In a Coffee house, you get coffee, but what is the difference to a café? And where are the most beautiful Coffee houses in Vienna? We report on this in this article.
Coffee house – Historical Perspective
Many young people probably associate the term with Coffee house chains like Starbucks or Costa Coffee. However, the term is much older. And the first Coffee houses existed much earlier.
Well-known Coffee houses that demonstrably existed were already around in the 16th century. The probably first Coffee house in Europe opened in 1522 in Belgrade, Serbia.[1] Since 1554, there was a Coffee house in the Ottoman capital Constantinople, which is now called Istanbul. Only since 1647 is a Coffee house documented in Italy. This Coffee house was in Venice. Later, it was named Alla Venezia Trionfante, and nowadays it is called Caffè Florian. It still exists today and can be visited, although it certainly doesn’t look exactly as it did back then.[2]
The first Coffee house in France is believed to have opened in 1671 in Marseille. And Germany got its first Coffee house two years later in 1673 in Bremen. Four years later, in 1677, one opened in Hamburg, and only in 1685 was there one in Vienna. And that, despite the term Viennese Coffee house being so well-known. Because here, the Coffee house culture was significantly influenced.
The Viennese Coffee house stands for a part of Viennese tradition. Since 2011, the Viennese Coffee house culture has even been part of UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage. Here, the coffee-drinking culture as we know it slowly developed. A leisurely stay, sometimes for hours, for sociable conversations, reading newspapers, or other forms of relaxation.
The Best Coffee houses in Vienna
If you’re planning to travel to Vienna, you should definitely take the opportunity to visit a traditional Coffee house. The special thing about it is not only the atmosphere. The typically Austrian coffee drinks are also a taste experience.
Our Top 3 Coffee houses in Vienna:
- Café Hawelka
Address: Dorotheergasse 6, 1010 Vienna
Website: hawelka.at
Leopold Hawelka opened Café Hawelka in 1939. Astonishingly, the building survived the war almost unscathed, although the surrounding buildings were heavily damaged. Today, parts of the interior are still in their original condition. But here, you can not only admire a historic interior but also enjoy freshly roasted coffee. - Café Jelinek
Address: Otto-Bauer-Gasse 5, 1060 Vienna
Website: cafejelinek.steman.at
The interior of Café Jelinek is also impressive. A wood stove, old photos on the wall, cozy armchairs, and a relaxed atmosphere invite you to linger. By the way, they have recently started offering a vegan breakfast. - Café Sperl
Address: Gumpendorfer Str. 11, 1060 Vienna
Website: cafesperl.at
Coffee has been served here since 1880. If you want to escape the stress of everyday life, this is the perfect place. There is a large selection of newspapers, cake, and even billiard tables. On Sundays from 3:30 PM, you can even enjoy piano music.
Difference Between Coffee house and Café
Today, both terms refer to the same type of gastronomic establishment. In both cases, it’s a place where coffee is served. Nevertheless, the terms are often associated with different types of cafés. A Coffee house is usually associated with a place similar to the traditional Coffee house, as we still find in Vienna today. We expect high ceilings, lots of wood, and an elegant interior from bygone times. All this is also offered by our recommendations from the top 3 Coffee houses in Vienna.
Sources
[1] https://www.serbia.com/the-first-coffee-house-in-europe
[2] https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caf%C3%A9
[3] https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiener_Kaffeehaus
