Café Kandl — Restaurant in Vienna

Pros: Nice dining room, unique and genuinely tasty food with well-sourced ingredients, cool beverage options (including NA).

Cons: Pretentious vibe, overpriced for the portion sizes, and you will be rudely rushed out the door within 90 minutes—whether you’re done or not.

What actually happened: We arrived 5 minutes late for our 6pm reservation to celebrate a birthday and were immediately told we had less than 90 minutes to finish. Not exactly a warm welcome. When we looked over the menu, we were informed that we didn’t have enough time to order the tasting menu—something that’s literally just a curated selection of dishes from the à la carte options. We overheard the same conversation happening at the next table. Why offer something you’re not willing to let your guests experience?

We went à la carte, and to be fair, the food was really good. But we were clearly being rushed. Plates were cleared the second we set our forks down, and before we could order dessert, we were told we had to vacate our table and were moved to bar seats. It was abrupt, awkward, and frankly, pretty rude.

When we gave feedback that the time limit—and especially the way it was handled—felt off, the bartender brushed it off entirely and pointed to a confirmation email that supposedly explained everything. We double-checked: no such message existed.

This could have been a great experience, but the pressure to eat quickly and get out completely soured the night. Won’t...

That was hands down the best service, drinks, and food I’ve ever had in my life. Robin, you have created perfection, and it was an honour to have you guide us at Cafe Kandl.

I’ve never seen a team so effortlessly in tune with each other. Although we were seated at the bar, we had the pleasure of having service from all 4 servers on shift who were equally as knowledgeable of every dish we ordered, and everyone who came to us with smiles and positive attitude left us more in awe that this level of quality service can still be friendly yet downright human.

This experience was a highlight of our honeymoon, and my wife and I will be sure to recommend Cafe Kandl for a meal where the food and service are both of the highest calibre. We were blown away by the atmosphere created by the team with Robin at the helm. We could not recommend this enough for cocktails, dinner, and more specially the best dessert I’ve ever had in my life (the rhubarb crepe).

Prost! We’ll be thinking about this meal for the next 10 years. Go find out...

Had dinner here and overall it was a good experience, though not without its flaws. The food is well-prepared and certainly above average, but it sometimes feels like the kitchen is trying a bit too hard to reach fine dining territory. The flavors can be a bit too intense and tend toward the one-dimensional side, lacking some balance or nuance.

Service, on the other hand, was excellent. The staff were friendly, attentive, and very professional. We ordered wine, and while they didn’t decant it immediately, they were quick to do so when we asked, and handled everything with care. The place has a very chic and hip vibe, fitting right into the atmosphere of Vienna’s 7th district. It’s stylish, buzzing, and clearly a popular spot—on our visit, it was fully booked even on a weeknight, so making a reservation is definitely a must.

Prices are on the high side, and to be honest, it feels a bit too expensive for what it is. But if you’re not concerned about budget and you enjoy a trendy, fashionable dining experience, it’s...