J. Hornig Kaffeebar — Restaurant in Vienna

Although I love the coffee offered at J. Hornig, the customer orientation of the manager (I think her name is Ms. Barbara Bauer) of this cafe in the 7th district is highly disappointing.

I was working on my laptop in the corner of the cafe when the café manager asked me to remove an empty plate from the couch. I did so, but I found her approach rude and unprofessional. I did not say a word but shook my head in disappointment with this behaviour and continued working. As the manager saw me shaking my head, she went out from her office and started scolding me for it. She was clearly angry that I shook my head, saying that an empty plate could stain the leather couch or leave a scratch, and therefore I had no right to express any disappointment with her request. When I replied that I was surprised by her rude request, and not by the request per se, she answered that when she said "take away your plate from the couch!" she was polite as she added a word "please" at the end. Since my online meeting started at that moment, I asked her to leave me alone, as I needed to work.

After finishing the work, I decided that I needed to try to reconcile with the manager, since I liked the cafe and did not want to have bad memories of it. I asked the manager to take a moment for me to discuss the situation. I told her that I really like the J. Hornig cafe but believed that her request could have been politer as I am a customer who was rudely interrupted during work. I told her that when I was working with my laptop, there was very little space for a laptop, a coffee cup and an empty plate, so I put this plate on the couch to make some extra space. I added that within half an hour, not a single worker approached me to pick up this plate. The manager replied that this cafe has a self-service system and that I could have chosen for myself many other larger tables. When I replied that I did not know about the "self-service" system in the cafe and that despite this system, the manager could have politely approached me with her request, she answered that I could go to the order counter and read about the “self-service” system. The manager also added that she does not care about everything else I said as "this is her cafe", meaning that she can do whatever she wants. I had no choice but to answer that since she does not want to resolve this misunderstanding, I will have to leave a complaint on the social media, to which she did not respond and simply left.

To sum up, I believe that any customer has the right to choose any available seat in the cafe at his/her own discretion and has the right not to explain this choice. Since I needed a quiet place, I chose that particular table in the very corner of the cafe so that I would not be distracted from my work. Moreover, I believe that everyone has the right for freedom of emotional expression. I complied with the manager’s request without objection, although I was very disappointed about her rudeness. I think I have every right to express my disappointment in any way that I deem necessary. I wonder why this manager thinks that since she runs this café, she has the right to scold people for their natural reaction to her rudeness. Also, there were no signs in the cafe prohibiting placing plates/cups/cutlery on the couch. The plate I left on the couch was clean and neatly places. It is a pity this misunderstanding led to such a big disappointment and left an overall bad impression of the cafe. No matter how good the food, drink or the design of the cafe is, a human approach is of great importance and this is what is this café lacks as the people at the managerial level, the leaders of this establishment, do not care about establishing good relationships with their customers and do not try to resolve the problems peacefully. Moreover, they seem to be unwilling to try to solve issues despite the customer’s approach. This leads to only one conclusion that management only cares about money and does not care about a good reputation among...

Edit 4.04.24: It used to be one of my favourite cafes to work at with good coffee and cosy ambiance. But they made a lot of changes in the last couple of years and also the atmosphere really shifted.

They started having issues with people hogging tables with laptops and having one coffee for 5h+ staying there. Which I see also as really inconsiderate. Whenever I worked there at the big table, I would order frequently, had coffees, cakes and teas, sometimes amounting to 40 euros total for 3h sitting there. But the cafe must have started seeing less profit that they could live from or maybe something else because they started making more changes.

First they opened up a new room in the cafe but made it a laptop-free zone. Fair enough. I got snapped at the first time I sat there with my laptop because I did not know about the rule and the one sticker on the floor did not notify me. (I was not walking in looking at the floor but eyeing up best spot to sit in). I was told off with an attidue about the "large sticker on the floor" but I apologised and moved since it was my fault. But I know that this happens a lot - I have seen people not noticing the sticker. Yet, the attitude continues.

The they introduced the 1h WiFi codes that you got when you purchased something. I saw the signs up about laptop free weekends and holidays. Then they did not accept my loyalty card because "times are tough". The last time I was there, I put my coat on the chair next to me at the big table. I was chatting with a friend when suddenly I saw the employee to my left asking me if the coat is mine. When I said yes, they moved it muttering about making space for other people. Again, I apologised but it really struck me as bizarre that the guy touched my stuff with this really weird "I cannot believe I have to deal with inconsiderate people like you" energy.

The last couple of times I went there, they managed to make me feel like an entitled horrible person. I used to go there so often since moving to Vienna, and it was my favourite cafe. But if they are going through issues, I would be much happier buying more when I visit them rather than be subject to these weird passive aggressive tactics. Just ban laptops outright if you have an issue with them costing you business. Or insist on one drink per hour or something. I would be happy to pay.

There are other nicer places in Vienna where the baristas do not look at you like...

I've found this place listed on various internet pages as a study-friendly location where you can bring your laptop, books, and study. So I went there on Sunday (literally today). The atmosphere was nice, but as a study space, I found it very uncomfortable. But in any case I was very happy and hoping for some friendly faces and one nice and productive morning

After some time, a waiter came to tell me that in the area designated as a laptop zone, they do not allow the use of laptops on Sundays?! I mean, why create a laptop area just to prohibit people from using their laptops on weekends when they actually have time to work? What a nonsense. But even if this is the case, please put it on the door or somewhere more visible or with large letters on your website, so people do not feel tricked.

Afterwards, I went to Starbucks. I have always disliked chain coffee shops or food places and I have always preferred to support local businesses. But from now on, my opinion has changed drastically changed because no one is disturbing me here while I read. Even the Austrians were more pleasant, cheerful, and friendly at Starbucks than in local cafés. Until today, Vienna was literally my favorite city, but now I see it for what it really is - one rude, hypocritical and dirty city. I could have never imagined my life in which Starbucks becomes the only safe space and study friendly place in...