„When the sun sets, the rooftop comes alive – cheers to night above the city.“, -The eight, Caya Coco
Last Friday, my husband, my best friend, and I wanted to end the evening in style. Vienna has quite a few rooftop bars these days, but Caya Coco was new to our list. The pictures on Instagram immediately appealed to us: pastel vibes, casual furniture, a touch of Cuba in the middle of the city. So, we thought, let’s go – up to the roof.
And yes, visually, Caya Coco is truly a little highlight. The view over Vienna is magnificent, especially when the sun slowly sets and the city is bathed in golden light. The interior is modern, playful, and harmonious. Chairs, tables, lighting—the look is 100% perfect. Unfortunately, upon arrival, it became clear that a beautiful view alone isn’t enough to make an evening completely successful.
No room for spontaneity?
The first catch: You can’t make reservations. That might work in some bars, but at Caya Coco it leads to a classic queue situation. On a Friday evening, that meant standing in line – and a long one at that. After about 20 minutes, the staff said the only seats left were inside. Too bad, we thought, but okay. But when we went out onto the terrace, I spotted three empty tables – obviously unoccupied. Why? No idea. We sat outside anyway, because let’s be honest: anyone who goes to a rooftop bar also wants to enjoy the rooftop feeling.
“ … the view is extremly beautiful „
Self-service – with obstacles
As soon as we were seated, the next surprise came: self-service. You have to go to the cash register, order, pay, and then get your drink yourself. That might not be so bad if things were running efficiently. But unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. That evening, there was also a technical problem with the cash register system, which meant long waits. Very long. It took us about 40 minutes to get our first drink. In the midsummer temperatures, that’s not exactly ideal—neither for the atmosphere nor for thirst.
The drinks menu was surprisingly short. For a bar that places so much emphasis on atmosphere and style, I would have expected a wider selection of cocktails—creative specials, seasonal drinks, maybe a bit of Caribbean flair in the glass. But the selection was rather minimal. Many guests actually only drank the complimentary water provided—which, in a way, speaks volumes.
The first impression of the snacks was also mixed. We opted for the Cuban fries with spicy mayo – they were okay, crispy, and well-seasoned. The other options sounded promising, but didn’t look particularly appealing in the display. Perhaps it’s a matter of taste, but they didn’t convince us visually – and eating is always a bit of a mental thing.
my summary
Beautiful scenery with potential for improvement
Caya Coco definitely has the potential to become your favorite bar – just because of its location. The atmosphere is stylish, the view spectacular, and the interior thoughtfully designed. But unfortunately, it’s lacking in the basics. No reservations, self-service with an overwhelmed system, long wait times, a limited drink selection, and snacks that are more show than substance.
All of this wouldn’t be so bad if the price matched it – but Caya Coco is already priced in the league of upscale rooftop bars. And for that, you should expect service to match. Table service, a functioning ordering system, a bit more selection, and, above all, better seating management would go a long way here.
I’d currently give the rooftop bar 4 out of 10 points – and that’s with a lot of goodwill, because I really liked the ambiance. Perhaps Caya Coco will develop further. The potential is there. But until then, anyone who goes should be patient – and be aware that while the first impression is impressive, the second impression is unfortunately a little less so.
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