Demel
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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
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!
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!
6 of us went while on vacation in Vienna, due to party size a short wait. It's a cute place. Our lady server was friendly and helpful. We each got something different, the famous broken pancakes were good but too much cinnamon in the plums, others weren't wild about their desserts either. Ordered the amaretto, baileys coffee I think they forgot the Baileys the coffee was bitter. Restrooms are small and clean.
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.
3 months ago
6 months ago
Exquisite shop for confections and coffee. It says its origins date to 1786, and I can very much appreciate why it's stuck around. Stopped here for a Kaiserschmarnn (probably butchered the spelling...it's been close to 30 years since I took German, to be fair). Amazing little dish of bits of cake (thick pancake kind of feel), mixed with fruit sauce and plums (yeah, didn't see that coming myself...or at least not that I'd love it with plums in there). Simple. Delicious. Quality coffees as well (do the melange, very satisfying, cappuccino-like coffee found around Vienna). Service was fast and friendly...even politely handled my efforts to order in German! read more
So much hype since they have original recipes. Tried the most famous chocolate apricot cake, then our local guide said go try the kaiserschmarren, it was best in city, so we went back to try it. Verdict...sadly wasn't a super fan of the famous chocolate cake. It's my taste buds and texture preferences, no fault to the restaurant as I'm sure they nailed it. But, the Kaiserschmarren!!!! Omg, that was incredible. To satisfy my sweet, this was worth a 2nd visit. It gets super crowded, but we found a quick way in and out so not too bad. Outside line us strictly for kaiserschmarren, and inside you can purchase everything else. Service is vety fast. Great location! read more
Date of visit: June 5, 2024 We passed by the wonderful treats in the lobby and ended up staying to enjoy a couple of pieces of cake! I would highly recommend the esterhazy, an almond cake. My husband had the Dobos cake, which was a caramel cake featuring a crispy/crunchy caramel layer on top. While very good, you really can't cut into that top layer and it ends up being more for show, unfortunately. Service is a bit on the slower side, so don't go in and sit down if you don't have a fair amount of time to spend here, even just for cake and coffee. read more
3 years ago
TOURISTS: Pay attention! See the door to the right of the outside takeaway line? Go directly through that door (the 2nd door to the left side) and you can shop around for your chocolate, cookie, and bakery delights. No need to stay in line.... Unless you want to sit inside and eat cake. The line of people are there to sit inside (or they don't know about how they can just walk upstairs without a line....). They probably haven't read my review yet if they just want to buy self-service goodies. Don't go through the door at the far right since that is the exit. You won't be able to get in through there. FOOD: Worth the journey toward!!! 10/10 Hot chocolate 10/10 Kaiserschmarrn (basically a big pancake) 10/10 Various bakery goodies read more
The cafe experience itself is not worth the wait time and jacked up prices--if you're just there for the pancakes, do take out! Portions are MUCH larger and prices are cheaper (the sitting fee is reflected in the food prices). The wait time was atrocious (one hour) and out in the rain too!! There's a line outside to get into the cafe, then another one inside for a table (which were crammed into every conceivable space imaginable). Overall, while the architecture and decor were absolutely gorgeous, the overcrowded environment greatly eroded the experience. I sort of felt like a pig lined up for slaughter in the machine of cafe capitalism. Everything was fine, but super expensive, and the kaiser pancakes were a bit...mundane. They tasted great, super fluffy and buttery and eggy and I loved the caramelized rum raisins, but was it worth the wait? Especially given how hyped Demel was. The ham and cheese croissant ($9.50) was just that--cold, overpriced, and nothing special. read more
7 months ago
If you find yourself in Innere Stadt and want something sweet, this is the place to go. Best to head up the stairs and sit in the calm café area for proper table service. Though paying is a bit chaotic since you need to take your bill downstairs and pay at the counter where a bunch of people are trying to order pastries. Apple Strudel: Maybe the best apple strudel I've ever had? The pastry dough was thin and flaky, but different from phyllo. The apples were also sliced very thin and had that great texture of a little firm but also soft. And the taste was full of apple greatness, like they picked the optimal varieties to use. Apricot Dumplings: It seemed like they wrapped pancake batter around cooked apricots and covered in brown sugar. Loved the warm pancake-y textures. Though it got a little dry at times, when you didn't get apricot in your bite, so good to have coffee nearby. Franziskaner: Coffee, milk, whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles. More exciting than a regular latte or cappuccino. Häferlkaffee:If you want something on the bigger side, this is the thing to get. read more
2 years ago
Demel is a venerable Viennese pastry shop that opened its doors back in 1786. I tried four of their delicacies: The famous Sachertorte: Grade D In my opinion, within the pastry world, the Austrian sachertorte is at best a minor league contender. Totally overrated. It's basically a dry and unappealing chocolate cake. Apple Strudel: Grade A The best Apple Strudel I've ever had. A paper-thin flaky dough filled within a gently sweetened apple filling, this pastry is a real winner. Vanilla-Creme-Schnitten: Grade A An excellent Mille-feuille... so flaky and flavorful. Krapfen: Grade B+ Very light with a great filling. But it's a bit too light for me... Give me more filling! Next time I'm in Vienna, I'll definitely be returning to Demel. But I'll stay away from the sachertorte! read more
3 years ago
We had the Amaretto Coffee, the pancakes with vanilla sauce. The food is fairly good. Regarding the service, well, we waited for about 40 minutes despite the fact that there were empty tables available. Then, the staff started rushing us to ruder and to eat fast. Demel is a bakery founded in 1780's with a long history of serving quality products. The location itself is a mix of old and modern. It was a fairly good experience. Caution : pancakes may have raisins. read more
We stopped by to take a break from shopping. They have both inside and outside dining. The umbrellas have heat lamps mounted on the underside. Servers are quick and efficient. The hot beverages and pastries we ordered were delicious. Wonderful city, awesome people and great food and drink. read more
2 years ago
Super long lines but there is a takeout window for coffee and their famous pancake bites with plums that remind me of apples with spices. Hot chocolate was the real deal. NYC prices but that's expected in this posh area. Try it out and there always takeout line for a sampling. read more
1 year ago
Sat in the outside area and had a lovely break from my morning of walking around the touristy areas. Loved the pancake dish and the espresso with whipped cream. read more
The smell alone makes you want to stay all day. She's a beauty too. Her neo-Baroque interior, crystal chandeliers, and apron-clad servers create a timeless ambiance. Go the back and watch the pastry chefs making apple strudel. Founded in 1786, Demel is a legendary pastry shop in Vienna near the Imperial Palace. I graduated to a Wiener Melange here. Often shortened to just Melange on menus and when ordering, this type of coffee is an espresso with steamed milk, topped with a little foam. read more
9 months ago
3 years ago
We came here looking for sachertorte as we heard it's a must eat in Vienna. We got it to go as the line to sit was too long. Unfortunately we weren't the biggest fans of it as it was very sweet. We also got a coffee dobos torte and that was delicious. It had a nice caramel flavour to it and the coffee really stood out. It was strangely addictive and not overly sweet. This is definitely only a one time buy as the prices are quite steep as it is geered towards tourists. read more
10 months ago
The sachetorte is certainly good, perhaps a little dry but still tasty. They have great coffee (including American style coffee rather than the short espresso, which I liked), and the building is pretty cool looking. Service was very slow but ok. read more
1 year ago
This stunning and magical pastry shop was founded in 1786. The aroma of freshly baked pastries wafting through the air. I definitely had a hard time leaving here, and you will too. They were still very busy even though it's raining and super windy outside. I ordered takeout since there was a long queue for tables in the coffee area upstairs. However, the lady helped me was very kind and inviting. She spent her time explaining about each cakes and also gave me recommendations. I ended up getting the Esterhazytorte, Dobostorte, baked cheesecake, Sachertorte, vanilla and apricot donut. I would recommend the esterhazytorte, sachertorte and apricot donut. I also got strawberry jam to bring back home. It's definitely worth a visit here! read more
This Viennese coffee house has been around for a really long time. As you enter this popular cafe, you can observe the coin on their logo which brands them as purveyors of baked goods for the Royal Imperial family. Love that such cafes are still around for us to enjoy. Their Sachertorte is the best we had in Vienna. It's decadent, not overtly sweet, moist and made for a perfect late afternoon snack. When in Austria, had to also try the Apple strudel however I wasn't a fan, it was a bit dry and you really must like Apple based pastries to enjoy this one. Coffee was decent. Lovely regal atmosphere. They also have a store with lots of packaged treats that you can take home. read more
This place is more like a 4.5 out of 5 stars. This was the first place we ended up after landing in Vienna and i'm glad we stopped here. We ended up getting the Sachertorte and some savory baguette sandwich, along with some coffees. The star of the show is the Sachertorte (chocolate cake), whatever you do... make sure you get a slice here. Its so rich and not too sweet. it also had a nice citrus flavor coming from the apricot jam inside the cake. The sandwich was also good, but the chocolate cake was so good, we came back again and took it to go. I got a simple expresso and the wife ended up getting coffee with alcohol in it. I forgot what it was called. There is typically a wait to get seated inside.... However, you can get food to go. I highly recommend sitting inside for your first time as the inside has a very nice ambiance. PS: if you take food to go, you can skip the line and its a bit cheaper. read more
1 year ago
4 years ago
Delicious! Eggs and ham were great, as was the fresh squeezed orange juice and the few pastries we got. Service was good, food came out fast, and overall a great spot for breakfast. There were maybe 10-15 people ahead of us in line outside the door when we arrived. But the line goes quick and we were sat within 15 minutes! You absolutely MUST try the Kaiserschmarrn and Homemade nougat dumplings (especially the nougat dumplings)!! read more
Not sure why this classic Viennese bakery only has a 3.8-star rating on yelp, but I think it should have at least a 4-star or higher. The line was fairly long for a sitdown table, but they also have a separate line for takeout only. The service was very quick, prices were reasonable, and the dessert is outstanding. The combination of pancake-like dessert with the tart plum is phenomenal. I've been eating this stuff my entire time in Vienna, and regret nothing. I did not get a chance to go inside of the bakery, but the outside seating was great and overall ambience was satisfactory. If you come to Vienna, please come here! read more
9 months ago
4 years ago
Very nice spot . We went there to try their famous apple strudel , it was delicious The service was fast and very friendly Inside there is a shop where you can buy sweets read more
3 years ago
For as long as I can remember, I've had had an absolutely killer sweet tooth. Over the course of my two decades and change on this planet, I've met very few people whose appetites for sweetness match mine. As a child I remember this taste for sugar feeing almost insatiable, as if no amount of sucrose could possibly leave me without wanting more. And so to this day, when someone asks me my favorite food, the answer is a simple one: it's cake, of course. Imagine my bliss when I first arrived in Vienna, a city I had chosen to travel to while knowing admittedly little about what I'd find. From the first day I spent there, I was spellbound by Vienna's timeless charm -- the exquisite palaces, the flawlessly manicured gardens, the unwavering devotion to the arts. (How could I say no to nosebleed seats at the opera?) The rich and very tangible history of the place made me feel utterly and completely spellbound, like I had ripped a little tear in the time space continuum and ended up in a place I shouldn't be. I'd spent the week hopping from landmark to landmark -- from the Belvedere Palace to the famed Hotel Sacher, from the Spanish Riding School to the site of Mozart's grave. I had learned far too much about the complicated and tragic tale of the nineteenth-century empress Sisi and seen far too many of her impossibly tiny-waisted gowns. I'd taken audio tours up the wazoo and seen so many pieces of furniture that I could have considered myself an anthropologist. It seemed, though, that there was still something waiting to be explored, yet I didn't quite know what it was until I stumbled upon it on my way out of the Hofburg. There it stood, gleaming like a little diamond on the cobbled street before me -- the brown awning shading a bustling patio and elaborate large windows with goodies visible on the other side of the glass. My mouth watered when I took hold of the masterpieces being shuttled across the patio on little plates. Thankfully, it was just about time for my afternoon sweet treat. How serendipitous! Upon strolling in, what hit me even before the deliriously delightful mélange of aromas was just how stunning this place was. A palette of pastels infused everything with a hint of springtime, and the elaborate gold details on the molding made me feel like I was back in Belvedere Palace. For a moment, I felt as if Sisi herself could be sitting at one of these tables, sporting a lavish gown and sipping on a tiny cappuccino. Imagine my shock when I laid eyes on the pastry case. From undeniable classics like apfelstrudel and sachertorte to concoctions like punschkrapferl and biskottentorte that were wholly unbeknownst to me, it nearly took my breath away. If I could have, I would have shrunk myself down and lived out the rest of my days in that pastry case. Of course, limited by the laws of physics as I am, I decided that ordering something would be a close second. I chose the annatorte because I was fascinated by the ribbon-like design around the perimeter of the cake. It was one of the most beautiful cakes I had ever laid my eyes upon, and let me tell you that these eyes are no stranger to gorgeous cakes. After taking the first bite I found that it was phenomenal and unexpected, although I couldn't seem to place the flavors no matter how hard I tried. It wasn't until I was nearly finished that I resorted to Google, learning that the staple flavors are nougat and orange liquour. A surprise but a pleasant one, much like my entire week in Vienna had been. By this point in my travels, I was learning that getting caught off guard was part and parcel of exploring the world -- for better or worse, but usually for the better. Read more reviews at letsgetdinner8.wordpress.com. read more
Dreamy and delicious!!! Highly recommend waiting for a spot to sit and enjoy some warm kaiserschmarrn - just the right amount of sweetness and quite filling (can definitely share an order with someone you love). The bakery and cafe are beautifully decorated. I could browse forever - be sure to check it out if you're looking to take a treat to go. read more
2 years ago
Stopped here for the Kaiserschmarrn. This is a classic dish in a classic cafe. The location is in an area with high tourist traffic, so I think they do their best but the crowds are a bit too much. Enjoyed the Kaiserschmarrn, but on a future visit I'd search out something more off the beaten track. read more
10 months ago
We saw a line here en route to Michalerplatz so we googled this place. It seemed like a must visit so we did. We lined up at first and then I decided to ask the staff if the line was for seated meals. It wasn't. So if you're there for the first time and would like to sit down, just grab any open seats you find. We sat outside and absolutely loved the green dome as the backdrop. The inside seats looked very nostalgic. Either way, no matter if you sit indoor or outdoor, the ambiance is epic. The food, drinks, and service were decent. 1 star is reserved because it didn't fully wow me. read more
1 year ago
5 years ago
I've tried a few cakes at Demel. Passionsfruchttorte (Passion Fruit cake) is probably my favourite dessert from Demel that I've tried so far -- it's light & fruity. 4.5 stars Dobostorte (layered chocolate vanilla biscuit cake) has a brittle caramel top layer & was solid. 3.5 stars Sachertorte, the traditional Viennese chocolate cake, with jam in a thin layer in the middle of the cake as well as on top (under the chocolate glaze). This cake was just okay -- the cake texture itself is a little on the dry side. This would not be my preferred choice & I probably wouldn't get it again. 2.5 stars Each slice of cake is 5.50 Euro in Summer 2021. Tip: If you simply want to try the cakes but don't want to wait for a table, you can go to the shop & buy pastries to go. read more
It does tend to be crowded, but the line moves very quickly. Sitting inside is much nicer than outside, so it's worth the wait to hold on until an inside table opens up. Inside there are several stations for kaiserschmarrn and Dukatenbuchteln- both very good. Fluffy, light and not too sweet. The sausages with goulash gravy and an egg is a tasty breakfast. Cakes are hit or miss, we all preferred the fresh made buns to the cakes. Service is friendly if a little scattered, and the restaurant is large and crowded. Make time to stop at this institution. read more
2 years ago
Must visit while in Austria. Top quality cookies and cakes. Beautiful building. Long lines if you want to eat here read more
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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