Cafe Schwarzenberg on Kaerntner Ring in Vienna opened in 1861 as the oldest Ringstrasse Kaffeehaus, the front-window seats overlooking the Schwarzenbergplatz tram lines.
Tip: The terrace at the front catches the Ringstrasse trams; sit inside for the original 1861 interior.
Address: Kaerntner Ring 17, 1010 Wien, Vienna
Cafe Korb on Brandstaette in Vienna's first district was the 1960s underground-artist hangout, the cluttered Strudel-on-a-counter room now better-known for its weekend brunch and bowling alley.
Signature drink: Apfelstrudel
Tip: The basement bowling alley still runs on Saturday nights; reserve a lane two weeks ahead.
Cafe Museum on Operngasse in Vienna was Adolf Loos's nicotine-stained 1899 design, restored under the Querfeld family and now a serious meal-and-coffee room near the Secession.
Signature drink: Einspaenner
Tip: Walking distance to the Secession and the Naschmarkt; this is the lunch-and-coffee stop between the two.
Cafe Central on Herrengasse in Vienna has poured Melange in Palais Ferstel's vaulted hall since 1876, the Trotsky-Freud-Altenberg coffee house with a small pianist programme each afternoon.
Signature drink: Melange
Tip: Queue forms outside from 09:00; book a table online to skip the wait.
Demel on Kohlmarkt in Vienna has been a court confectioner since 1786, the Eduard-Sacher-Torte and Anna-Torte from the K. und K. Hofzuckerbaecker now served behind a working pastry kitchen window.
Signature drink: Hot chocolate
Tip: The first-floor dining room takes the queue; the ground-floor takeaway moves faster for a Sachertorte to-go.
Cafe Korb on Brandstaette in Vienna's first district was the 1960s underground-artist hangout, the cluttered Strudel-on-a-counter room now better-known for its weekend brunch and bowling alley.
Signature drink: Apfelstrudel
Tip: The basement bowling alley still runs on Saturday nights; reserve a lane two weeks ahead.
Phil on Gumpendorfer Strasse in Vienna's Mariahilf is a cafe-cum-bookshop-cum-record store, the secondhand sofas and shelves of books for sale a counterpoint to the bentwood Kaffeehaeuser across town.
Signature drink: Cortado
Tip: The books and records on the shelves are for sale; pay at the front counter when you settle the tab.
Cafe Jelinek on Otto-Bauer-Gasse in Vienna's Mariahilf is the under-the-radar Beisl-coffeehouse with a tiled stove in the middle of the room, the local-only counterweight to nearby Sperl.
Signature drink: Melange
Tip: Cash only; the stove in the middle of the room is lit from October through April.
Cafe Museum on Operngasse in Vienna was Adolf Loos's nicotine-stained 1899 design, restored under the Querfeld family and now a serious meal-and-coffee room near the Secession.
Signature drink: Einspaenner
Tip: Walking distance to the Secession and the Naschmarkt; this is the lunch-and-coffee stop between the two.
Cafe Central on Herrengasse in Vienna has poured Melange in Palais Ferstel's vaulted hall since 1876, the Trotsky-Freud-Altenberg coffee house with a small pianist programme each afternoon.
Signature drink: Melange
Tip: Queue forms outside from 09:00; book a table online to skip the wait.
Demel on Kohlmarkt in Vienna has been a court confectioner since 1786, the Eduard-Sacher-Torte and Anna-Torte from the K. und K. Hofzuckerbaecker now served behind a working pastry kitchen window.
Signature drink: Hot chocolate
Tip: The first-floor dining room takes the queue; the ground-floor takeaway moves faster for a Sachertorte to-go.
