Café Hawelka — Restaurant in Vienna

TL;DR Avoid this place. Coffee and cake were mediocre, but the real issue was the service: asked to pay before finishing, asked for a tip, and told to go withdraw cash at a nearby shady ATM when their card machine “didn’t work”—until it suddenly did. Feels like a tourist trap.

⸻ Full Review Avoid this place. We stopped by sometime after 3 PM hoping to enjoy a quiet coffee break. Other cafés nearby were full, so we decided to give this one a chance. I ordered a cup of melange, hot tea, and sachertorte. The taste was average—nothing memorable, but not terrible either.

About 15 minutes after we received our order, a waiter came over and asked us to settle the bill—explaining that he had to go home. The café wasn’t closing, and there were empty tables around for new customers, but we agreed to pay in advance and continue eating afterward.

My husband offered to pay by card. The waiter accepted, brought out the machine, and asked for a tip. We added a small amount out of politeness despite the service was minimal. Then the machine mysteriously failed. We tried multiple cards and machines, all unsuccessfully. When we suggested retrying in a moment, he repeated that he had to go home.

Eventually, he asked us to go withdraw cash from an ATM in a nearby building, which was located in a dim, isolated area on the lower floor—somewhere I wouldn’t feel safe. I pretended to go, then circled back through the café, reached the staffs at the back, and mentioned we couldn’t withdraw any. The waiter tried the card machine again—and suddenly, it worked perfectly on the first try.

We left with a strong sense that this wasn’t just poor service, but something quite deliberate. Reading other reviews later only confirmed that this café has a recurring pattern of treating tourists bad way.

It’s not about the price or the tip—we’re always willing to pay for good service. But what happened here left us feeling taken advantage of. A café that enables such behavior reflects poorly on its entire team and, frankly, on the standards it chooses to uphold. I wouldn’t wish this experience on anyone else, and I strongly advise others to...

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — A True Viennese Classic with Timeless Charm

Café Hawelka is one of those legendary Vienna coffeehouses that feels like stepping back in time — and in all the best ways. We visited as a group of about 10 people during a guided tour around the city, and it turned out to be one of the most pleasant and memorable stops of the day.

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Atmosphere:

The café exudes old-world charm, with cozy, dim lighting, vintage furniture, and a lived-in warmth that makes you feel like you’re part of Vienna’s long-standing coffeehouse tradition. You can almost imagine the writers, artists, and thinkers who once gathered here. It’s the kind of place where time slows down — and that’s the point.

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Food & Coffee:

The coffee was excellent — rich, smooth, and exactly what you’d hope for in a historic Viennese café. The desserts were equally great, especially the traditional pastries that go perfectly with a warm cup. Everything was served in a laid-back, no-rush manner that felt genuinely authentic.

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Experience:

This isn’t just a café — it’s a slice of Viennese history, and our group truly appreciated the ambiance. Even with 10 people, we were able to sit comfortably and enjoy the experience. It’s not flashy or touristy — it’s classic, understated, and full of character.

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Final Thoughts:

If you want a break from the polished modern cafés and are looking to connect with the real heart of Vienna, Café Hawelka is a must. Great coffee, delicious pastries, and a timeless setting that’s worth savoring. Highly recommended for anyone looking to experience the soul...

Delicious apfelstrudel!! We came for it for breakfast and we were definitely not disappointed! They served it hot, which made it only more mouthwatering and luscious; all the flavours were just melting in the mouth and creating this beautiful explosion of apples, cinnamon and breadcrumbs. Simple, but so inviting. We couldn’t resist of not getting a second slice of the magical pie. It is a bit expensive, but in my opinion, definitely worth the price for the quality and taste. The coffee, however, was nothing special; quite watery and not very coffee-taste. Next to this, my brother also got eggs&beacon, but the meal was too greasy and there wasn’t enough bread. The service was also not the best, because as we were paying the bill, we were already extra charged as a “tip”, but we never said to give one??? (we would’ve, but at least ask us if we want to give??). So, we found this quite rude from the waiter’s side. Regarding ambience, we sat outside, as it was more refreshing, but unfortunately there were some constructions and the noise was very annoying (of course, there couldn’t be done anything about it, I just think it would indeed be more enjoyed without it, especially as the area is quite nice). Inside the café though, is really eye-catching - interesting design, old-historic vibe, though a bit dark. Fascinating theme. In conclusion, even though we didn’t have the best experience, I can’t twist my soul that the apfelstrudel was not delectable...