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    Café Central

    4.1 (749 reviews)
    Open 7:30 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Café Central Photos

    CAFÉ CENTRAL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Touristy
    Classy
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - Café Central

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    YUMMM
    J F.

    Out of this world. Just amazing. You think you come here for the coffee, but the deserts are to die for. Awesome service and they treat you like a local. Danke!!!!

    Maria Therasia
    Vicky W.

    This is one of the must-visit during our Europe trip back in September. We stopped by around noon time, the line was slowly building up but not too bad, it was about 20-30 minutes. The building is very elegant and classical, really enjoyed the atmosphere as walking in, we sat down at a corner next to the window and could not wait to try out the coffee and pastries here. We got Cafe Central Kafee and Maria Therasia for coffee and shared one Viennese Apple Strudel. The coffee is so smooth and with the added liquor, the fragrance is amazing!!! No question, this is the BEST Apple strudel I've tasted, crunchy texture for the outside crust and the filling is full of fruity flavors. We spent about a bit more than an hour there and that was the most relaxing, appreciating and beautiful moment among this Europe trip.

    Street view
    Susan C.

    Hmm a little torn on this review since I only came for breakfast one day, and didn't get to try their pastries, however felt like the experience was pretty mediocre. Well known for being a beautiful and historic cafe established 1876 frequented by the likes of famous names like Trotsky and Freud, this traditional Viennese coffeehouse and cafe is a popular tourist destination. Having walked by around 7:30pm the prior evening and seeing a line of about 15 people outside, the next morning arriving around 9am the line was about 15 minutes without reservations. Upon entering the inside is beautiful, cavernous domed ceilings, chandeliers and a very classic bistro vibe. Enough seating for probably 150 customers, quite large inside, and about two-thirds full. That's when I realized the line outside was more for show, which at some places I get because staffing might be hard and they want to ramp up the pacing between breakfast and lunch services. In a place like this it seems more like a marketing technique to create hype, which kinda annoyed me--it's not respectful of customers' time. It took a while maybe 10 minutes for a staff member to pass menus, then another 10 minutes for him to come back and check in. What I'll say is he was swift to answer our questions and knew the menu well. In general service felt lacking though, after eating it took quite a long time to get our server's attention again to get the check. For breakfast I was a little surprised by the prices for the food offered, on the high side. While the vegan spreads were very good, from the menu it wasn't clear that it was actually vegan cream cheese that was the base of the spreads. Unfortunately the rest of the food was meh, €14.50 for a small croissant (not especially good), a plain roll, a boiled egg and latte, with a pat of butter and jam. Would I come back? Maybe to try a couple of their baked pastries and dessert, but not for breakfast. For more info: https://cafecentral.wien/en/

    Red C.

    An absolute must-visit in Vienna! Do as the locals do: slow down, sip your coffee, and just enjoy the moment. The line looked intimidating at first but moved quickly, and we even made friends with some fellow travelers from the U.S. while waiting. We went straight for dessert because why not? The torn pancake with stewed plums was massive. It looked a little messy, but wow, it was delicious. We also tried the Café Central Torte, their version of the Sachertorte since the original name belongs to another famous café, which I'll try to review later. Service was slow, but that seems to be the rhythm in Vienna's cafés. No rushing here like in the Bay Area. Bathrooms were clean, which I always appreciate. The ambiance was what really made it special. Grand chandeliers, a stunning interior, and a gorgeous display case full of desserts. To top it all off, a pianist with a Beethoven wig and outfit played everything from classical pieces to pop hits like Bruno Mars. We tipped him in USD since we weren't carrying any EU cash at that time. Overall, Café Central felt elegant but never pretentious, just timeless, cozy, and unforgettable.

    Oh my...
    Jerry M.

    Come here for fabulous coffee and delicious pastries. This historic 19th century cafe is a delight for the eyes and well as the pallet. When you dine here you are dining in a truly historic cafe that was frequented by some of histories greatest and also most notorious individuals. Wiki will list these for you. The food is outstanding especially the pastries. Cafe Central employs a dozen pastry chefs. Everything is imaginative and delicious. They vary the pastry offerings frequently, so you will need to come back over and over. Staff here are hyper friendly and our waiter was cheerful, knowledgeable about the food, made great suggestions and was generally chatty. There is usually a line for walk-ins, reservation holders get seated right away. The line for us was about ten minutes. Double highly recommend.

    Kyle M.

    Decent amount of food for the price. Super touristy. You have to get here first thing in the morning or pre book. I was there 30 minutes early and there already was a line. They get you in and out so things move quickly. I enjoyed it the inside is super cool and it is worth checking out, not the number one priority though.

    Take away torte
    Sharon S.

    SERVICE 5 stars - with NEZIR was above 5 stars and two thumbs up. He single-handedly made our experience at Cafe Central out of this world. Professionally, NEZIR was quite efficient expediting our food orders and bringing to us hot. He provided great suggestions on the menu as we know Central is world renown for its coffee and pastries but we wanted to try the savory dinner entrees too. NEZIR was right on. Aside from his professionalism, Nezir's friendly welcome set the tone for the entire evening . While he worked quite fast, he managed to share Family stories, background and cafe history . Totally cool! AMBIANCE 5 stars - Over 130 years , frequented by luminaries such as Freud historical background, live piano music , and beautiful architecture. No wonder it's THE PLACE people line up for! FOOD- savory dishes 3 stars salmon - a bit dry 3 stars - chicken also a bit dry but tasty seasoning 5 stars- warm chocolate cake served with vanilla Ice Cream was EPIC! Moist and very rich chocolate, just as I dreamed it would be! Takeaway at display case- Apple Strudel- 5 stars Petit Fours 4 stars Sisi's favorite -5 stars Coffee- 5 stars

    Chocolate cake
    Prasiddha H.

    I had a chance to visit the famous Cafe Central with the hubby and I am so glad we did. Definitely remember that there will be a huge line here, so if you are able to get reservations, I would definitely get that as the wait can be anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour plus! Hubby and I waited for around an hour before we were seated. The ambiance here was nice and we got to try the warm chocolate cake with ice cream. This was decadent and delicious and I loved the warm and cold combo that this dessert offered. The interiors of this cafe is gorgeous and would definitely recommend taking some pictures! Overall, really good experience here and a nice place to pop in to take a break once your feet start hurting from all the walking if you are a visitor in Vienna!

    Sarvin K.

    Café Central is one of those iconic spots in Vienna that feels like a time capsule -- step inside and you're instantly transported to a different era, with grand vaulted ceilings, elegant marble columns, and a refined buzz that makes you feel like a 19th-century intellectual (or at least like you're almost in a novel). The vibe alone is worth the visit. We ordered the apple strudel and a torte, and hands down, the apple strudel stole the show -- perfectly warm, flaky, and not overly sweet, with just the right touch of cinnamon. The torte, on the other hand, didn't quite win us over. It was underwhelming compared to the strudel. Service was surprisingly fast and very friendly, even with how busy the place was. Just a heads-up: there's almost always a line to get in, so if you don't want to wait, definitely make a reservation in advance. Overall, a must-do for the atmosphere, the history and that unforgettable apple strudel.

    Ally W.

    Out of the famous Viennese cafes, I prefer Cafe Central the most. Yes, it is touristy. Yes, there is a line to get in. Yes, the menu is over-priced. However, I enjoy sitting at this cafe admiring the cathedral-like arches while sipping coffee and devouring pretty desserts. For an old-school cafe, they certainly have some nice modern desserts and pastries. 1 star off: Service is almost absent. It takes a very long time to get an order in, receive an order, and get the check. As a frame of reference, I ordered a coffee and two desserts and it took 1 1/2 hours...no wonder there was a long line outside. What was even worse was that my waiter *insisted* that I give a tip. I will spare you from my rant about the forced tip culture that U.S. has created worldwide.

    Christopher N.

    This is now a must visit for tourists so reserve a table ahead of time thru your hotel. The sweet spot seems to be late afternoon, just before dinner time. When we arrived at 6:30pm on a recent Wednesday, there were still many open tables. By the time we left at 7pm, there was a line out the door. This is a very large cafe so service is a bit slow. We were there just for a drink before dinner elsewhere so did not order any food items this time. The spritz was okay. The ambiance was great. But with that many tourists around you, I'm not sure you can truly experience the Viennese cafe.

    Kasey G.

    A must see in Vienna, cafe central is an old historic cafe. The interior is beautiful, which adds to the charm. Food was delicious we had the salmon, eggs, and toast. They have a whole section for chocolates and pastries, and they had great service as well. We came around 10am on a Monday and it started to get busy shortly after.

    Wow cappuccino
    Brian W.

    Wow, we had a really great time at Cafe Central. The food was good, the desserts unbelievably good, and the service was really friendly (and I did not feel taken for granted with such a busy place). The spot is beautiful and of course full of history, which makes it fun. I had two eggs with ham, and a croissant (which was outstanding), along with good coffee. My family had dessert there, which they loved. I took mine for later (it was awesome). We made a reservation as is suggested, but the line honestly didn't look too bad (we came in the morning). Either way, it is a must-do in Vienna

    Vienesse coffee

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    Figlmüller - Best dessert ever

    Figlmüller

    4.0(201 reviews)
    0.8 kmInnere Stadt
    €€€

    My friend and I had dinner at Figlmüller Bäckerstraße (there are two locations). It's one of…read moreseveral restaurants under the Figlmüller restaurant group, which began in 1905 when Johann Figlmüller opened the first location - a small wine tavern right behind St. Stephen's Cathedral. It's still family-owned by the fourth generation of the Figlmüller family. We had a reservation, which I highly recommend. When we arrived, there was quite a long line outside the building, but we were able to walk right in to get seated at our reserved table. Figlmüller Bäckerstraße may be the offshoot of the original, but it still has tons of historic character. It's traditional and cozy and warm. The service was great, too - it made for a very comfortable spot. My friend and I shared: Figlmüller-Schnitzel, creamy veal goulash with spätzle, and carrot salad. We might have had a couple of glasses of wine, too. The food was all great - Viennese classics and delicious. Overall, I thought Figlmüller lived up to the hype. If you're looking for a classic spot for Viennese schnitzel, consider Figlmüller Bäckerstraße.

    Figlmüller in Vienna totally lived up to the hype! The pork schnitzel was huge, tender, and…read moredelicious, bigger than the plate! The berry sauce paired perfectly with it. The place was spotless, including the bathrooms, and the staff were super friendly. What made it truly unforgettable was not just the food but also meeting new friends from Malaysia and Taiwan while waiting in line. They had a reservation (we didn't!) and invited us to join them. Strangers from opposite sides of the world sharing an amazing Viennese meal, stories, and laughs. Proof that good food really does bring people together.

    Photos
    Figlmüller
    Figlmüller
    Figlmüller - Storefront | July 2023

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    Storefront | July 2023

    Plachutta Wollzeile - The noodle with soup

    Plachutta Wollzeile

    4.0(271 reviews)
    1.0 kmInnere Stadt
    €€€

    I stayed at a nearby hotel and when I told the concierge I went here for schnitzel. He stated that,…read moreas a local, this wouldn't be his first preference and seemed to respectfully imply that I had expensive taste (but did say it was a good spot). I should've responded, "I'm a tourist, so yes, I do have expensive taste." (not quoting some Icelandic-Chinese singer or anything, of course) While I know that their Tafelspitz is their signature, I wanted some schnitzel. However, I ordered a bowl of the broth the beef was cooked in, which also comes with root vegetables. Surprisingly (or not), this was the best part of the dinner. The broth's depth of flavor is apparent and it's so savory. The broth is also clean and clear. This was definitely one of the best broths I've had and this alone puts the restaurant at a 5. I went for the schnitzel and got suckered into getting the potato salad. The salad was fine; a little tangy, with the potatoes keeping their definition. However, it's nothing amazing. The schnitzel is super-thin and breading is nicely browned. The veal is rather tender, but you need the lemon to "wake-up" the schnitzel. The bread basket was a bit diverse and the selections were fine. I thought the wheat roll was the best of the choices. The apricot juice was really thick, so it definitely appeared to be legit juice. My server was pretty friendly for Vienna and actually did a little bit a conversation. The decor is classy but not stuffy. Plenty of folks came in with smart casual but also some were more dressed up.

    *******READ FINE PRINT ON MENU*********…read more I have issues with this place. My review will not change the trajectory of how this place operates. However, it is unlike any place in the world I have ever visited. We were seated at a table that was meant for 6 people and got taken down to two people as there was another couple sitting there. The place for lunch was absolutely slammed, so it is obviously a popular spot. Without asking, they drop bread off at the table. With a place of this atmosphere it was expected, as this is what I would expect out of a finer food establishment. The schnitzel was very light and had plenty of flavor. No other sides came with the schnitzel so I had the potato salad which was good, but different. The beef stroganoff did have an immense amount of flavor. They lacked the very small amount of noodles that are given with this dish. The fastest uninterrupted service we got was when I waited and finally asked for the check. They were quick to give me a dessert/after food drink menu. They were quick to be on top of me to see if I wanted anything. I declined and paid the bill. What I will tell you is, that is completely OUTRAGEOUS is the charge listed as 2 - Gedeck. A quick review told me that it is a "Cover Charge" at a euro rate of 4.90 per person. A further Google review told me that it is also because they placed bread on the table (I do not know what is factual). Regardless of whatever the charge is or whatever they want to call it, I have never ever ever paid a "Cover Charge/Gedek" charge to occupy a restaurant. If this was a late night spot that I decided to pop bottles at or had "dancers" at the business, I could get there, but for a sit down lunch, what a complete utter rip off. This in itself would cause me never to return to this establishment. Make sure if you eat here, that you read the fine print or look at my pictures. They have very small print that notifies the consumer of them charging cover charge as well as what they charge for sharing of some dishes. All I can say is be mindful and do not be taken back like we were when the bill comes.

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    Plachutta Wollzeile
    Plachutta Wollzeile - Collagen from the combo beef

    Collagen from the combo beef

    Plachutta Wollzeile - Bread and butter

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    Bread and butter

    Café Central - cafes - Updated May 2026

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