Cafe Sperl on Gumpendorfer Strasse in Vienna's Mariahilf has poured since 1880, the bentwood Thonet chairs, parquet, and carambole billiards tables the canonical 6th-district Kaffeehaus.
Tip: The carambole tables at the back are still in play; ask the kitchen for a Sperl Torte with your Melange.
Address: Gumpendorfer Strasse 11, 1060 Wien, Vienna
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 Hawelka on Dorotheergasse in Vienna has run since 1939 under three generations of the Hawelka family, the late-evening Buchteln the post-war haunt of Andy Warhol and Arthur Miller.
Signature drink: Buchteln
Tip: Buchteln are served from 20:00 nightly, baked to Josefine Hawelka's family recipe; do not arrive earlier expecting them.
Cafe Prueckel on Stubenring in Vienna has poured since 1903 between the MAK and the Stadtpark, the 1950s Oswald Haerdtl interior the city's most intact mid-century Kaffeehaus.
Signature drink: Melange
Tip: Open daily 08:30 to 22:00; piano music plays Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 19:00 to 22:00.
Cafe Braeunerhof on Stallburggasse in Vienna's first district was Thomas Bernhard's preferred coffeehouse, the Saturday-afternoon orchestra still playing waltzes for the regulars on the bench seats.
Signature drink: Melange
Tip: Saturday 15:00 to 18:00 the small classical orchestra plays; arrive early for a seat by the windows.
Cafe Schwarzenberg on Kaerntner Ring in Vienna opened in 1861 as the oldest Ringstrasse Kaffeehaus, the front-window seats overlooking the Schwarzenbergplatz tram lines.
Signature drink: Einspaenner
Tip: The terrace at the front catches the Ringstrasse trams; sit inside for the original 1861 interior.
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.
