Cathedrals of Caffeine. 🏛️
In 1913, Freud, Trotsky, Tito, and Stalin all lived in Vienna. They all frequented the same cafes. The history of the 20th century was plotted over a Melange.
Café Central
Grand, vaulted ceilings and portraits of Emperor Franz Joseph. Trotsky played chess here. It is touristy now, but the architecture is undeniable.
Café Sperl
Unchanged since 1880. No music, just the scratch of pens and the rustle of newspapers. This is where you go to write your novel (or just pretend to).
The Cake War. 🍰
The "Sacher Torte" is a dry chocolate cake with apricot jam. Two institutions fought a 9-year legal battle over who could call theirs the "Original."
Hotel Sacher
They won the lawsuit. Their cake has two layers of jam. It is served in plush red velvet rooms. Expect a long line of tourists.
Demel
The "Eduard Sacher Torte." They lost the suit but kept the recipe. Theirs has one layer of jam under the icing. It was the favorite of Empress Sisi.
The Verdict
Honestly? They are both a bit dry (that's the style). You must eat it with a mountain of unsweetened whipped cream ("Schlagobers") to make it work.
The Smoky Soul. 🚬
If Central is for emperors, Hawelka is for artists. Dark, brooding, and famous for its "Buchteln" (sweet yeast buns filled with plum jam).
The Walls
The walls were once covered in art given by penniless painters to pay for their coffee. It retains a smoky, intellectual atmosphere (though smoking is now banned).
10 PM Buchteln
The Buchteln are only served fresh after 10 PM. It is a late-night ritual. Arrive early, order a wine, and wait for the smell of baking dough.