\n\n\n\n
Previous review:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n Vienna makes no secret of its cultural and historical jewels, but the occasional gem remains a secret guarded carefully by the local population. Like Caf\u00e9 Ritter Ottakring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (A caf\u00e9 on the corner)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Vienna’s 16th district (Ottakring) rarely gets double-page spreads in international travel magazines, since open-air markets vastly outnumber Habsburg palaces in this part of town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But Ottakring has its hidden delights, one of which is the coffee house on the main road into the district from the centre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Caf\u00e9 Ritter Ottakring originally opened here back in 1907 in the era of Jugendstil<\/a>. The interior d\u00e9cor – like the brass fittings – still reflects the artistry and architecture of the times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The dark wooden seating, wrought iron and marble tables, worn herringbone parquet, and dark green upholstery combine to create a dusky turn-of-the-century atmosphere, though tall windows ensure plenty of light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The glass and wood entrance portals reminded me of Caf\u00e9 Sperl<\/a>. Only a fire extinguisher sign offered evidence of the passing decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The room we sat in had “seating to ceiling” wall paintings down one side featuring what looked like 18th-century scenes. It all feels so remarkably authentic (because it is). As if Sigmund Freud might walk in at any moment, throw down his hat, flop into a chair and exclaim:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2026after that last patient I am in dire need of strong coffee<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n (The entrance)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Today’s Ritter is a local coffee house with a capital L.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Firstly, the distance from the centre means mostly local guests (the legendary Austrian football trainer, Ernst Happel, used to be a regular).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Secondly, almost everything on the menu is grown in and around Vienna or at least sourced through local companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wine from the surrounding hills<\/a>, bread from a local baker, beer from the Ottakringer brewery<\/a> down the road, cakes from Vienna’s Sluka<\/a>. Even the coffee comes from a distributor with headquarters in the same district.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The menu itself features fairly traditional Viennese dishes but with more than a nod to modern dietary trends. Vegetarians and vegans have alternatives that are more than just meat dishes minus the meat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The caf\u00e9 has a strong gaming (in the old-fashioned sense) culture, too, with some tables set up for card players: each seat has its own side table. Chess sets and chess clocks fill broad shelving. And even kids get their own play corner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With its lovely interior and friendly, local atmosphere, Caf\u00e9 Ritter Ottakring takes an honoured place among the more authentic of Vienna’s traditional coffee houses. Definitely worth a trip away from the centre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Subway: take the U3 line out to its final station (Ottakring), then walk back. Or catch the 44 tram near the station and go two stops toward the centre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bus\/tram: the 44 tram leaves from the centre (Schottentor station) and drops you practically outside the caf\u00e9: get off at the Familienplatz stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Address: Ottakringer Stra\u00dfe 117, 1160 Vienna | Website<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Caf\u00e9](\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/caferittersmall.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
A Jugendstil treasure<\/h2>\n\n\n
![\"Caf\u00e9](\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/caferitter16-1.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
![\"Cafe](\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/caferitter16sign.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nHow to get to Caf\u00e9 Ritter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n