„To me, the smell of fresh-made coffee is one of the greatest inventions.“; Cafe Schwarzenberg
My first time at Cafe Schwarzenberg. It’s kind of funny, isn’t it? You live your whole life in this city. You drive past the same places every day for years. You know every tram line like the back of your hand, every shortcut through the first district – and yet you still discover something new. That’s exactly how it was with Cafe Schwarzenberg.
I’m not exaggerating when I say I drove past it almost every single day for years. Always thinking: „I really should go in there sometime.“
And as is often the case – you put it off. Weeks. Months. Years. You wait for the perfect occasion. For a visitor from out of town. For some special moment that justifies finally going in. As if you have to write yourself an invitation. Until last weekend. That’s when I finally reserved a table at Cafe Schwarzenberg. Hahaha. Better late than never, right? And honestly? Even just clicking „Reserve“ gave me that little thrill. That feeling of: Why didn’t I do this much sooner?
A piece of old Vienna
that’s simply waiting.
Cafe Schwarzenberg is located right on the Ringstrasse – at the end of the Schwarzenbergplatz in the elegant heart of the city. And as soon as you open the door, it feels like stepping into another era.
Typically old Viennese. Elegant. And yet classic.
Mirrors everywhere. High ceilings. Dark wood. Golden details. That soft clinking of porcelain. And that typical Viennese chatter that hangs in the air – not loud, not intrusive. But like a warm background sound.
I love exactly this atmosphere. And we were lucky. We got a window seat. Perfect light for photos – haha, that was actually my first thought. But not only that. You sit there surprisingly privately. Despite the mirrors, despite the hustle and bustle, despite the history. It almost feels like its own little world. And that’s exactly where our first morning at Cafe Schwarzenberg began.
Viennese breakfast
– but with a Wellness Era upgrade
I opted for the classic Viennese breakfast (Wiener Frühstück). Two Kaiser Semmeln. I’m not sure if there’s a correct translation for this word. Imagine it as a small piece of white bread. Then a croissant. Butter. Honey or jam. And a boiled egg. Honestly? Sometimes that’s all you need.
But since we’re currently in our little wellness/fitness phase (yes, I’m taking it seriously), I ordered a second boiled egg. Protein first, my dears. It was precisely this blend of tradition and our current lifestyle. Old Vienna meets 2026. I love such contrasts.
I also had a Melange and a freshly squeezed orange juice. And now I’m asking you: Does anyone remember me explaining what a Melange is before? For those of you who are new here: A Melange is basically the Viennese equivalent of a cappuccino. Espresso with hot milk, topped with milk foam. But somehow it tastes different here. Softer. Rounder. Maybe it’s the porcelain. Maybe it’s the history. Perhaps it’s the setting.
At Cafe Schwarzenberg, it certainly tastes exactly as a Melange should.
Men's breakfast
à la Ringstrasse style
My husband opted for the small breakfast. Basically the same as mine – just without the boiled egg. But. He wouldn’t be him if he’d left it at that. So he also ordered scrambled eggs with fried bacon. And let me tell you: the smell of freshly fried bacon in an old Viennese coffeehouse is somehow incredibly comforting.
To drink, he had a breakfast coffee. And this is where it gets interesting. A breakfast coffee is black coffee – served in a small pot. No frills. No milk foam. No fancy design. Just coffee. And funnily enough, this very coffee reminded me of Trieste.
Perhaps because Trieste is considered the coffee capital of Italy. Perhaps because Viennese coffee culture is historically closely linked to the port city. Or perhaps because we were there just a few months ago, and I love those kinds of memories that suddenly resurface unexpectedly. Anyway, there we were, sitting in Cafe Schwarzenberg, overlooking the Ringstrasse – and for a brief moment I was simultaneously in Vienna and in Trieste.
Beautiful History
you can taste
Café Schwarzenberg opened in 1861, making it the oldest coffeehouse on the Ringstrasse. Back then, it was called „Café Hochleitner“ before being named after the Palais Schwarzenberg. And yes – it was a meeting place from the very beginning.
Officers, artists, writers, politicians. During the monarchy, people discussed, philosophized, loved, and argued here. During the Second World War, Café Schwarzenberg was even one of the few coffeehouses that remained open continuously. Just imagine that!
A place that has survived crises, eras, and generations – and still serves breakfast. I find places like that fascinating. You sit there with your freshly squeezed orange juice and think to yourself: How many conversations have these mirrors witnessed? How many love stories? How many farewells?
Legend has it that Viennese coffee originated after the Turkish siege of Vienna in 1683. Supposedly, sacks of coffee beans were left behind, initially mistaken for camel fodder – until someone realized what a treasure they truly were. Is the story entirely true? Who knows. But I love myths like that.
my summary
Why I should have booked much earlier
It’s truly absurd. I’ve driven past it so many times. I’ve thought so often, „Someday.“ And then that „someday“ suddenly arrived—and it was so wonderful. Perhaps that’s the little reminder I want to leave you with today: You don’t always have to wait for the perfect occasion.
Reserve a table. Go for breakfast. Drink the Melange. Order a second egg if you’re currently in your fitness phase.
Cafe Schwarzenberg isn’t just for tourists or special occasions. It’s for us. For Viennese. For everyone who loves this city and wants to rediscover it again and again. And I already know: That wasn’t our last breakfast at Cafe Schwarzenberg. On the contrary. I feel like I’ve only just begun to truly see this place.
And sometimes it’s precisely that—this conscious seeing—that makes a city feel completely new again.
Yours, Vanessa 🤍
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