Café Central
A legendary café opened in 1876, frequented by Trotsky, Freud and Zweig. Its vaulted hall is magnificently ornate, and it is a flagship of Vienna's coffee culture.
Café Central is on the ground floor of the Palais Ferstel. Its high Gothic vaults and marble columns create a palatial atmosphere. From the late 19th to the early 20th century it was a gathering place for writers, scholars and revolutionaries. A life-size statue of the poet Peter Altenberg sits at the door. Vienna's coffee house culture was added to Austria's Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2011. The signature order is a Melange with apple strudel or Sacher cake, at about 15 to 20 euros per person. There is often a long queue at the door, and it is quicker at opening time or in the evening. A pianist plays in the afternoon.
Opening hours
08:00–21:00 (Sun from 10:00)
Nearby sights
- Spanish Riding School
- Austrian National Library State Hall
- Graben & Kohlmarkt
- Albertina
- Imperial Crypt (Kapuzinergruft)
- Austrian Parliament Building
- Hofburg Palace
- Kunsthistorisches Museum