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Café Central in Vienna: Beautiful but Worth the Queue?
Café Central is closed until autumn 2026.
If you search for famous cafés in Vienna, Café Central will appear everywhere. It’s one of the most photographed cafés in the city, and on social media it often looks like a place you absolutely have to visit.
But after living in Vienna for more than a year, I noticed that I didn’t actually know any locals who go there.
Most people I know simply walk past it and wonder why you would ever queue up for a café. The ones who talk about visiting Café Central are always tourists.
Still, after seeing the long queues outside countless times, I started wondering if I was missing something. Was Café Central really worth the hype, or just another overhyped tourist spot?
So I finally decided to try it myself.
I visited on a weekday afternoon in March, which is a relatively quiet time for tourism in Vienna. Even then there was still a queue outside. It looked short compared to what I usually see there, but I still had to wait about 20 minutes to get a table.
In this post, I’ll share what it’s actually like inside Café Central, what the food and drinks are like (the vegan options), and whether I think Café Central Vienna is really worth visiting.
Why Café Central Is So Famous
There are many beautiful cafés in Vienna, but Café Central is probably the most famous one.
It first opened in 1876 and quickly became a meeting place for writers, artists, and intellectuals. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, people would come here to discuss politics, literature, and philosophy while drinking coffee.
Because of this history, Café Central became one of the symbols of Vienna’s traditional coffeehouse culture.
Today, however, most visitors come for a different reason. The grand interior with its high ceilings, arches, and elegant chandeliers makes it one of the most photographed cafés in Vienna.
It also appears in countless Instagram posts and TikTok videos. That popularity is exactly why there is almost always a long queue outside the door.
My Experience Visiting Café Central
Even though Café Central is so famous, it took me more than a year of living here before I finally went inside.
I finally decided to try Café Central myself on a weekday afternoon in March.
March is generally a quieter time for tourism in Vienna, so I expected the queue to be short. And compared to what I usually see outside the café, it actually was.
Even so, I still had to wait about 20 minutes before getting a table.
The line that day was very small. Usually when I walk past Café Central, the queue is at least twice that size, sometimes even longer.
Because of that, my guess is that on an average day you’ll usually probably wait around 30 minutes or more to get inside.
What It’s Like Inside Café Central
There’s no question about it. Café Central is a beautiful café.
The main dining room has high ceilings with elegant arches, large columns, and classic chandeliers. The whole place feels very grand and a bit like stepping into a historic palace.
It’s easy to see why so many photos and videos of Café Central go viral online. But one thing surprised me when I first walked in. The café is actually smaller than I expected.
From social media and travel videos, it looks much bigger than it really is. Once you’re inside, you realise the main seating area isn’t huge.
The Courtyard Isn’t Always Open
One reason the café looks bigger online is the inner courtyard.
If you search for Café Central online, you’ll often see photos of a beautiful courtyard area with a staircase leading up to the first floor. It looks very elegant, but when I visited, that section was closed.
I’ve also peeked inside Café Central other times while walking past, and quite often the courtyard area was closed then as well.
Vegan Food and Drinks at Café Central
Café Central is best known for its coffee and classic Viennese café menu. There are many different coffee drinks, as well as desserts, breakfast options, and some main dishes.
There are actually a few vegan choices on the menu. For breakfast, Café Central offers a vegan breakfast plate, served until 11:30 am on weekdays and until 1 pm on weekends. There is also vegan muesli.
You’ll also find some vegan main dishes.
However, I personally wouldn’t go to Café Central for a full meal. The dishes are quite expensive and the food doesn’t seem particularly special. The café is really more about the experience and atmosphere.
What I Ordered
I don’t drink coffee, so instead I ordered a chai latte. It was fine, but nothing special.
I also asked if they had a vegan cake, and they did. The one I tried (the only one they had) was a passion fruit and tonka bean cake, and it was actually very good. Fruity, rich, and surprisingly delicious.
For the chai latte and the cake, I paid just under €15.
Is Café Central Vienna Worth It?
So, after finally visiting Café Central, the big question is: is it actually worth it?
In my opinion, the answer is yes and no.
The café itself is definitely beautiful. The historic interior is impressive, and it’s easy to see why so many people want to visit. Sitting there for a coffee and cake can be a nice experience, especially if it’s your first time in Vienna.
However, the main downside is the queue.
Even when I visited during a quieter time of year, I still had to wait about 20 minutes, and the line was much shorter than usual. Most of the time, the queue outside Café Central is much longer.
Because of that, I personally don’t think it’s worth waiting a long time to get in.
Vienna has so many beautiful cafés, and some of them offer a similar atmosphere without the long queues.
A Better Alternative: Café Gerstner
If you still want to visit a beautiful historic café in Vienna but don’t want to queue for a long time, I personally recommend Café Gerstner instead.
It’s located near the Vienna State Opera, about a 10 minute walk from Café Central.
Café Gerstner has three different floors, each one is a bit different and the second floor is the really impressive part. The rooms here are incredibly elegant and honestly feel more like a palace than a café.
You might still have to wait a little for a table sometimes, but the queues are usually much shorter than at Café Central.
If you enjoy visiting historic cafés, this is definitely one I’d recommend adding to your list. And if you’d like more ideas, check out my guide to the most beautiful cafés in Vienna, where I share several stunning spots that are worth visiting.
Read more about Vienna:
- 11 Absolute Best Things to Do in Vienna from a Local
- Where to Stay in Vienna: Best Areas & Hotels from a Local
- 7 Stunning Palaces in Vienna You Shouldn’t Miss
- Ultimate Guide to Schönbrunn Palace and Gardens in Vienna
- Hofburg Palace in Vienna: What to See & Ticket Comparison
- Sisi in Vienna: 10 Fascinating Places Linked to the Empress
- 13 Unbelievable Free Things to Do in Vienna from a Local
- Unique Things to Do in Vienna You Won’t Find Anywhere Else
- 33 Best Museums in Vienna Sorted by Category
- Free Museums in Vienna: Always Free & Special Free Days
- 13 Top Day Trips from Vienna You Can Do by Train
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