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Aida
An icon of the Konditorei scene, Aida is a time warp for coffee lovers. Its pink and brown colour scheme - right down to the waitresses' socks - matches the 1950s retro decor (all genuine of course) perfectly, and most of the clientele are well into retirement. Order a Melange and a slice of cake (there are almost 30 to choose from) and head upstairs to spy on the activity on Kärntner Strasse. Twenty-six such gems are scattered throughout Vienna.
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Amacord
This small cellar café has been around for donkey's years. It's popularity stems from its convivial vibe, friendly staff, lovely vaulted ceilings, comfy surroundings and good, affordable food. Viennese classics are mixed in with a healthy range of Italian pastas and the salad selection is extensive. However, some will find the smoke overpowering as the evening rolls on, and trying to find a seat on a Saturday morning is a fruitless enterprise.
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Amerlingbeisl
Amerlingbeisl's solid Austrian fare (and sprinkling of Italian pasta dishes) won't set your tastebuds alight but when combined with the setting, this is a lovely place to dine. Situated in the pedestrian quarter of Spittelberg, an old-worldly spot of tight cobblestone streets and quirky shops, this Beisl's inner courtyard is a lush oasis. On balmy summer nights the roof slides back to allow more fresh air to enter.
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Aromat
This funky little eatery fuses Upper Austrian and Vietnamese cuisine. The menu changes daily with the chef's whims and often caters to those with an intolerance to wheat and gluten. The food is always fresh and prepared right in front of diners in the open kitchen. The charming decor includes simple Formica tables, 1950s fixtures, a blackboard menu and one huge glass frontage. Personable staff help to create a convivial, bar-like atmosphere.
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Bagel Station
Over 20 varieties of freshly baked and filled bagels are available at these bright-orange bagel shops. At the bottom end of the price scale is the classic cream-cheese bagel, at the upper end the classic New Yorker, with smoked salmon, cream cheese, cress and capers. In between, anything is possible, from chicken, salami, roast beef and Brie to fresh salad. Coffee-to-go is a given and, unusually for Vienna, is also available with soy milk.
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Beim Czaak
Beim Czaak is a polished Beisl , and one of only a handful left in the Innere Stadt. Meat dominates the menu and difficult choices need to be made between the likes of the Waldvierteler Schnitzel (with fried bacon, onions and mushrooms) and the Haus Schnitzel (weighted down with ham, cheese, mushrooms and onions - yum). Standard Viennese vegetarian, such as Eiernockerl (egg pasta) and Spinatknödel (spinach dumplings), are also options.
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Bodega Marqués
Calamari specialities, Gambas, (shrimps) and over 30 different tapas straight from Spain help make Bodega Marqués an excellent choice for dining in the Innere Stadt. The 120 varieties of wine also do their part, but the sheer volume of choice can be overwhelming. The vaulted ceilings and subdued lighting create a romantic atmosphere, except on Friday and Saturday nights when live flamenco music is featured.
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Breakfast Club
Mix and match from an international range of ten breakfasts at this compact New York-style breakfast joint on lively Schleifmühlgasse. The Vienna Special of bread roll, honey, egg, seasonal fruit and Melange (milky coffee) is a fine choice, but is completely outdone by the BC Royal (salmon rolls, onions, hard boiled egg, toast and sekt). Kids will also love it: there's a small bar especially designed for the little ones, and a separate menu, too.
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Café Bräunerhof
Bräunerhof is an authentic coffee house of some standing amongst Kaffeehäuser aficionados. It remains little changed from the days when Austria's seminal writer Thomas Bernhard frequented the premises; smoke stained walls, tight tables, surly staff, and a huge newspaper selection. Classical music from the Bräunerhof features to on weekends and holidays.
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Café Central
Grand Central has a rich history - Trotsky came here to play chess, and turn-of-the-century literary greats like Karl Kraus and Hermann Bahr regularly met for coffee. Its impressive interior of marble pillars, arched ceilings and glittering chandeliers now plays host to tourists rather than locals, but it's worth stopping in for a look. There's live classical music from to Monday to Saturday and to Sunday.
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Café Der Provinz
A charming little café near the Piaristenkirche, Café der Provinz brings a touch of France to Vienna. Choose from sweet crepes, served with the likes of Nutella, chocolate or honey, or sour galettes (buckwheat crepes, cooked on one side only) complimented by ham, cheese or egg. It's a sweet spot any time of the year - inside in winter it's warm and cosy and outside in summer the streetside seating is cool and breezy.
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Café Engländer
Attracting the rich and the famous, Engländer is no classic Kaffeehaus , but rather a modern edifice with a discerning air, top wine and a contemporary take on Viennese cuisine. Its service and coffee are of the highest standard.
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Café Florianihof
This child-friendly café in Josefstadt serves food heavily laden with organic produce and a remarkable array of fruit juices. Paintings by local artists add a splash of colour to the clean white walls, and in summer the streetside seating fills quickly. There's free internet access but only with the purchase of a drink.
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Café Gloriette
Café Gloriette occupies the Gloriette, a neoclassical construction high on a hill behind Schloss Schönbrunn, built for the pleasure of Maria Theresia in 1775. With sweeping views of the Schloss, its magnificent gardens and the districts to the north, Gloriette has arguably one of the best vistas in all of Vienna. And it's a welcome pit stop after the short but sharp climb up the hill.
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Café Griensteidl
Griensteidl holds a prestigious position between the Hofburg and the Loos Haus and was once the Stammlokal (local haunt) for Vienna's late-19th century literary set. It now caters mainly to tourists, but it still attracts with its Jugendstil lamps, wooden chairs and tables, and huge windows overlooking the comings and goings on Michaelerplatz.
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Café Hummel
Unpretentious and classic, Hummel is a large Kaffeehaus catering to a regular Josefstadt crowd. The coffee is rich, the cakes baked on the premises and the waiters typically snobbish. In summer, it's easy to spend a few hours at Hummel's outdoor seating area, mulling over the international papers and watching the human traffic on Josefstädter Strasse.
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Café Landtmann
Landtmann attracts both politicians and theatre-goers with its elegant interior and close proximity to the Burgtheater, Rathaus, and Parliament. The list of coffee specialities is formidable and the dessert menu features classics like the Sacher Torte and Apfelstrudel . There's a huge selection of newspapers to read, and live piano music on Sunday evenings.
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Café Sperl
With its gorgeous Jugendstil fittings, grand dimensions, cosy booths and unhurried air, Sperl is one of the finest coffee houses in Vienna. And that's to say nothing of the menu, which features the Sperl Torte - a mouth-watering mix of almonds and chocolate cream. The best idea is to grab a slice and a newspaper, order a strong coffee, and join the rest of the patrons in people-watching and day-dreaming.
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Café Tirolerhof
A lovingly renovated Jugendstil décor from the 1920s and homemade Apfelstrudel (apple strudel) help to make Tirolerhof an inviting Innere Stadt choice. Service is less tart than at other traditional coffee houses and the location directly opposite the Albertina is a bonus.
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Chang Asian Duck
Chang Asian Duck is the classier brother of Chang Asian Noodles, with soothing shades of red and brown, an intimate atmosphere and a focus on floral art. The cuisine is wok-based and as the name suggests, the speciality here is duck; duck breast in a tangy orange sauce and grilled-duck curry are both highlights, but the godly Beijing duck, which must be ordered two days in advance to allow proper marination, tops the bill.
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Chang Asian Noodles
Chang is a small, well-established Asian diner a short walk from the Innere Stadt. The venue is bright, open, uncomplicated and highly relaxed, while the service is quick and attentive. Noodles (either fried or in a soup) are the mainstay of a menu spanning the Asian continent (at least from China to Singapore) - expect plenty of chicken, prawns (both baby and tiger) and vegetable choices. Everything is available for takeaway.
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Colombo Hoppers
A garden upgrade has turned an area with a few compromised tables into one of neat cobblestones, shady trees, plenty of seating and a constant theatre of comings and goings from the nearby bike path. The Sri Lankan cuisine is meticulously prepared and presented, and the menu includes a high proportion of vegetarian dishes. Round off the evening's dining experience with a delightful almond-mango lassi.
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Contor
Contor is a cosy and intimate tapas bar right on the Karmelitermarkt. Its delectable tapas are perfectly complimented by around 40 wines (from Spain, Italy and Austria), the freshest cheese from Lower Austria and the occasional impromptu guitar concert. Perfect for a romantic evening.
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Demel
An elegant and regal cafe within sight of the Hofburg, Demel was once the talk of the town but now mainly caters to tourists. The quality of the cakes hasn't dropped however, and it wins marks for the sheer creativity of its sweets. Demel's speciality is the Ana Demel Torte , a calorie-bomb of chocolate and nougat which rivals Café Sacher's Torte .
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Diglas
This noble Kaffeehaus comes complete with swanky red velvet booths, stiff atmosphere and an extensive coffee range. Servings are delicate and more like snacks, but extend beyond the normal Viennese specialties to include a variety of Hungarian dishes. Live piano music can be heard on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday evenings.
