Warm-Up in Cafés

In Austria cafés have always been much like a living room for artists – such as the afore cited Friedrich Torberg – and are an integral part of Austrian culture. Austria and cafés belong together like whistle and referee.

Cafés in Vienna
Be forewarned when visiting a traditional Viennese café: what seems like a grumpy waiter really is the “haute ecole” of serving. “The customer might know best, but I’m the boss”, the legendary head waiter Robert at Café Landtmann once said. For many the “Roberts” of the coffee houses constitute Vienna’s charm, for others it’s the unique contrasts between old traditions and a modern world which blend to create Vienna’s special atmosphere.

Vienna’s most famous café, Café Hawelka, is one of the last ones that still serves as popular hangout for intellectuals and artists. In its heydays the Hawelka has seen Oskar Werner, H.C. Artmann and Helmut Qualtinger to name but a few. Besides the personal and intimate atmosphere the café is legendary for its mouth-watering pastries baked by Mrs. Hawelka herself. www.hawelka.at

One of Vienna’s great coffeehouses, Café Landtmann, dates to the 1880s. The café, which is popular with locals and guests alike, has always drawn VIPs to this corner of the world: stars like Marlene Dietrich, Romy Schneider, Hillary Clinton and Sir Paul McCartney popped by to sip coffee. www.landtmann.at

At present Café Kunsthalle on Karlsplatz is one of Vienna’s most modern and hippest hangouts. In the summer Kunsthalle boasts a large beergarden where DJs spin the best new albums and clubbers can dance the night away. www.diehalle.at


Kunsthallen-Café ©WTV/Karl Thomas

Cafés in Salzburg
Salzburg’s cafés are busy all year round which comes as no surprise as coffee house culture started as early as 1703. That’s only two decades after the Turks left behind the coffee beans in their fight for Vienna in 1683 ...

The coffee house on Alter Markt is one of Austria’s oldest and most famous. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart used to frequent the "Tomaselli" for its excellent “mélange”. www.tomaselli.at

While the Tomaselli was especially popular among musicians, the Café Bazar at Staatsbrücke has always attracted actors. During the festival season chances are great that you might spot one or the other famous face relaxing on the cafés shady terrace. www.cafe-bazar.at

Another “must” is the Cafe Fürst, which claims to have invented the 'Mozartkugel' (the world-famous chocolate ball). www.original-mozartkugel.com

Cafés in Innsbruck
The Café im Turm is located on top of the ski jump’s tower which was awarded the Austrian Architecture Prize in 2002. The panorama restaurant-cum-café affords fantastic views of Innsbruck and the Inntal while serving fine culinary delights. www.bergisel.info

Stadtcafé in the center of Innsbruck is one of the city’s trendiest locations. The café-cum-restaurant-cum-bar serves good food and drinks, and stages a variety of cool events for the mostly young crowd.

Each Austrian city its own Sacher... In accordance with this motto the 200m² Café Sacher in Innsbruck spoils its guests with typical specialties including the world-famous Sacher Torte chocolate cake. In the summer the café has nice outdoor seating. cafes.sacher.com

Cafés in Klagenfurt
The Domgassner in Klagenfurt combines old coffee house culture with a youthful flair. With its cozy interior and good food this café is a popular meeting place for young and old alike. Café Domgassner

Opened in 1983 as Café Kamot, this jazz cellar is now one of Klagenfurt’s hottest club locations. Jazzkeller Kamot