{"id":10683,"date":"2019-02-09T05:42:35","date_gmt":"2019-02-09T04:42:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/?p=10683"},"modified":"2026-03-17T08:52:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T07:52:13","slug":"cafe-central","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/cafespubsbars\/cafe-central\/","title":{"rendered":"Caf\u00e9 Central"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Note: at the time of writing, the caf\u00e9 is closed for renovation and refurbishment with an anticipated reopening in autumn 2026. In the meantime, you can find a pop-up alternative on neighbouring <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/freyung-2\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"29646\">Freyung square<\/a> in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/palais-harrach\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"29751\">Palais Harrach<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/cafecentralsmall.jpg\" alt=\"Caf\u00e9 Central sign\" class=\"wp-image-10684\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/cafecentralsmall.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/cafecentralsmall-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Well, my mouth dropped open on entering. There&#8217;s a reason Caf\u00e9 Central is so popular with tourists. Inside is like stepping into a period drama set.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Stunning vaulted palatial interior<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Once the haunt of Freud, Trotsky, and others<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The cake display is a work of art<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>But&#8230;go early or reserve a table if you don&#8217;t want to queue<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Book a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/en\/concerts-opera-vienna-tickets-l206741\/?partner=visitingvienna&amp;tq_campaign=LG_Coffee\" rel=\"sponsored\">classical concert experience<\/a>* for your Vienna trip<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>See also:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/food\/coffee-glossary\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"1863\">Viennese coffee glossary<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/food\/vienna-cakes\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"22533\">Viennese cake guide<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cake, coffee &amp; history<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/cafecentralchristmas.jpg\" alt=\"Cafe Central at Christmas\" class=\"wp-image-45035\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/cafecentralchristmas.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/cafecentralchristmas-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(The caf\u00e9 during a previous Christmas season)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Back in the day, I used to walk past Caf\u00e9 Central regularly and always see a queue outside. &#8220;Clearly a tourist trap,&#8221; I used to say to myself. And Vienna had plenty of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/cafespubsbars\/coffee-houses\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"7689\">other coffee houses<\/a> to feed my caffeine addiction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But then curiosity got the better of me. Thank you, curiosity&#8230;I owe you one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Walk through the door, and a majestic, vaulted, and columned room opens up before you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And just as you thought your jaw could not drop any lower, the cake display hits you; they should move it to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/albertina\/\">Albertina<\/a>, for it is a work of art in its own right.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"243\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/cafecentralinside.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-41099\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/cafecentralinside.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/cafecentralinside-300x146.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(The cake counter occupies the centre; press photo \u00a9 Caf\u00e9 Central \/ Christian Husar)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, yes, call me impressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, a place of such magnificence has to have a catch, and it&#8217;s usually the staff. Ah, wrong again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We were welcomed warmly on entering and, watching from afar, I could see waiters chatting and smiling with each other. Smiling!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Our waiter was particularly friendly, fast, and thoughtful. <\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/cafecentral2024.jpg\" alt=\"Lighted coffee house in the late evening\" class=\"wp-image-82996\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/cafecentral2024.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/cafecentral2024-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(The evening view)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, Caf\u00e9 Central has an in-house patisserie to create those pieces of culinary art, and my wife&#8217;s slice of cake automatically arrived with two forks: just in case I might like a taste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Incidentally, those cakes felt more unique than in your average coffee house. The selection seemed to avoid standard cake varieties in favour of original creations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After presenting a bill, the waiter would always pull back a step or two to give fumbling people time and space to find their money. No pressure, not even with a queue outside.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"350\" height=\"434\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/arkadenhof.jpg\" alt=\"The Arkadenhof in the old Caf\u00e9 Central\" class=\"wp-image-30334\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/arkadenhof.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/arkadenhof-242x300.jpg 242w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Wilhelm Gause (Artist), the Arkadenhof in the old Caf\u00e9 Central premises, 1899, Sammlung Wien Museum, reproduced with permission under the terms of the CC0 licence)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ah, yes, the queues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We went at 8am, midweek, in early February and had no trouble getting a table immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But be warned: queues are likely later in the day and pretty much anytime outside late January and early February.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/cafecentral.jpg\" alt=\"Cafe Central entrance\" class=\"wp-image-45034\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/cafecentral.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/cafecentral-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Unusually, barely a queue in sight)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But let&#8217;s get back to those little touches that go beyond the usual <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/coffee-house-experience\/\">coffee house experience<\/a>, like organic breakfast butter scoring 10\/10 on the spreadability index, the white tablecloth, a genuinely crusty roll, the jam in a sealed collectible jar you can take with you&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And&#8230;a little chocolate with your coffee. I could go on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Consider the traditional coffee house checklist duly ticked, too: red patterned upholstery, burnished metal lamp fittings, brown marble tabletops on wood and brass pedestals, and those classic worn bentwood coffee chairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And everything spotless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div align=\"center\"><em>Ad:<\/em><br><\/div><div data-tiqets-widget=\"discovery\" data-cards-layout=\"horizontal\" data-slug-ids=\"exp206741,exp238032\" data-partner=\"visitingvienna\" data-tq-campaign=\"DA_ConcTour\"><\/div><script defer src=\"https:\/\/widgets.tiqets.com\/loader.js\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The building itself (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/palais-ferstel\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"29688\">Palais Ferstel<\/a>) dates back to the mid-19th century and once housed the Vienna Stock Exchange and the National Bank. You can tell. The same architect designed the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/votivkirche\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"27630\">Votivkirche church<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/mak\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"7100\">MAK museum<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At one end of the coffee house, you may even breakfast beneath portraits of Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth. A little kitsch, perhaps, but then Caf\u00e9 Central did open in 1876 during their reign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An advertisement in the April 16th, 1876 edition of the <em>Die Presse<\/em> newspaper announced that opening, with the owner (one W. Pr\u00fcckel) noting that he had (my rough translation):<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>&#8230;furnished it in the most elegant manner in the parterre areas known for their architectural beauty<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"339\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/cafecentral1902.jpg\" alt=\"Painting of billiard tables in a coffee house from 1902\" class=\"wp-image-73355\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/cafecentral1902.jpg 339w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/cafecentral1902-226x300.jpg 226w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 339px) 100vw, 339px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(An interior view of Caf\u00e9 Central from 1902, as painted by Marie Adler; Wien Museum Inv.-Nr. 41024; excerpt reproduced with permission under the terms of the CC0 licence)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mr Pr\u00fcckel was also, it seems, rather proud of the four billiard tables &#8220;of the newest construction&#8221;: perhaps the very tables in the 1902 painting above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the years that followed, the location grew into a meeting place for the intelligentsia of Vienna and beyond. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Freud drank here. As did Kokoschka, Loos and Schnitzler. But also Trotsky. Probably Tito, Stalin and Lenin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Palais Ferstel actually suffered significant damage in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/culture\/wwii-vienna\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"69411\">WWII<\/a> and Caf\u00e9 Central closed, only reopening in the 1980s: a place still rich in tradition, given that guest list and history.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/cafecentralsignnew.jpg\" alt=\"Caf\u00e9 Central sign\" class=\"wp-image-67464\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/cafecentralsignnew.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/cafecentralsignnew-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Outside on Herrengasse)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The extensive menu stretches through the day from breakfast into snacks, lunches, and evening meals, with a strong focus on traditional Viennese cuisine (with alternatives), regional products, and organic food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Caf\u00e9 Central is certainly not cheap, but I actually thought it would be more expensive given the location and popularity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tip: at the time of writing, the classic <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/food\/breakfast-in-vienna\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"82605\">Viennese breakfast<\/a> (Wiener Fr\u00fchst\u00fcck) comes with coffee included, which makes it considerably cheaper when you see how much you could pay for a coffee on its own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the course of my morning there, numerous tourists popped in, brandishing smartphones and posing beside the cakes. But then who wouldn&#8217;t?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, various well-to-do locals also joined us, and the atmosphere remained discreetly traditional despite the mix of guests. What happens at peak hours, though, I cannot say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All-in-all, if you don&#8217;t mind the possible wait if you can&#8217;t reserve a table, Caf\u00e9 Central qualifies as a highlight on your Vienna itinerary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to get to Caf\u00e9 Central<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The name is a bit of a giveaway when it comes to location. Caf\u00e9 Central sits right in the centre <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This area consists largely of one palais after the next. For example, the building opposite is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/footsteps\/palais-niederosterreich-2\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"14694\">Palais Nieder\u00f6sterreich<\/a> (home to the foreign ministry and a rather lovely <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/christmasmarkets\/palaisniederosterreich\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"21173\">advent market<\/a>). <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/palais-hardegg\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"29655\">Palais Hardegg<\/a> is next door, as is Palais Orsini-Rosenberg (Palais Batthy\u00e1ny).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Pop up Strauchgasse to find the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/freyung-2\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"29646\">Freyung square<\/a>, home to festive seasonal markets and a variety of historical buildings. Or continue south down Herrengasse to reach <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/michaelerplatz-2\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"27254\">Michaelerplatz<\/a> and the Habsburg&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sightseeing\/hofburg\/\">Hofburg palace<\/a> complex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Subway: the Herrengasse station on the U3 line is very close.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tram\/bus: the trams don&#8217;t go through the centre, but buses 1A and 2A both also stop at Herrengasse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Address: Herrengasse \/ Strauchgasse, 1010 Vienna | <a href=\"https:\/\/cafecentral.wien\/\">Website<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div align=\"center\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/d\/u\/0\/embed?mid=1qxMhuM31vUOcHvWtm9QzWRPeiURPKwCX\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Note: at the time of writing, the caf\u00e9 is closed for renovation and refurbishment with an anticipated reopening in autumn 2026. In the meantime, you can find a pop-up alternative on neighbouring Freyung square in Palais Harrach. Well, my mouth dropped open on entering. There&#8217;s a reason Caf\u00e9 Central is so popular with tourists. Inside [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10684,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-10683","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-cafespubsbars","8":"entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10683","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10683"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10683\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":89249,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10683\/revisions\/89249"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10684"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10683"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10683"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10683"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}