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Famous Cafes in Vienna: Worth Visiting for the Vibes Alone

ByTina Riegelnegg

If you’re planning a trip to Vienna, you’ve probably already seen the same cafés everywhere, Café Central, Café Sacher, and a few others that look absolutely stunning online.

But here’s the thing. Just because a café is famous doesn’t mean it’s actually worth your time.

Some of Vienna’s most iconic cafés are beautiful, yes, but they’re also expensive, crowded, and sometimes honestly a bit disappointing, especially if you’re expecting amazing coffee or food.

After living in Vienna for over a year, I’ve visited many of these famous cafés myself. And I quickly realised that most locals don’t actually go to them.

In this guide, I’ll show you the most famous cafés in Vienna, what they’re really like, what vegan options you can expect, and most importantly, which ones are actually worth it (and which ones you can skip).

1. Café Central

Exterior of Cafe Central in Vienna with ornate historic facade and large arched windows, as people line up outside the entrance on a sunny day.
Elegant dining room with vaulted ceilings, chandeliers, marble columns, and guests seated at small round tables enjoying coffee and pastries.
Dessert and coffee served at Cafe Central with a slice of cake on a white plate, a glass latte, and a napkin reading "CAFE CENTRAL WIEN SEIT 1876".
  • ⭐️ Famous for: Historic literary café, grand interior, most photographed café
  • 💸 Caffè Latte: €6.20
  • 🌱 Vegan options: breakfast, muesli, cake, potato soup (all clearly labelled)
  • ☕️ Alternative hot drinks: Chai latte, tea (soy milk available)
  • ⏰ Wait time: Almost always a queue (20–30+ minutes is common)

Café Central is the most famous café in Vienna and probably the one you’ve already seen on Instagram.

It’s undeniably beautiful inside with high ceilings, arches, and chandeliers, but it’s also much smaller than it looks online if not all areas are open.

After living in Vienna for over a year, I realised most locals don’t really go here, it’s mainly tourists who queue up. Locals just wonder who would queue up so long for a café.

👉 Read my full review here: Is Café Central Vienna worth it?

2. Gerstner K. u. K. Hofzuckerbäcker

Lively café filled with guests seated in velvet chairs beneath a mix of traditional and quirky chandeliers, surrounded by framed vintage art and documents on white paneled walls.
Grand café interior with an elaborately painted and gilded ceiling, crystal chandeliers, and a sleek black grand piano in front of a curved bar with velvet stools and a bartender preparing drinks.
Glass of frothy latte served on a white and gold-rimmed saucer with a long spoon, set on a table in a luxurious café with high ceilings, golden chandeliers, and plush seating in the background.
  • ⭐️ Famous for: Imperial palace setting, classic Viennese patisserie
  • 💸 Caffè Latte: €7.30
  • 🌱 Vegan options: One vegan chocolate cake (not great), some savoury dishes upstairs, all clearly labelled
  • ☕️ Alternative hot drinks: Chai latte, tea (oat milk available)
  • ⏰ Wait time: Can be busy! Sometimes I’ve walked straight in, other times I skipped it due to the queue

If you’re looking for imperial glamour, this one’s hard to beat. It’s located inside the 19th-century Palais Todesco, right next to the Vienna State Opera. Gerstner offers three levels.

The ground floor has a chocolate and cake shop, the first floor has a more casual café, but the upstairs salon is what people come for. That’s where you’ll get the “wow” moment with golden ceilings and ornate wood paneling.

As for the food? I’ll be honest, it’s not their strong suit if you’re vegan. They have one vegan chocolate cake, but I found it way too heavy and dense for my taste. It’s more about the setting than the sweets here if you’re vegan.

3. Café Bel Étage (Hotel Sacher)

Crowd of people standing in line outside a café with red awnings labeled "SACHER," waiting to enter the historic pastry shop.
Table inside a café with a plated dessert, teapot, cup, and glass of water, set against plush red seating and warm lighting with chandeliers.
Interior of an elegant café with deep red velvet seating, framed portraits on the walls, small tables, and soft lighting creating a cozy atmosphere.
  • ⭐️ Famous for: Home to the Original Sachertorte
  • 💸 Caffè Latte: €7.50 (Sachertorte with coffee and water is €24!)
  • 🌱 Vegan options: Chai Latte Taco Cake
  • ☕️ Alternative hot drinks: Tea (including their own blend), plant milk available
  • ⏰ Wait time: Almost always a queue (15–30+ minutes)

Café Bel Étage is the official café inside Hotel Sacher, right next to the Vienna State Opera, and there’s almost always a queue outside. I waited about 15 minutes.

There are a few tables downstairs, but the upstairs rooms are much more impressive. I was lucky to get a window seat overlooking Kärntner Straße.

The interior is full of red velvet, classic furniture, and historic-style paintings. It feels quite different from other Viennese cafés.

I had their house black tea, which was really good (even without milk). The vegan cake was small but very rich, with chai-like spices that tasted a bit like Christmas.

Many reviews say the Sachertorte is overrated. I think it depends on expectations, it’s essentially just (expensive) chocolate cake. I couldn’t try it as there’s no vegan version.

Tip: If you’re seated downstairs, go upstairs to the bathroom, it’s worth it just to see the main rooms.

4. Café Schwarzenberg

Außenansicht eines klassischen Wiener Kaffeehauses mit Sitzplätzen im Freien, über dem Eingang ein Schild mit der Aufschrift "Café Schwarzenberg" und "Wien ältestes Ringstraßencafé".
Innenraum eines traditionellen Wiener Kaffeehauses mit hohen Fenstern, schweren Vorhängen und Kronleuchtern, in dem zahlreiche Gäste an kleinen Tischen sitzen und Kaffee trinken.
Glas Latte Macchiato mit dichtem Milchschaum auf einem Tablett neben einem Glas Wasser, serviert auf einem Marmortisch in einem klassischen Wiener Kaffeehaus mit Gästen im Hintergrund.
  • ⭐️ Famous for: Oldest café on the Ringstrasse, traditional Viennese atmosphere
  • 💸 Caffè Latte: €7.50
  • 🌱 Vegan options: fruit plate, fries, sorbet
  • ☕️ Alternative hot drinks: Tea, chai latte (soy, oat or almond milk available)
  • ⏰ Wait time: Usually no or short wait

Café Schwarzenberg opened 1861 and is the oldest café on Vienna’s Ringstrasse.

What I really like here are the historic paintings on the walls (they’re reprints, but still). It almost feels a bit like sitting in a museum.

The interior isn’t as grand or over-the-top as some of the other famous cafés, but that’s exactly what makes it feel more authentic and traditional.

That said, if you’re vegan, this isn’t the best stop. There’s no vegan cake, so I’d only come here for a drink.

5. Café Landtmann

Großes historisches Gebäude an einer Straßenecke mit der Aufschrift "Café Landtmann" und einem belebten Außenbereich mit Sitzplätzen, Menschen und Blick auf die Straße bei blauem Himmel.
Innenraum eines klassischen Wiener Kaffeehauses mit langen Reihen gepolsterter Sitzbänke, Marmortischen und großen Kronleuchtern, in dem zahlreiche Gäste essen und sich unterhalten.
Stück Schichttorte mit gelber Creme und orangefarbener Glasur mit roten Linien, serviert auf einem Teller mit einem Glas Wasser und einem hohen Glas Kaffeegetränk in einem eleganten Wiener Kaffeehaus mit Kronleuchtern im Hintergrund.
  • ⭐️ Famous for: Classic Ringstrasse café, popular with politicians and locals
  • 💸 Caffè Latte: €7.50
  • 🌱 Vegan options: Mango cake (amazing), peanut & caramel brownie (haven’t tried that yet)
  • ☕️ Alternative hot drinks: Chai latte, matcha latte, tea, in winter also hot lemonade and punch (oat and almond milk available)
  • ⏰ Wait time: Usually no/short wait

Café Landtmann is one of the most well-known traditional cafés in Vienna, but the experience really depends on where you sit.

Different areas of the café look completely different. Some rooms feel elegant and classic, others are more simple.

The vegan mango cake is delicious! It’s one of the best vegan cakes I’ve had in a vegan options place in Vienna. But the Matcha Latte was horrible, so if you’re in the mood for one I recommend visiting one of Vienna’s matcha places instead.

Compared to places like Café Central, it feels a bit more relaxed and less touristy, while still giving you that classic Viennese café experience.

6. Café im Kunsthistorischen Museum Wien

The café is set in a lavish, historic interior with marble columns, intricate golden moldings, and arched windows. Guests enjoy drinks and desserts at black-and-red tables, while the opulent décor creates a majestic ambiance.
  • ⭐️ Famous for: Café under a grand museum dome
  • 💸 Caffè Latte: €7.30
  • 🌱 Vegan options: None clearly labelled
  • ☕️ Alternative hot drinks: Tea
  • ⏰ Wait time: Usually easy to find a spot (museum ticket required)

Café im Kunsthistorischen Museum Wien is located inside one of my favourite museums in Vienna, the Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien.

You can only visit the café with a museum ticket, but if you’re planning to go anyway (which I highly recommend), it’s the perfect place for a break.

The setting is what makes this café special. It sits right under a huge dome, surrounded by marble columns, and honestly feels more like part of the museum than a café.

The menu, on the other hand, is pretty average. Reviews are mixed, and I wouldn’t come here just for the food or service. It is just a museum café after all.

7. Café Imperial

Kleines rundes Dessert mit frischen Himbeeren in leuchtendem Rot, angerichtet auf einem weißen Teller mit Gabel und Serviette, auf einem gedeckten Tisch in einem eleganten Café mit Blumenstrauß und Gästen im Hintergrund.
Prunkvoller Innenraum mit hohen Decken, großen Kristalllüstern und roten Samtsesseln, dekoriert mit goldenen Details und einem großen Porträt an der Wand, in einem historischen Gebäude mit Marmorboden und großen Fenstern.
Lobby at Hotel Imperial
  • ⭐️ Famous for: Luxury hotel café inside a former Viennese palace
  • 💸 Caffè Latte: €8.50
  • 🌱 Vegan options: Vegan cakes available (not labelled, ask staff)
  • ☕️ Alternative hot drinks: Tea (€12!)
  • ⏰ Wait time: Usually easy to get a table

Café Imperial is part of the famous Hotel Imperial, so I had pretty high expectations. But honestly, I was a bit disappointed. The café didn’t feel as grand as I expected.

I don’t drink coffee, and I wasn’t willing to pay around €12 for tea, so I ended up just having tap water and cake.

They do have vegan cake, but it’s not labelled. The waiter was very knowledgeable though. The raspberry “cake” looked like a giant rasperry, but it wasn’t really a cake. It was more like a light, foamy mousse inside, not what I expected.

Tip: Don’t miss having a peek into the hotel lobby, it looks absolutely stunning and is much more impressive than the café itself.

*8. Aufzug Café

Barista dressed in a vintage porter-style uniform prepares drinks behind a café counter labeled “Portier,” surrounded by postcards, a specials board, and warm retro décor.
Woman smiling while seated inside a cozy wooden booth designed like a historic elevator, sipping a drink with cake on the side, surrounded by trailing ivy and antique details in a themed café setting.
View from inside a vintage wooden café booth looking toward the main room, with a table set for two featuring a cappuccino, a latte, and slices of cake, framed by a coat rack and decorative glass panels.
  • ⭐️ Famous for: not famous yet but it’s so pretty, you shouldn’t miss it
  • 💸 Caffè Latte: €4.70
  • 🌱 Vegan options: Usually one vegan cake (the carrot cake was delicious)
  • ☕️ Alternative drinks: Chai latte, matcha latte, golden milk, chocolate, tea (oat milk available)
  • ⏰ Wait time: No reservations, very limited seating in the lift boxes

Aufzug means lift in German, and this tiny café lets you enjoy your drink inside a real vintage elevator box. There are three different ones, each with a small bilingual sign explaining its origin and age.

It’s just a short walk from the main train station, not the prettiest area, but super convenient. When I went with a friend on a Friday afternoon, we got lucky and grabbed one of the lift seats.

One of the staff was even dressed in an old-school uniform, which was a nice touch.

They had a few cakes on offer, including a really good vegan carrot cake. With its quirky details and unique concept, this place is absolutely worth a visit, if you can get a seat.

Are Famous Cafés in Vienna Worth It?

Vienna’s famous cafés are famous for a reason.

They’re beautiful, historic, and part of the city’s identity. Sitting in one of them, even just once, can feel like stepping back in time.

But if I’m being honest, most of them are more about the atmosphere than the actual food or drinks. And if you’re vegan, your options are often limited or underwhelming.

That doesn’t mean you should skip them completely.

I’d still recommend visiting one or two, just don’t feel like you have to queue for every famous name on the list.

Because the truth is, some of the best cafés in Vienna aren’t the ones you see all over Instagram.

👉 If you’re looking for cafés with actually good vegan options (and no long queues), check out my guide to the best vegan cafés in Vienna.

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Elegant Viennese café interior with chandeliers and guests seated at tables with text overlay reading "Famous Cafés in Vienna" and smaller images showing a red velvet lounge and a grand café with a piano and ornate decor plus "AustrianVeganderlust.com" at the bottom.
Top Cafes in Vienna: Honest Local Guide

Tina Riegelnegg is the founder of Austrian Veganderlust. After travelling the world and documenting her adventures on Veganderlust, she created this blog to share the beauty of her home country, Austria. Tina now focuses on helping travellers discover the best spots in Austria, including where to find the most delicious vegan food.