Café Central — Restaurant in Vienna Woods

Discovering Café Central in Vienna was a delightful accident. We had no idea it was a historic landmark; it was simply the closest café to the museum we had just visited. It was our last day in Vienna, and we were craving some traditional Viennese desserts and coffee.

At first, the long queue at the entrance gave me pause. Long lines usually scream “tourist trap,” and I've had my fair share of disappointments. Thankfully, my kids insisted we stay, and I'm so glad they did. The queue moved quickly, taking less than 15 minutes, and the entire experience turned out to be one of the highlights of our trip.

Entering this magnificent, historic café, we waited a few more minutes to be seated. During this brief wait, the maitre d’ entertained our two kids with magic tricks, leaving all the adults equally mesmerized.

Once seated, our waiter was just as friendly and engaging. Initially, we had hoped to try the famous Sachertorte, but alas, they didn’t have it. However, we were not disappointed, as the desserts we ordered were to die for: apple strudel, cheese curd strudel, chocolate cake, and the famous Viennese pancakes with plum sauce that Empress Sissi allegedly loved.

The apple strudel was the best we had in Vienna, the pancakes were a fluffy delight with a perfectly balanced sweet and sour plum sauce, and the chocolate cake was heavenly with ice cream. The juices, diluted apple juice with soda water and another with cherry syrup, were refreshingly interesting. The coffees (a caffe latte and a melange, one of their specialty drinks) were mediocre at best, the only reason I gave 4 stars for Food. I wouldn’t recommend getting coffee here, it’s overpriced for what it offers and surely there are better options in a city famous for its coffee houses.

While waiting for desserts, the maitre d’ returned, sleeves rolled up, to prove to our inquisitive son that he hadn't guessed the magic trick. He performed it again, this time with a twist and help from a colleague, leaving us all in awe.

The impressive architecture and decor, fantastic service, and delicious desserts made this an unforgettable experience. The entertainment was the cherry on top. Our only regret was not discovering this gem earlier in our trip, so we could have visited multiple times. But rest assured, we will be back in Vienna, and Café Central will be...

Based on our experience and in our opinion. Went with high hopes; found a long line of customers waiting to enter on a rainy evening. Fortunately had made reservations - so were able to push our way in to be met by a rather snooty maitre’d who seemed irked that the reservation (made by someone else on our behalf) mentioned three persons, and we were only two! He promptly escorted us to our table, however. Our waiter was very nice, but service overall takes time. Food was alright, nothing extraordinary- the vegan potato soup lacked body/was very watery, the Viennese sausages accompanied by some good mustard and horseradish looked like it came from a can. The vegetable sandwich was in fact the best of the dishes, well-toasted, flavorful…the desserts, apple strudel and cheese strudel were fine but not extraordinary. The Kaiser white wine with sparkling water and elderberry syrup was good. We were billed EUR 87 for the meal (tip brought the total to EUR 96). Walked out after having paid, and upon review found that we had been double charged for the desserts. Went back to the restaurant and the waiter was nice enough to apologize and refund the extra money. Another waiter (an elderly guy ) who had no business butting in, was extremely rude and arrogant, ordering me to “move it” (as I awaited my refund) and kept asking in an arrogant tone as to what it was I needed - I felt targeted and began to believe I was being addressed in that manner due to my race. This guy seriously needs sensitivity training and needs to be brought into the modern era! The maitre’d’s attitude too smacked of arrogance; as if he was doing me a favor. All in all, not a good way to treat a paying costumer. Management need to take note. Just because the place has a history, does not give them the license to treat customers rudely/arrogantly! Suffice to say, don’t plan...

Café Central, Vienna: A Sanctuary for the Soul and the Novelist Stepping into Vienna's Café Central is like walking into a living history book. It is, by all standards, the most beautiful cafe in the world, a palatial space adorned with soaring vaulted ceilings, marble columns, and intricate chandeliers. It was here, in this very atmosphere, that I found the perfect sanctuary to begin writing my novel on Walter Gropius and Alma Mahler (the real Bauhaus story). The professional and impeccable service only enhanced the experience, allowing me to lose myself in the work while being cared for with genuine hospitality. What gives this cafe its profound allure, beyond its physical beauty, is its rich historical legacy. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Café Central was the intellectual heart of Vienna, a gathering place for the city's most brilliant minds. Figures from the world of literature, philosophy, and art—including Peter Altenberg, Leon Trotsky, and Sigmund Freud—regularly met here. This vibrant exchange of ideas in such a magnificent setting provides an unparalleled creative energy. For my novel, the historical backdrop was essential, and sitting in a place frequented by the very contemporaries of Gropius and Mahler gave me an inspiration I could find nowhere else. The air here feels thick with the echoes of a bygone era, of conversations that shaped modern thought and art. It's not just a cafe; it’s a monument to the power of intellectual and creative exchange. For any writer, artist, or historian, it offers an incredible connection to the past. This is more than just a coffee house; it is a pilgrimage site for anyone who values beauty and the fertile ground of a...