Karynne A.
Yelp
Cafe Hawelka offers some very tasty coffee, some of the best I've had in Vienna (and I pride myself on being an English-writing and Yelping coffee connoisseur. A very specific distinction, I know.)
Cafe Hawelka is both your typical Viennese YOTCH (Yea Olde Traditional Coffee House) and not your typical Viennese YOTCH, what a paradox! The ambiance is that of a tiny, smokey living room, with too much furniture and furniture that's too large for the room. (It reminded me of the description of the mistress's apartment in The Great Gatsby..)
There's no menu you can peruse at your table, just a chalkboard when you first enter the cafe. I think you're expected to just order your coffee, and perhaps a pastry as well; if memory serves me correctly, there's a pastry display, which makes it easier for non-German-speakers, although I'm pretty sure most of the waitstaff speak a bit of English.
If I were rating this place on my YOTCH scale, it would get a 5. However, since it's an atypical Viennese YOTCH (as far as I've encountered: the ambiance is different, the coffee is not only drinkable, but amazing..), it will be rated on the regular coffee house scale.
That being said, on the regular coffee house scale (I know, I'm a very complicated Yelper), this place gets 4 stars for the sole reason that it's so damn expensive. Like seriously ridiculously expensive, y'all. It has great coffee, yes, but even Orlando di Castello (also in the First District, different but really cool/"hip" ambiance), has equally amazing coffee and you can get it considerably cheaper from the walk-up Italian bar (€2? €3?), or for around the same price (but a larger portion) at your table (€3,90ish).