☕ Coffee house · grand
Café Central
The most famous of Vienna's grand coffee houses — and, for most of 2026, closed. Café Central shut for renovation on 16 March 2026 and plans to reopen in winter 2026; check cafecentral.wien for the date before you build a morning around it. In the meantime a pop-up called DECENTRAL runs nearby at Freyung 3.
The café moved into Palais Ferstel in 1876, which makes 2026 its 150th anniversary year. The building itself, by Heinrich von Ferstel, was designed in the 1850s as a bank and stock exchange, which explains the vaulted, church-like hall with its columns and arched ceiling. Around 1900 the Central was the living room of literary Vienna: the poet Peter Altenberg practically lived here and gave it as his address, and a papier-mâché figure of him has long sat by the entrance. Before the First World War Leon Trotsky played chess among the regulars. The café closed after the Second World War and only returned in 1975, after the palace was restored.
When it is open, the catch is well known: a queue at the door on most days, and a room full of visitors rather than Viennese. The cure is to come at opening time on a weekday, or in the late afternoon. Order a Melange and something from the pastry counter, and take your time — nobody will rush you.
How the ritual works: Viennese coffee-house etiquette; where else to go: Vienna's coffee houses.
Where to stay nearby
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Frequently asked
Where is Café Central?
The address is Herrengasse 14, 1010 Wien, in Innere Stadt (Vienna's 1st district).
How old is Café Central?
It has been running since 1876, which places it among Vienna's genuinely long-established coffee houses.
What should I order at Café Central, and how long can I stay?
The classic order is a Melange — espresso with steamed milk and foam, Vienna's cousin of the cappuccino — which arrives with a glass of water, often refilled without asking. In a traditional Viennese coffee house nobody hurries you: one coffee buys you hours and the house newspapers. When you want the bill, say "Zahlen, bitte" and pay at the table.
Is Café Central worth visiting?
It holds 4.3 out of 5 from 30,411 Google reviews — a strong score for a coffee house in Vienna. Treat the rating as a starting point, not a verdict, and read a few recent reviews too.
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