The History of a Coffeehouse in Vienna

Far-travelled guests will nowhere get closer to the Viennese than in their coffeehouse. In fact, the famous Wiener Melange (Viennese coffee speciality) also describes the very special mix of coffeehouse visitors. Opened on the occasion of the Universal Exhibition in 1873 and located in the former private residence of the Prince of Württemberg and today's Hotel Imperial, the Café Imperial Wien soon became the meeting place of Vienna's society.

No wonder, as apart from guests‘ choice of daily newspapers and magazines, special wishes or orders including the reservation of one's regular seat are taken care of by the waiter with utmost discretion.

Anton Bruckner, for instance, always ordered an extra serving of Gugelhupf cake. Peter Altenberg and Hugo Wolf just stopped by for coffee, while Sigmund Freud found inspirations for his studies here. Hugo von Hofmannsthal, Franz Werfel, Elias Canetti and Stefan Zweig spent many hours here. And from the nearby Musikverein and Vienna State Opera Arnold Schönberg, Alban Berg, Anton Webern, Johannes Brahms, Gustav Mahler and his wife Alma came to the Café regularly.

The Viennese coffee house has always been a meeting place for society and literary figures. Many masterpieces have been penned by great writers at Café Imperial Wien, and every guest here is special. The tradition lives on and is carefully cultivated. People meet here for breakfast, supper or dinner, for a small black or large brown. Classic Viennese specialties are served in the listed Café Imperial Wien - from fine boiled beef to fluffy Kaiserschmarrn and probably the best schnitzel in town.