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    Cafe Hawelka

    3.8 (247 reviews)
    ModerateCafes, Coffee & Tea
    Open 8:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)

    Cafe Hawelka Photos

    CAFE HAWELKA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

    Recommended Reviews - Cafe Hawelka

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    Apple Strudel

    We did the very serious research of narrowing down Vienna's locally 250+ coffee houses to our "Top 3" while visiting Vienna. You're welcome. First stop: Cafe Central. And wow... this place is impressive. High ceilings, grand architecture, and even a pianist playing while you sip your coffee like you're in a period film. If you're short on time and want the full Vienna coffeehouse experience in one shot, this is it. Absolutely worth it. Next: Cafe Sacher. The most iconic. The famous cake. The name everyone knows. In my humble opinion... slightly overrated. Good? Yes. Life-changing? Not quite. But hey, you kind of have to go at least once. Then I made the bold move. We went for "most authentic" at Cafe Hawelka. Authentic? Oh yes. They've preserved the original interior since 1911. You feel like you've time-traveled. Very small. Very cozy. Very... committed to tradition. Menu? Minimal. Food options? Limited. Service? Let's just say our waiter was not having it. I asked a few questions (because, you know, not a local). He was clearly offended by my curiosity. My wife and daughter ordered apple strudel with this amazing sauce , that part was a win. I didn't want a double espresso at night and politely asked if they could make something slightly off-menu (another café had done it earlier). The look I received... you would've thought I asked to redesign the place. Instead of a simple "no," I got a little performance. When I asked for the bill, he said, "I will be back in 5 minutes. Be ready." I felt like I was being timed for an Olympic event. My family was not thrilled with my "let's go fully traditional 1911" decision after the grand elegance of Cafe Central. Maybe that one's on me. We left quickly. Slightly hungry. Slightly humbled. If you love authentic, old-school Viennese charm and don't mind a little attitude with your espresso, you might enjoy it. But if you're traveling with family expecting variety and warm service... maybe ease them in before going full 1911. Learn from my mistake.

    Mary D.

    Highly accredited place on guides but seems more like a tourist trap in Vienna (typical...) Coffee wasn't anything special nor were the desserts they were known for. The service was bad too. I can't say I'll ever want to go back it wasn't that welcoming of a spot.

    Menu
    Martine K.

    When in Vienna you must visit a coffeehouse and this is where I had researched to go. Service was friendly and they are in no rush to make you leave even after you are finished. We had coffees and the sachertorte which was yummy. It was not too sweet and went perfectly with the latte.

    Well worn menu
    Pauline L.

    Our tour guide recommended this place for coffee over the big well known places. The side street cafe was perfect for people watching. I loved the locals and tourists as well enjoying conversation, a smoke, or pastry. Tables are very close together outside. Inside is dark and has a feeling it's been there unchanged for years. The waitstaff is in no hurry to take your order or push you out... But when you are enjoying a delicious cup of coffee in Vienna why be in a hurry!!!

    McKenzie J.

    Went for a cappuccino and strudel and was not disappointed. The cafe has a great feeling inside with funny and nice servers. It has the authentic cafe charm compared to the new cafes in town.

    Qiuyuan C.

    They don't have a menu. LMAO. So, read through the yelp recommendations if you want to know what to order in this traditional Austrian coffee house. Here was what we ordered but I am sure they offer way more selection than these. # mélange (mocca with foam) # kleiner brauner (austrian style espresso w/ milk) # sachertorte (austrian chocolate cake) # apple strudel I still crave their coffee as of today. It's the best. I don't remember how the food was. People just sit there reading old fashion newspapers, sipping coffee, and chatting for a long long time. I envy the lifestyle in Europe, especially in Vienna.

    Ace melange
    Hassan S.

    The ambiance of this place is worth the trip alone, it looks and feels like nothing in this place has changes since the 1930s. The cafe melange was delicious and the plum bread dessert was so good and a great late night treat after dinner. The area is bustling too so plenty to do around here. Enjoy.

    Joyce L.

    True Austrian style café. My friend took me to this local joint. Waiters he suggested are suppose to be rude; service is suppose to be slow. It's very interesting as the culture of the service industry is very different than other parts of the western world. We enjoyed a night of conversations, with coffee and tea. It was a very authentic experience. I adore the décor. The ambience is reminiscent of old Europe. It felt as tho I was stepping back in time.

    Stephanie Y.

    I pretty sure you can't get anymore traditional than Cafe Hawelka. Dark, smoky-like (leftover from decades ago), cramped, we snuck a corner table in the back. Seating on somewhat unevenly and worn sofa, we ordered from an older gentleman in tuxedo like garb.** I'm sure that dude has stories. We drank our espressos with real Viennese sugar cubes and chatted with each other as well as our friendly neighbors. No to go orders here. This is a place where you come to spend hours exploring the likes of some subject 'til you can no longer. I can see why this place, opened since the late 1930's has been the social home to many an artist, philosopher, writer and Viennese thinker. I like European coffee houses, especially of the Viennese variety. ** This is wonderful and formal service. They will only bring a check upon asked.

    First schkolade in Wien!
    Joanna T.

    Café Hawelka was definitely the most "old-timey" coffeehouse we visited. The inside is dark, and down-at-the-heels in a classic way. Tables and chairs (and everything else) are well worn from years and years of coffee sippers. We stopped because we wanted some lunch and weren't aware that Hawelka only did coffee and cake. The waiter clued us in and we were like "cake for lunch...okay, that's cool". So I ordered apfelstrudel, which was not too sweet and very delicious, aloing with hot chocolate. Hawelka's hot chocolate was really good but I liked Schwarzenberg's version better. My husband went with a mélange and plum donuts served with warm custard which he really loved. Because they've got a limited menu, you'll have your treats very quickly. Getting the bill might take some additional time and effort though - but cafes aren't really for those in a hurry. A few mentions on here of smoke - when we visited, the café seemed to be completely non-smoking. I don't know if that's a recent thing or if we managed to find the one time that no one was smoking, but I didn't smell any cigarettes at all.

    Sausage plate. Sauerkraut and baked potato side. Very above average.
    Bobby C.

    Lovely cafe tucked away in an alley off the busy pedestrian section of Vienna's old quarters. We simply wanted a traditional Viennese meal and our tour guide walked us by this spot earlier in the day. We luckily stumbled back upon it by accident and snagged the last table in a busy Friday night in April. The service was a little cold but seems like this was my experience everywhere in Vienna. The food was very good. Traditional Austrian sausage with sauerkraut and a potato side dish for me. Mom had the chicken cordon blue which was also fine. With a glass of Austrian Riesling and an apple strudel for dessert the total came out to about 36 euros. Overall a very decent dining experience although the ambiance beat the food.

    Apple cake and hot chocolate

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    Café Central

    Café Central

    4.1(749 reviews)
    0.4 kmInnere Stadt
    €€

    If I had to think about the top five things I've ever eaten, this place would take the cake…read more(figuratively and literally, hehe) in terms of dessert. Like Demel, Cafe Central is a MUST visit when you go to Vienna, where the coffee houses are a sight to behold on their own. Yes, the wait is quite long. Every time I pass by, there's a line, but it actually goes rather quickly and if you can find something to do to pass the time, it's like nothing at all. First off, the interior is STRIKING, a work of art in its own right with marble columns, stylish looking cafe tables, and paintings every where you go. Apparently Sigmund Freud has been a frequent patron here. Even if you were to get nothing at all, just the experience of sitting here is worth your eyes absorbing. But, oh!--the cakes--and the coffees! I had me an iced coffee that had a great body mixed with a delicate flavor to give me a jolt through the day. The hazelnut cake was airy and fluffy, not at all too sweet like American desserts have a tendency to be! The staff here move efficiently, and I love how there's no pressure to hurry up and pay your bill or make your order. A repeat place to be sure if I were to go back to Vienna. My twin and I went on Sept '25 for our vacation.

    The famous Cafe Central!!! I was so excited to go here that I almost gave up because of the long…read moreline. I went around 9:00 AM. The line moved pretty quickly, though, and I waited about 30 minutes. The interior is stunning. I was completely enamored with the architecture and the structure of the building. I was not overly hungry, but I wanted to try the goulash and the apple strudel. Get the strudel with the sauce. 10/10. Amazing. I would absolutely do it again.

    Photos
    Café Central - Interior

    Interior

    Café Central - Apple Strudel

    Apple Strudel

    Café Central - I'm me more pic of the display

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    I'm me more pic of the display

    Cafe Hawelka - cafes - Updated May 2026

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