Demel
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We probably won't miss Cafe Central due to its renovation closure. Because we had a wonderful treat at Demel instead. Everything we ordered was excellent in taste and presentation. The winter drink of Beerenpunsch (a hot mixed berries punch) was sweet and fruity. Then the Kaiserschmarrn (Kaiser pancake) and Sachertorte (the famous chocolate cake) just exceeded our expectations. Personally, I like the Kaiser pancake more for its softness and moisture. Sachertorte needed the whipped cream to balance it. We were seated at a window seat on the second floor. Everything was as perfect as you could imagine: a great treat in Vienna.
This is the review for the demel cafe in front of the Stephen church. Quick to go spot to taste the Emperor pan cake with plum sauce. Touristy food, touristy spot, touristy price and cold Austrian service. No complaints since I never love pancakes anyway.
We visited twice during our stay in Vienna and dined inside one time and got a to go order the second. The first visit was to dine inside and escape the brutal June heatwave. We were directed to go upstairs and found an open seat in no time at all. Just passing by all the display cases filled with desserts and pastries triggered the cravings. We did a quick menu perusal but really knew that we wanted to try the kaiserschmarrn which was a traditional Austrian dessert made up torn up pancakes, served with a plum compote and dusted with powdered sugar. It was light, had a nice caramelized flavor from browning in the pan and little pops of more sweetness from the raisins. It was so delicious that we came back the next day for more but shortcut the line and got it to go from the takeaway window. Same kaiserschmarrn but around 3 Euros cheaper for a larger serving. After eating we wanted around the restaurant and towards the back you can see just how the cooks juggled making many pans of Kaiserschmarrn at the same time. Yes it's a bit pricey but so tasty to try at least once.
Took a walking tour and our guide recommended this place for the pancake desserts. We ordered a pancake and a strudel. Both were good, especially with the respective sauces. Went well with the Anna's coffee. We sat outside but they also have indoor seating with an upstairs area.
The wait is really, really long, but it's actually not that bad if you stick it through because while in Vienna... Demel is one of those iconic historic cafes that you have to experience as well as taste. I tried their famous Sachertorte, and while it didn't top Sacher Hotel's (the ORIGINAL home of the dessert of course) it's a chocolate dream. That mix of chocolate sponge cake with apricot jam and chocolate ganache is just something you can't miss. The cafe itself is lovely, and I felt so fortunate to sit outside and gaze out at the sidewalk even though it was a rainy day, the ambiance like something of a story book. A must see when going to Vienna for the quintessential European trip. My twin and I went Sept '25.
We were told from family at home to visit when we are Vienna. -Long line for the cafe -We did take out of pastries -Near a lot of fine shopping stores -Very busy
While doing research on famous food to eat in Wien, Demel popped up as a classic Viennese dessert shop open since 1786, famous for their variety of traditional pastries such as Sacher torte, Kaiserschmarnn, apfelstrudeln (apple strudel) and other Viennese cakes. The store started as a confectionery by Ludwig Dehne, then after passing it on to his apprentice Christoph Demel, becomes the royal purveyor of sweets to the National Hofburg Theatre, which was across the street from Demel's original location. In 1888 they moved to the current building, which rooms being decorated in the Roccoco style. While walking around our first late afternoon/early evening we happened to walk by and were enticed by the delicious smells wafting out the door. I didn't get a pic, though you can see in some other posts that they make fresh Kaiserschmarnn (pancakes with seasonal jam), you can smell the milk/cream/butter, sugar and eggs turning into delectable morsels of tastiness as the batter is poured then pan-fried lightly. So hard to resist these though we hadn't had dinner yet so didn't want to ruin our appetites. However since they close at 7pm and it was nearing 6:30pm we decided to grab a few pieces of cake to go. All individual slices were €7.90. You can also buy entire cakes. Sacher torte: one of the famous things to eat in Vienna, this consists of a two-layer chocolate cake with a light apricot glaze applied to the cake, then covered in a thin coating of chocolate glaze. I had read online that the crumb of Sacher torte can be kinda dry, I have to agree that both options we tried this was the case, not too off putting since that seems to be part of the original texture, but customers should be aware it's not like biting into a moist red velvet cake or brownie. The flavor of the cocoa was apparent, I say that because it taste more like cocoa to me than processed chocolate. The apricot glaze added a tidbit of acidity to bright the bite. Fächertorte: this was like a seasonal "all-in-one" strudel to me, describing the layers from the bottom up--poppy seed paste, almond cake (could really taste the nuttiness in the flour), julienned apple slices, cooked plum compote, all baked inside an outer crust. Felt like a very traditional eastern European autumn dessert and very light in sweetness. May not be for everyone. Dobos torte: according to google, this "is is a classic Hungarian sponge cake made of six thin layers of sponge cake filled with chocolate buttercream and topped with a hard caramel glaze. Created by Hungarian chef József Dobos in the late 19th century." The Demel iteration used regular buttercream and was delightfully creamy and rich. I only wish the cake slices were a little more generous. If I were in Vienna again I would certainly try their pancakes, maybe some of their cookies too. Our interaction with the staff was minimal though generally pleasant, we had questions about ingredients in a few of the cakes, which they were able to answer. Hours: 10am-7pm daily For more info: https://www.demel.com
The best thing I ate in Vienna was Kaiserschmarrn with plum sauce at Cafe Demel. The line was long, which was expected since it was the holiday season, and I was seated outside. The interior looked fantastic, and I wish I had the opportunity and time to sit inside. I ordered the scrambled pancakes (Kaiserschmarrn) with a glass of sparkling rosé. I had the sweetest waitress, who gave me a complimentary glass of rosé after I told her I came to Vienna because my grandfather had passed and it was his favorite city. definitely want to go back, but next time I will be seated inside.
During a recent European Trip, Mom was insistent on experiencing Vienna's cafe culture. We debated between Demel and Cafe Central but settled on Demel. We were in line about 25 minutes before they opened and there were probably 40 people in front of us. We watched as they prepped the patio and then the doors opened about 5 minutes before the listed opening time. We followed the line of folks in front of us through the gift shop where chefs were already prepping lots of Kaiserschmarrn. We went upstairs and grabbed a table for two. I was a little surprised to see other groups of two and singles take four tops. That doesn't seem right but it was first come-first served. The inside dining areas are very pretty. Eventually someone came by to take or order. We got a latte, a hot chocolate, an order of Kaiserschmarrn, and an order of their donuts. Everything came out pretty quickly ( we saw the "buffet" that servers can use to prep the most ordered items in the hallway upstairs which makes service easy.) Everything was delicious. The pancakes were fluffy and sweet but I think the donuts with the vanilla sauce were our favorite. The place was VERY busy as we explored the gift shop before heading out. I'm glad we got there when we did. Demel was a fun experience and I'd recommend it!
I'm glad I tried it and the cafe was absolutely beautiful, but our pancakes seemed a little not fresh. The plum sauce also overpowered it a bit. Would recommend trying it but not dying for it.
We wanted to try the viral pancakes and boy were they good. They smelled so good and I see why so many people buy them. They were fluffy and sweet. I liked the crispy part since it was soft on the inside. If you happen to be near one and can take it to go I would suggest it!
As I was exploring the Hofburg Palace area and the souvenir shops during the late afternoon/early evening, I stumbled across this really cute bakery/patisserie/restaurant called Demel that has been around since 1786 and was loved by aristocrats and royalty. Apparently Empress Sisi herself was a fan of their candied violets! I was enticed by the beautiful displays of desserts and decor, so I decided to try dinner and dessert here. I'm glad I decided when I did because right when I got in line, the line behind me exploded. It ended up being a huge tourist trap--food wasn't that great lol. And when I asked for water, I meant complimentary water, not a bottle of water that I ended up being charged about $5.00 USD for. I ordered: Goulash: I never had goulash before, but I had a feeling that what I was served was not representative of a proper goulash. The one word I can use to describe it is "sad." Attaching a photo, as a picture speaks a thousand words. A sad steak drowning in muddy sauce with 3 plain potatoes. Marillenknodel: homemade apricot dumplings with butter crumbs. This was a very rich and super-sweet dessert. No regrets of ordering this. Trying it once is enough for me. It was a cute location though!
We wanted to check out Demel and got there about 30 minutes before close, but managed to snag a table outside right away. Even though it was late they were still packed. I got a hot chocolate and Kaiserschmarrn (fluffy pancake thing with plum jam) and it was delicious. The chocolate was not too sweet but very rich. Right when they closed they literally closed out all the tables and locked the doors! So that was a bit weird and rushed. Also, Bathrooms were just okay and a bit cramped and far in the back of the store. But if you're in the area and want some nice treats and you don't have a huge wait, I would recommend it.
9 years ago
Come here to experience the famous bakery that was a favorite of the Hapsburgs. I had a great time here, mostly because everything tasted so good, and I love the style of decor inside! It did seem very touristy, a lot of people ordering slices of gorgeous desserts to go, groups walking in just to look inside at the shop and area where you can see the pastry chefs at work. We came for an early lunch and dessert and there were a few tables still open. Our server spoke English to us and let us take our time even though it seemed like several tables (all tourists) around us just stopped in for dessert, not lunch. I had the Avocado Tartare & Norwegian Smoked Salmon- it came with a generous amount of spring greens and a light, acidic dressing. The avocado mix was delicious and went perfectly with the salmon. For dessert you order at the counter with all the sweets, get a ticket and give to your server. We split a dessert with layers of strawberry, banana, chocolate, meringue and a delicious crust. We looked around the shop afterward but everything was incredibly pricey. Definitely a place to try if you visiting Vienna. read more
9 years ago
So good. Skipped lunch and walked 17,000 steps to make up for the extra calories but oh was it worth it. Got the apple strudel and the sacher torte. Both were less sweet than we were used to tasting in dessert. read more
12 years ago
Pressed for time (and with no wifi to access the trusty Yelp app) we ended up choosing the tourist-y Demel for lunch. Walking in, it looks like a small café, but if you keep walking inside you'll find more seating in the back. Additionally, they have a second floor with more spacious dining areas. My party decided on a table upstairs. We were pretty hungry after walking around Stephensplatz, so a heavy lunch was in order. Since I hadn't had schnitzel in FOREVER, I went with the famous wiener schnitzel, while my husband and my mother-in-law had Vienna sausages. Between the two dishes, I would say my schnitzel won the battle. :) It was light and crispy, almost took up the whole plate, and was accompanied with a yogurt/cucumber salad and potato/lamb/lettuce salad. The Vienna sausages were 2 long sausages* served with bread, mustard, and what I thought was sauerkraut, but was a bit spicier than that. I want to say it was horseradish, as it had a taste that was very similar to wasabi! Sadly, we weren't able to order any of the desserts, which is a shame because that's what they're really known for. Our lunch, along with 2 beers and a bottle of still water, ended up being around 60 euro, which is pretty pricey but not surprising considering it's tourist-y location. I'm quite sure there are better and cheaper places for what we ordered, but for convenience, this got the job done. -- *Yeah, yeah, that's what she said, I get it. read more
Trying the Sacher torte is a must when you visit Vienna. I tried Cafe Sacher as well. I enjoyed the flavor of the chocolate here, but they don't have a layer of the apricot jam in the middle of the cake like Cafe Sacher does. Their layer is right under the chocolate and it makes it not as noticeable. This place is definitely a tourist trap. There were a lot of people waiting for a table. We quickly grabbed two open seats at the bar and it took awhile to put our order in. A cappuccino goes very well with the cake. read more
Expensive but service was very fast because we came kind of early, they had a lot of space, seating and variety of pastries, drinks, breads. The portions of cake/pastries were smaller as well. The bill forever, I swear our waitress hated us, everyone around us who came later than us left and we were stilled waiting for our bill. I understand Austrians take their time but out of all the restaurants we have been too, this place took an excessive amount of time to get the bill. She also gave us stank eye, I think she just has a personally vendetta against Americans, even though we didn't do anything to offend her. By the time we left around 12, there was a line to get seated. I have no idea what I ordered, I just saw a picture on Yelp and pointed at it. It was like a lemony cream pastry cake with vanilla sauce. I really liked it. The apple strudel was fresh and solid. The chocolate cake was really good, very moist but the chocolate on top was super sweet. The tea was good, the coffee was good. I don't think you can really go wrong with the drinks. We got ice cream when we left, it was only 1.30€ for a huge scoop! They have me twos scoops of the chocolate one (idk the german name) even though I asked and only paid for one! That lady was really nice who served us. We also got the berry flavor that's violet colored- i can't remember the name but it's like a flavor that's very popular in Austria. read more
10 years ago
A wonderful thing happened on the way to my taste buds, the fork connected with the lightest and fluffiest apple strudel and chocolate Sacher torte. It was perfection folks. My friend had the larger version of this with a real, warm vanilla custard. The cellulite gods are not kind to all of us so, I sat this one out in the mini section and just tried a little of everything that I wanted. Worth it, so worth it. The service was spectacular and the place was beautiful beyond anything or maybe I'm still high from too many sweets. Special side note to knuckle dragging mouth breathers who don't understand limited spaces in crowded tourist locations... this goes out to the idiot chick that overstayed her welcome on the barstool next to me taking up space for patrons that actually wanted to eat but typing and surfing the Web (take your dumb butt to the Starbucks you freak, this is an institution). I'm American ....and southern....and abrupt in my communication style... so I was very pointed with her about leaving. If this is how you normally operate, save yourself. read more
Another fantastic cake in the only city that can rival Paris in the desserts category. We tried the Anna Torte (one of Demel's signature cakes) featuring chocolate and Grand Marnier. The cake was moist and flavourful with just a hint of orange. It was beautifully presented as well, not just on my plate but also inside the pastry case. Outdoor seating was great for people-watching but the ordering processes was a tad confusing. You could order coffee at the table from your waitress but for cake you had to go inside and make your choice so an attendant could write it on a slip which you then had to take back to your table to give to your waitress. Somewhat of a roundabout way of doing things, especially since the area inside near the pastry case gets VERY crowded, but alas it was not a major deterrence. It sounds strange but I could almost 'feel' the history in this place. Just sitting there having a coffee and dessert made me feel as if I was now part of the legacy. It is a worthwhile experience to come here on a trip to Vienna, just don't take too long when making your cake choice(s) as to not hold up the line! read more
12 years ago
Demel is a Vienna institution with some of the tastiest cakes and pastries in the world. The chocolate cake is so creamy and rich that words don't do it justice. The decor will immediately take you to the turn of the century era. The pastries and strudels are excellent too. Milchrahmstrudel (Milk-cream strudel) that can be served with or without vanilla sauce is out of this world. 5 stars! Simpy, Demel is a must in Vienna, for tourists and locals alike. The only downside is that since it's so good, it is a major tourist attraction and extremely busy at times, which makes it hard to find a table. read more
This place is good. However, I cannot justly say from my personal experience that this place has lived up to its reputation. I have done my due diligence and maintained my patience. There were several tables open however, possibly reserved without a sign and I had to wait approximately 30 minutes. The staff were a bit stuck up and rude, the service was tolerable. It has been my experience that most service in Vienna they purposely avoid eye contact and ignore you. So, as not to serve you. It may be different in Europe than the U.S. However, the better the service the better the tip. There are times I've tipped as high as 35-40%. Although those occasions are rare that service was exceptional. I ordered 3 pastries. A Schaumrolle €2,90, Fragilité €4,00, Vanillecrémeschnitte €4,00 & a Wiener Eisschokolade €6,20. The Schaumrolle wasn't very good. It was a hard crusted pastry resembling a bit of an old stale one with a marshmallow like filling. Not what appeared to be a cream filling. The Fragilité I would recommend of the 3 I had. The top and bottom were good with a filling that has a bit of rum and hazelnut. The Vanillecrémeschnitte would be second place of 3. Also, not a cream filling. It was gelatinous in consistency however still good. But it appeared to look like a pastry I had in Budapest that was great. So, unfortunately from my experience I wasn't blown away. My favorite thing that I had that I would recommend is their Wiener Eisschokolade. It is liquid chocolate with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream. It was great. read more
Yes, it is as beautiful and good as its reputation. Great pastries and good coffee. If you enter near the bar, rest assured that there is much more seating upstairs but don't hesitate to linger in front of the glassed-in bakery kitchen. Gorgeous and utterly spotless. Don't even think about going to Vienna without spending some euros here and enjoying every minute of it! read more
We came here to try the hot chocolate and were happy with how nice it was. The service however was pretty terrible with no rhyme or reason to the line. Everyone kept cutting in line and there was only one harried server for the whole downstairs area. The original hot chocolate and vanilla hot chocolate were delicious with just the right amount of sweetness! read more
11 years ago
I get it. Empress Sisi loved this place, but the whole Sacretorte thing, I'm just not into. But the place is charming and sweet. The espresso with whip cream was indulgent, and while we enjoyed a sacretorte, the dessert served with the vanilla pudding was the clear winner for us. Check it out, and bring back gifts for friends. read more
Vienna is well known for their chocolates and coffee. So why not go visit their well known and longest lasting dessert spots. Demel is located in the main core of the city near St Stephen's Cathedral. It is a small and tight spot but does have two floors. The line up is pretty long to get a seat but while you are waiting you get to see the chefs at work live. I order the quiche along with their famous chocolate cake. It was also a must to have a liquor based coffee to resume the day. The food came fairly quick, hot and delicious. Pricing is pretty up there but you are definitely getting your moneys worth The restaurant had a classy baroque feel to it with amazing decor, paintings and detail to their walls and furniture. Even the servers were dressed up in maid costumes. A must visit if you have a sweet tooth. read more
11 years ago
When you walk in you can see an impressive display of cakes. If you wish to sit down, you can walk to the back where you may seat yourself and a waitress will come to you. In the seating on the inside you may also see the employees making the cakes and desserts, which is pretty cool. But I don't know. The magic just didn't catch on. The apple strudel was dry. The Annatorte was just okay and not too sweet - the nougat adds a nice touch. The seating is cramped on the ground level. It just felt a little overhyped. read more
11 years ago
We stopped here for cappuccino, Irish coffee and Sacher torte. We ended up getting their house specialty cake (we missed the explanation but I think it tastes like it has liquor) and a quinoa salad too. The Sacher torte was ok. It had to be marked off the list. The other cake was better. I really enjoyed the quinoa salad. Nice little break in a very touristy area. read more
8 years ago
With Hotel Sacher, this bakery is the most famous and touristy Sacher cake. It is not surprising that it is therefore expensive and you may end up in line for long. I just took a slice of Sacher for take-away (Eur 5.50) since I didn't have time to waist in line. The slice of cake was quite small but at least good. I wouldn't go there a second time but I think it may be worth trying one of the "historical" Vienna's Sachers. read more
4 years ago
How can you go wrong with the bakers to the Hapsburgs? The cafe itself is feels very lovely and historic. There was a long line and it was a beautiful day so we got our tortes to go and eat in the park. We had the Schwarzwalderkirschtorte, the Biskottentorte, and the Esterhazytorte....our favorite was the Esterhazytorte. read more
10 years ago
Visited Vienna back in April. As the city is known for its coffee house scene, it was necessary to check out one of the most famous ones: Demel! Ordered some small sandwiches and hot chocolate to start, then the coffee house's famous fachertorte (a thick, crusty tart consisting of apples, walnuts, and poppy seed). While I don't really prefer apple and/or poppy seed-flavored dishes, but this particular dessert was actually not too overwhelming! All of the ingredients came together very well, and I'm glad to have given Demel a try. Quite pricey, but definitely worth going for the experience- even if you don't drink coffee! read more
8 years ago
9 years ago
The bakery of kings! Lovely experience this morning enjoying coffee and pastry at the counter. Go early - at 8:30 there was plenty of room at the counter. They even had a delicious chocolate vegan cake and soy latte for me (dairy allergy). Check it out! read more
What can I say about world-famous Demel in Vienna? Really nothing more than has already been written on Yelp. Maybe I can give a tip: If you're a tourist in Vienna - Go! If you live in Vienna Don't Go - unless you have tourists visiting you. Now read the hundreds of other Yelp reviews about Vienna's most famous Konditorei, Chocolatier, & Café all-in-one! read more
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Must go when you visit Viena. The desserts are AMAZING!! Sometimes there can be long wait line but it is totally worth it read more
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More info about Demel
Kohlmarkt 14
1010 Vienna
Austria
Innere Stadt
Directions
01 53517170
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https://www.demel.com
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