Café Schwarzenberg

Café Schwarzenberg stands on the Ringstraße boulevard in Vienna’s central Innere Stadt district, near Schwarzenbergplatz. It is a traditional Viennese coffee house, opened in 1861 during the construction of the prestigious boulevard. Unlike many other historic coffeehouses, it did not attract artists and intellectuals but became a meeting place for entrepreneurs and financiers. The interior has remained largely unchanged since the 19th century, preserving its original character. The café is the oldest existing Ringstraße coffee house and has kept its name since 1902, though it was briefly called Café Deutschland during the war. The café’s history includes notable figures like architect Josef Hoffmann, a founder of the Wiener Werkstätte, who often worked there. After the war, Soviet officers occupied the premises and damaged the furnishings, leaving a cracked mirror decorated with vines as a relic. In 1978, plans to close the café were stopped by the former mayor Dr. Zilk, and it was restored in 1979. Today, it remains one of the last Ringstraße cafés to retain the typical Viennese coffee house atmosphere. Visitors find a café with original design elements from the inter-war period, such as marble-clad walls, brass-topped tables, and mosaic ceilings. The ladies’ toilet still features black marble panelling and mirrors with white stone frames. Outside, the Schanigarten on the Ringstraße sidewalk is a popular spot for both locals and tourists. The café hosts cultural events like readings and concerts, as well as Kaffeehausmusik evenings. During the Viennese ball season, it serves early morning goulash and beer breakfasts for ball attendees.