vienna has no shortage of cafes and pubs, and restaurants.

If you are lucky enough to visit Vienna on your next European trip, or you can spend an extended holiday in the bustling Austrian city with a student or work visa, you will surely experience the benefits of cafe culture. -I mean, who doesn’t love sitting outside in a beautiful city, sipping on a cappuccino, reading a ‘How to Learn German’ book?

Let’s find the best cafes in Vienna for studying, talking with your BFF, or simply people-watching in this bustling metropolis.

Cafe Hawelka

Cafe Hawelka – By By Priwo – photo taken by de:Benutzer:Priwo, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4433125

Located in Vienna’s first district, this historical and popular coffee spot is well-known for its strong and tasty coffee drinks and being featured in Austrian movies, TV shows, and newspapers. 

Notably popular with musicians and politicians in the 1960s and 1970s, this old-school cafe has kept its charm while still evolving with the times.

Location: 6 Dorotheergasse, Innere Stadt Wien

Hours: 8am-12am Monday-Thursday, 8am-1am Friday-Saturday, 10am-12am Sunday 

Cafe Landtmann

Cafe Landtmann Interior- By By Querfeld Ges.m.b.H. – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=24878820

An upscale atmosphere with low-hanging chandeliers, dark wood interior, and white tablecloths, this traditional Austrian cafe is one of the oldest coffee houses in Vienna. Opened in 1873, this spot embodies ‘Viennesse’ culture to the max, making it one of the most popular cafes in town for University of Vienna students – after all, they can walk here in just a few minutes from their campus.

Location: 4 Universitatsring, Innere Stadt Wien

Hours: 7:30-12 am, Monday-Sunday 

Cafe Pruckel

Cafe Pruckel – By Von böhringer friedrich – Eigenes Werk, CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4542847

Unlike the previous two choices on our list, this cafe has a different ambiance. With a light and airy interior, complete with unique furniture, quirky design elements, and bright windows, this coffee house opened in 1903 – and has remained popular ever since. 

Location: 24 Stubenring, Innere Stadt Wien

Hours: 8:30am-10pm, Monday-Sunday 

Cafe Korb

Cafe Korb – By Von Andreas Faessler – Eigenes Werk, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=30510850

Located near St. Stephen’s Cathedral, this coffee house has a 1960’s style – a decor that will seemingly never go out of style. With black and white pictures on the wall depicting Austrian notables, along with marble tabletops, cozy booths, and a pastry case that will make your mouth water, this traditional cafe is an always-busy spot perfect for a cup of coffee or a slice of cake. 

Location: 9, 7 Brandstatte, Innere Stadt Wien

Hours: 8 am-11 pm Monday-Saturday, 10 am-11 pm Sunday and Public Holidays

Cafe Central

Palais Ferstel – By By User:Florian Prischl – Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1076121

Cafe Central feels like you are enjoying a cup of coffee in a ballroom with a royal and grand atmosphere. Located in the Palais Ferstel, this cafe has been a staple in Viennese culture since 1876. With a wide selection of sweet dishes, cakes, tarts, coffees, and Austrian hearty dishes, the food choices are only bested by the incredible atmosphere. 

Location: Strauchgasse, Innere Stadt Wien

Hours: 8:30am-5:30pm Monday-Thursday, 8:30-8:00pm Friday-Saturday

Cafe Schwarzenberg

Cafe Schwarzenberg Interior Vienna – By By Andreas Poeschek, viennaphoto.at – Own work, CC BY-SA 2.0 at, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1888173

With wooden-panel booths, crystal chandeliers, and windows for people-watching. on the street below, this cafe is a local hidden gem – so try and keep it a secret the best you can. 

Location: 17 Kartner Ring, Innere Stadt Wien

Hours: 7:30am-11pm Monday-Friday, 8:30am-11pm Saturday-Sunday

Aida Cafe Konditorei

An Aida in Landstrasse as seen from the outside – By By The original uploader was KF at English Wikipedia. – Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons by Closedmouth., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6006795

With an American diner feel, complete with pink menus, tiled floors, white booth seats, and a coffee-bar, this pink-centric location is a favorite amongst locals.

Location: 1 Singerstrasse, Innere Stadt Wien

(Multiple Locations) 

Hours: 8 am-9 pm Sunday-Thursday, 8 am-11 pm Friday-Saturday

Vollpension

Typical market stall at the Naschmarkt – By By Bwag – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=61910840

German for ‘full pension,’ this cafe loos like something out of a movie set from the 1950s. With mismatched chairs, a tiled floor, bright flowers, stool seats, and an extremely-unique vibe, this quirky coffee shop brings together tourists and locals alike. 

Keep an eye out for whatever is freshly baked in the pastry case that day – we think it’s some of hte best cakes in the city. Wash down a rich slice with a strong cup of Grandma’s eggnog. 

Located right near the Naschmarkt, Vollpensin is the ideal place to stop for a quick cuppa before continuing to explore the city. 

Location: Schleifmuehlgasse 16, 1040 Wien

Hours: 11am-6pm Wednesday-Sunday, CLOSED Monday-Tuesday

Kleines Cafe

Wien Franziskanerplatz – By Von Gugerell – Eigenes Werk, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21156781

With another literal translation, ‘small cafe’ might be tiny – but it is full of character. During warm and sunny days – and even during the occasional rainy ones – the clientele sits outside under umbrellas on the picturesque Franziskanerplatz square.