Café Sperl

The true Viennese atmosphere is here. For a coffee or a breakfast all day is good. Recommend this place 100%. You have to walk a bit outside the city centre but it’s worth it. Reasonable price and good food. Coffee is very good. Better to book a table, queue is often but it moves quick.

Though located slightly further from city center, the price per portion was much better than some of the other cafes. Staff was also very friendly, and gave us the choice of where to sit, instead of immediately deciding for us. The weiner schnitzel was succulent and wasn't too filling, which was great, as it allowed room for a cup of coffee and dessert. The included potato salad is my personal favorite from all the restaurants I've eaten - there isn't as much acidity, and much "smoother" to eat. It's so good that I could eat just the salad as a main dish. The apple strudel was also excellent. Instead of apple chunks, the pie was layered with thin apple slices. The sourness of the apples combined with the whipped cream were a perfect match. Despite my short stay in Vienna, this is definitely my go to place the next time I return.

I’ve been cafe-hopping around Vienna, and Cafe Sperl truly stands out — the food quality here is far more delicious than many other popular spots. Tucked away in a quaint corner, it feels like a hidden gem beloved by locals. I didn’t bump into any other tourists during my visit. The staff are lovely, and the place exudes a peaceful old-world charm and timeless elegance. I wish I lived in Vienna so I could come back more often. Thank you for such a wonderful experience — and as a bonus, it’s one of the filming locations from Before Sunrise, which adds a touch of movie magic to the visit!

I definitely recommend this place for an authentic Viennese experience. You can enjoy the full-day breakfast or the regular dishes. There are tons of coffee specialties. The atmosphere is delightful and the service is nice. Make sure you check out opening times as they tend to be closed on Sundays during the summer time. Please enjoy the beautiful seating area inside as they have never changed it since the day they opened.

An absolute treasure! Stepping inside is like traveling back in time, as the beautiful, true architecture has been impeccably preserved, offering a genuinely authentic and premium Viennese coffee house experience. In my trip to Vienna last month, I tried their legendary chocolate cake and coffee. The cake was sublime, and the coffee was perfectly brewed. The experience was elevated even further by the truly kind and attentive staff.

I had a great birthday meal in Cafe Sperl. Their schnitzel and pasta comes with delicious sides. Then we had cakes ans coffee. They serve every customer with attention and care despite the place being so busy. Hope I could go back to this lovely place.

I visited the café featured in Before Sunrise, and the atmosphere instantly brought back scenes from the movie—it felt magical. The furniture shows its age, as it’s a very old café, but that only adds to the charm. The staff were friendly, though I found the coffee itself to be just average.

There's a really nice atmosphere to this place, I went back after a couple of years, and still find it a great option among the coffee houses. This time I sat outside, nicely in the shade. Mix of customers, and an interesting, slightly different style of apple strudel, appreciated for a change. One of the waiters clearly enjoyed spreading some special Viennese charm, also much appreciated.

This place was recommended to me by a friend. I didn't realize it was famous until I got there and saw that there was a line. It took me about 30 min to get seated on a weekend morning. The reviews I read for this place were very polarized. Some said this place was a must visit while others said it was too touristy and expensive. I agree that the price is a bit high but I enjoyed my experience overall. The inside is beautiful but the service is slow like most places in Vienna. You need to flag down your server if you need anything or if you need to pay your bill. The coffee was tasty and came out quick. The desserts they had in stock all looked delicious. I got the Schnitte which is a chocolate and almond flavored cake. The cake is very thin and flaky rather than spongy. It isn't served super fresh though as they just leave out all the desserts in a glass container. It was good but nothing crazy. If the line isn't too bad, give this place a try since I think it was featured in a movie and that would be a cool experience to try. But if the line is long, just skip it and go somewhere else. Vienna has plenty of great cafes.

Pretty good overall. The food was average, but the coffee was good & overall vibes of the cafe were great. Felt like we got the true Vienna-cafe experience without having to wait super long in line.

Ich liebe diesen Ort! €10-20 für ein schnelles Mittagessen. empfehle diesen Ort. Pflaumenkuchen ist köstlich!

This is one of the old-school cafés in Vienna. It is located in a quiet area, only a couple of blocks from the famous Naschmarkt. Unlike other famous cafés like Café Central, you do not need to wait to get in. Café Sperl was used for filming several movies, such as "A Dangerous Method" and "Before Sunset" (https://www.imdb.com/search/title/?locations=Caf%C3%A9%20Sperl,%20Vienna,%20Austria).

Such a lovely traditional Viennese coffeehouse! Every time I'm here I love it even more. The interior is so beautiful and the drinks dishes are very authentic and affordable. We had the pumpkin soup, risotto, truffle fries, a Hugo, and an iced coffee which were all great and well priced. The servers were sweet and helpful also. Definitely try it when you're in Vienna. It gets hot inside in the summer but the setting is just so aesthetic!

The Apple Strudel was good. It came without whipped cream though. Don't assume it comes with it, ask! Service was adequate, servers were not friendly or courteous but they did service us. It feels authentic inside with the high ceilings and fabric seating. A great selection of coffee and pastries.

We visited this cafe while visiting Vienna in April 2022 to try The classic Viennese dishes and had no complaints. The Cafe was in a quiet neighborhood away from the busy Stephenplatz. Mask mandate was still in place and we were asked to show proof of vaccinations. The waitress was helpful even though we were English speaking only. Overall we enjoyed our experience and would recommend it. Do expect slower service in line with the Viennese Cafe culture. We were on vacation so no issue for us as we were relaxing from our sightseeing.

The only thing this place has going of them is the ambience and drinks. Poor customer service. Hard Pass. Rate: 1.5/10

The Sacher is really moist and very good. The glaze on top is creamy but very good. It's a different version from the one of the Hotel Sacher but kinda like it more! Cappuccino very good a bit small.

A favorite of intellectuals since 1880 Cafe Sperl feels like it has been preserved with a patina, its name maintained despite being purchased by Adolf Kratochwilla four years later and many of the original recipes unchanged over the ensuing 140 years. Home to everyone from Josef Ferdinand to poets and composers across the decades, tiny wooden tables and men in three-piece suits reading newspapers suggesting little has changed, guests are invited to choose from any table lacking a "Reserved" sign as these are held for regulars. A frequent recipient of international awards for best Coffeehouse, the Beans medium-roasted and blended to exacting specifications, Drinks should undoubtedly be accompanied by signature Sperl Schnitte with its ribbon of Fudge between buttery Crust and crackling top. Frank in terms of service, with billiards tables adjacent the restroom, Sperl's Sachertorte most certainly won't be mistaken for "the Original" thanks to a more open crumb and what seems to be Buttercream Frosting while Apfelstrudel is more pale than many but tough to fault thanks to shaved Fruit and plenty of Breadcrumbs inside delicate Puff Pastry.

We visited in December 2018 and this was, by far, our favorite cafe. True, you can get better coffee at other places (not coffee houses, for the most part) but Cafe Sperl was not overrun with tourists, the interior was classic and warm (literally, too, because it was snowing outside), the food was really good (classic Austrian dishes) and the pastries were wonderful. We enjoyed coming in for lunch and staying to read, rest, talk and people watch for an hour or so.

Cafe Sperl is by far my favorite cafe in all of Vienna. It's away from all the usual touristy spots, the decor is rich, guests fascinating, and the coffee delightful. But the absolute best thing here is the warm apfelstrudel, with its mound of slightly tart apples, blanketed by a thin layer of cinnamon and brown sugar, and the thinnest, most flakiest dough. I cannot get enough.

Eisbänner coffee was good. Erdäpfel vogerl salat (potato lamb's lettuce salad with smoked salmon) was delicious and refreshing, and the potatoes were really amazing. This was the only salad that was actually quite light. The other two salads we got were quite carb-loaded and heavy. Eirnockerl salat (egg flour dumplings salad) had quite dense flour dumplings, but they were still good. Geröstete knödel mit ei salat (roasted bread dumplings with egg salad) was delicious, and I liked the bread dumplings more than the egg flour dumplings, as the bread dumplings were lighter and more flavorful. Apple strudel was warm with good flakiness and softness (I think we lucked out and got it super fresh out of the oven). Service was not too friendly, but we were pretty obviously tourists, and I wanted a more local vibe. The Viennese cafe ambience was quite nice with tall and grand spaces inside.

Beautiful ambiance, lovely strudel and all the necessaries (newspaper, coffee, etc). Very near the theater an der wein.

Was a little disappointed with the service here. We sat at our table for a solid 30 minutes before the waiter came to take our order. It was pretty overpriced as well. At least the Eiskaffe was good.

Sat for thirty minutes after being handed menus, and no waiter came by to take our order despite us making eye contact with two separate waiters and raising our hands and menus as we did so. When they served other people nearby but not us we finally got up and left. As we handed back the menus we told them we would have liked to order: if they would have stopped by to take it. The waiters all didn't say anything, except for one who asked where we were sitting. When we pointed it out he shrugged and said we weren't his responsibility because we weren't in his section. I know coffee house servers are notoriously brusque but this was beyond that. They were bussing tables only a couple of meters away from us and ignoring our attempts to get their attention.

Nice location for a morning coffee. Cafe can get quite busy and WiFi may be limited to 1 hour

Clean, comfortable atmosphere. We were greeted promptly and invited to choose our seat. We choose a small booth by the large mirror and lovely views through the windows. We were next to a coat rack to shrug our outerwear and greeted promptly with menus. The intent for our visit was coffee and pastries, but a nice frühstuck and brunch selections. The apfel strüdel and Salzburg cheesecake were tasty. My husband and I switched desserts but enjoyed them both. I always ask about card vs. Cash so I can conserve for emergencies. Happy to report they accept credit/debit cards! I took a few photos but being Easter, it wasn't the time. Definitely would return for a few hours with a book or meeting a girlfriend

Breakfast sport recommended by our concierge at Le Meridian Hotel. It is a good mixture of local and tourist guests. The seating is first come. The place is busy and the staff is semi friendly. Great coffee. Recommend the Pearl Breakfast that comes with a pot of coffee and bread. I enjoyed the ham and omelette. Vary flavorful and fulfilling. The food comes out quick. Not a long wait. Major con: They do not take American Express.

Really good, old school Viennese cafe. Conservative decor; one could imagine having hushed discussions about matters of state or indeed deep questions of psychiatry. The food is excellent, notably breakfast. Highly recommended.

LONG time coming, but the coffee and apple strudel were great. My first introduction to Viennese-flavored coffee came my first year in college - a long time ago. Later, I was able to get the Viennese coffee of Cafe Sperl from Gevalia.com online. That kept the memory alive for me, but I still had not a chance to taste it from the source. Well.... My wife and I recently took a tour of Austria and Switzerland. As it happened, our first day was in Vienna. I knew I had to get to Cafe Sperl. I found it and did go there. The place was well decorated and simply looked "classy" - as I expected it would. The staff were professional and quite pleasant. I ordered a coffee with whipped cream, and an Apple Strudel. The coffee tasted as I had imagined it would, maybe even a bit better. The coffee I had started with in college was good, but this was the "real thing" from the original place. Delicious! I know I say it often - "if you're ever in the neighborhood, check them out" - kinda hard to do without much planning and very long plane ride to get, "in the neighborhood" - but if you DO go to Vienna, try to make your way to Cafe Sperl. It was worth the trip for me; I'm sure it will be for you as well.

The service here was the best in all Vienna, for us! The lady was so sweet! She made our children to seat in another table so my husband and I could have a very nice breakfast! Her idea!!! We eat very good, the coffee was delicious. Highly recommend it :)

Loved the atmosphere of Cafe Sperl. I stopped in for a Viennese treat and espresso and entered a different era in this establishment. I was lucky to be present for the live pianist on a Saturday afternoon. The cake I had was delicious - chocolate with nuts. The only downside was the temperature inside was a little hot but that was fine by me with a fan and glass of water.

An elegant and classy place to get a coffee, work, or eat some food. It's the perfect example of what I would consider a classic Viennese cafe, so if you've never been to one, put this on your list. It's off the tourist track, so you'll be surrounded by locals, and if you're lucky, you'll hear some piano too.

Great way to experience Vienna coffee culture without the tourist and the lines. Went twice during my time in Vienna, great coffee and good for a quick breakfast.

We went quite early (was looking to go to Naschmarkt for breakfast but for some reason it was not open during stated open times) and there were a handful of guests. Half seemed to be locals and the other half tourists, like us. We were seated by the window, which looked like typically reserved seating. I had eggs and sausage and my husband had just sausage. The coffees were very good. They have a giant table with all the newspapers and magazine. We saw a local gentleman enjoying his Saturday morning, reading many newspapers and taking his time - something we love about Viennese cafe culture!

We are two turists who waited for 15 minutes to come in to this nice looking cafe. A live piano was playing and the seating was very nice, but to our surprise the food ingrediens like bread and salat was very low quality and the waiters were very rude. It was especially the service that made it an unpleasend experience. Wouldn't recommend

This is a classic Viennese coffee shop. The apple strudel was delish, flakey and rich. The cappuccino/melange was perfection. I was there at late afternoon. Very relaxed quiet and able enjoy the vintage atmosphere.

Love the atmosphere in this Viennese coffee shop! The service was quick but not rushed. I also loved the variety of newspapers available to read. I ordered the Maria Theresia (coffee with orange liquor) because my friend had recommended it from when he visited Vienna. It's supposedly a Viennese specialty. I'm not the hugest fan of alcohol or non-sugary coffee, so it wasn't my favorite, but I imagine if I ordered better for my tastes, I would have really liked my drink. The coffee is also served with a glass of water which is supposed to be had after the coffee to neutralize the palate or something like that, according to my tour guide. I also had the Salzburg cheesecake. Definitely more of a spongey cake than a NY cheesecake. It wasn't overly sweet, and I really like the crisp top layer.

Traditional Vienna coffee. Very nice inside. Vintage look and quite atmospheric. Smoke free and very friendly service. Do not go inside at a hot day. Prices are normal.

When I am on this part of the Gumpendorferstrasse and want a cup of tea or glass of wine, I am always faced with a decision. Do I want to go new-style Viennese café and go to Phil .... or do I want to go to a traditional Viennese coffeehouse and stop in Sperl? Today the answer was Café Sperl. Café Sperl is everything you think a Viennese coffeehouse should be. Not only does it look the part, it acts the part. For over a hundred years, customers have enjoyed its charm .... and so will you - if you can get a table. And the waiters and waitresses are not totally grumpy here! Café Sperl is classic Vienna!

The waitresses were rude, slow, smelt like cigarettes and didn't make the slightest effort to speak English. Adding to the lousy service, the waitress seemed to be offended as we didn't give her the tip she really didn't deserve. The coffee and pastries were mediocre. That's why I gave two stars instead of one. The cafe was systematic in its approach: everything was old, wornout and messy. This applied to the furniture, menu, waitresses and toilets.

Great service despite the fact that they're very busy all the time. The history of the place and the character they've preserved until today makes everything even more special. We enjoyed our poppy seed pie and teas. Location is convenient if you're tired after the Naschmarkt.

Stopped in to this cozy cafe for my morning routine and was very impressed by their coffee menu. This classic cafe with Viennese gourmet deserts were a perfect starter. Sperl is among several cafés in the area, and nearby some very nice shops. Over the weekend I also discovered several spots in the area for nightlife that are worth checking out. Sperl is open till 11 on saturdays, which was a nice meeting spot for friends.

Ok lets start with the decorations..... it's like from a different age something of the old Vienna!!! The staff is short for this establishment that is why they are a bit late... but smiles everywhere I love them!!!! Lets talk about food , I like the variety the flavors very nice, well I had the eggs with tomatoes and bacon and cheese so it's easy!!!! But good!!! Hear me coffee lovers everywhere try the karlsbader brewing FEEL REAL COFFEE.... overall I left happy and full!!!

My wife wanted to experience a real coffee house. This one was close to our hotel and was well rated. She advised me that coffee houses were famous for slow service and surly wait staff so I needed to be prepared. We did have a short wait after we sat down but nothing to what I was expecting. It was actually good as it gave us a bit of time to look around and soak up the atmosphere. The waiter couldn't have been nicer. Switched to English once he realized we didn't speak German. Our order was delivered quickly and we had a nice time drinking our coffee and eating our apple strudel. The coffee was perfect and the strudel was better than I was expecting. Not the best I've ever had but still way better that way passes for apple strudel in North America. All in all a good experience.

We came on this café at 6pm, dinner hour according to our guide. First, the waitresses saw us and waited like 10mn before asking us how many we were. Then, when made our choice, called the waitress. She said that the kitchen is almost close, and that they are only serving like 4 meals. At dinner time... So we ate pasta with bacon, probably microwaved (was good but... Who can fail it?) And the waitresses were unpleasant. So we won't recommend, and we won't come back

Stopped by here for a coffee on the way over to the market. We were sat quickly and our order was taken. I wasn't sure in which places people prefer for you to sit yourself or if you need to wait, but I think here you need to wait. We ordered two coffees, which came fairly quickly. It is a very nice cafe, and was quiet on a Tuesday morning. The food coming out to the other tables looked very fresh and tasty, but we didn't have time to have lunch. The cakes looked nice, but can't vouch they are good. If I go back to Vienna I will certainly go here to read a book and order some lunch, nice space and relaxing cafe!

The decor is really old which is what you expect in a historical cafe, but rather chabby and unmaintained. The food is acceptable but not great. However the reason for the one star is the service, our waiter with a beautifully maintained mustache and glasses was so unpleasant, sometimes nasty and inattentive. Will never go back.

We visited here several times when we were in Vienna about 9 years ago. it was welcoming, charming with very good pastry. We would slip down to it from our nearby hotel on Mariahilferstrasse for a late afternoon coffee and pastry. It made our stay in Vienna warm and pleasant.

Great place for an authentic Viennese coffee and a sweet. It is so crowded it can take a few minutes to get a table, but this is a wonderful place to take a load off your feet and warm up from the cold outside. Waitresses must, as with everywhere else, be flagged down, but the atmosphere is pleasant enough that you will not mind the inattention.

Elegant & pretty. Great location to stop and relax and take in lovely Vienna. I will return.

This was just an okay café experience. The atmosphere was not as warm, inviting, and cozy as I expected. It felt more like a regular coffee shop or restaurant with the addition of newspapers. They do offer several different publications, in both German and English. We ordered a cheese strudel and sausage. The strudel was good, but I wouldn't label it as a strudel. It was more like a very light cheesecake with phyllo dough on top because the filling tasted like sweetened ricotta. The sausage tasted like any other sausage. It was boiled, so there wasn't really anything too exciting going on there. The waitress that served us was not very pleasant. She did not smile once and seemed to refuse to speak English. This soured our overall experience and we did not end up staying very long.

Lovely lovely lovely atmosphere! Very quiet and quaint. Had the hot chocolate and rolls for two, accompanied by a ham omelette. Food was great and service was speedy but they didn't try to hustle us out the door. Welcome for tourists and locals. Can't rave on this place enough - if I visit Vienna again, Cafe Sperl is at the top of the list!!

Our favorite of the classic Vienna cafes. This one has the iconic billiards, newspapers, and velvet-covered booths. The service was friendly and attentive, and the breakfast fare was enjoyable (if--as expected--somewhat unremarkable). Of course, one doesn't really come here for the food or even specially for the quality of the coffee (which was also fine) but rather to be transported back to the turn of the century. And this one does it the best of the lot.

If you are looking for an authentic and old fashioned Viennese café, you are here in the right place! The seats are comfy, the tables tiny, the staff looks pride but is actually friendly and helpful. The room is huge, with a very high ceiling which increases this impression of space. As for the drinks: the coffee there is simply very, very good; the famous "mélange" too. The bakeries are amazing as well... People come here to get some "real coffee", and chat or read their journal like all Austrians do. An agreeable place to spend a nice and relaxing moment!

The reason this place gets two stars is because of their nice patio outside and for one of the nice waitstaff. However, it lost a star for another waitstaff, and because, I have never had a topfen cake that I found disgusting. It really was, almost like raw egg oozing out of it. My friend said it was just rolled in excessive melted butter, but well.... I like the taste of melted butter. This was not the case. How does one mess up topfen? Then, the next treat was chocolate hazelnut. Was so much like corn syrup with fake coco taste that I did not even finish the half. Which is sad because I rarely allow myself to eat treats, so when I finally do it, its just not worth it. Extra disappointing. The coffee... well.... its standard typical Vienna coffee, small cups for 3.60 Euros or more. Treats around the same price, and while the portion is fair, you just want to return it. Overall, go not hungry on a Sunday mid morning (generally Cafes in Vienna are not busy if its not the main spot) and have a peppermint tea as you enjoy the outside patio.

The atmosphere is incredible, from the curtly servers to the authentic and old decor. The coffee is fantastic and the food looks great. I had a roll with butter and marmalade but kept dreaming of the omelet my neighbors were eating. I can't wait to return to Vienna and revisit this gem.

Of the several traditional Viennese cafes that I have visited, Cafe Sperl was the least touristy of them all. The interior [spacious dining area with brass chandeliers, antiques (clocks, mirrors, etc)] is a little more demure than other cafes. However, we didn't have to wait in line for a table, and I felt at ease upon seating down. The service was spotty. Early on, the waitresses were quick to give us menus and take our orders, but after our meal, it took a long while and some effort from us before we got someone to come back to give us our check. I got the mushroom risotto with grated parmesan cheese with a side salad, and it was great (and at a great price)! Then to end my meal with a Melange was delightful! Highly recommended!