8 Viennese Coffeehouses for Any Trip to Austria

"Breaking the classic mold, Café Prückel is a popular Ringstrasse coffeehouse with a 1950s design thanks to a revamp of its 1903 interior. Bright and airy, it stands out for its midcentury modern furnishings, formica tables, and clean, spare lines. “I want to preserve the tradition of the Old Viennese coffeehouse,” says new co-owner Thomas Hahn over lunch. “Some of the staff have been here for 30 years and are a big part of (that).” Prückel draws an eclectic neighborhood crowd: dignified ladies and couples, elderly gents hunched over their newspapers, and the odd millennial or student from the nearby University of Applied Arts — shockingly! — tapping away at their laptops. A full menu includes trendy dishes — risotto, quiche, and sophisticated salads — along with traditional fare. Among the homemade desserts, the Prückel Schnitte is the crown jewel: dark chocolate cake layered with white chocolate hazelnut cream topped with chocolate ganache and a single hazelnut. Accompany it with a Prückel Crème coffee (small espresso topped with a thin layer of cream and accompanied by a tiny pitcher of cream) and call it a day." - Veronica Stoddart