☕ Coffee house · classic
Café Sperl
The coffee house most Viennese would name if asked for one that has barely changed in a century — near the Naschmarkt, in the 6th district.
It opened in 1880 and took its name from Adolf Sperl, who ran it from the 1880s. Around 1900 it drew officers, operetta composers and artists from the nearby Theater an der Wien and the Secession. What makes it special is how much survives: the long room with its tall windows, the chandeliers, the booths and marble tables, Thonet chairs and the billiard tables at the back that people still play on. Film crews love it — the café scene in Richard Linklater's Before Sunrise was shot here — and the Sperl has never had to change to stay loved.
It is a café for sitting: order a Melange or an Einspänner, pick a newspaper from the rack, and stay. The house cake, the Sperltorte, is an almond-and-chocolate affair worth trying. As published on cafesperl.at in September 2026, it opens Monday to Saturday 07:00–22:00 and Sunday 10:00–20:00, but it is closed on Sundays in July and August.
Honest note: the service is traditional and unhurried, occasionally gruff; that is part of the deal, not a failure. Weekday mornings are when you get the room as the regulars do. Combine it with a Saturday at the Naschmarkt. Etiquette: Viennese coffee-house etiquette; neighbourhood: Mariahilf; more in Vienna's coffee houses.
Where to stay nearby
Live prices and availability on a map centred on this exact spot — hotels, apartments and hostels, so you can judge the walk from here rather than guess from an address.
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Frequently asked
What are the opening hours at Café Sperl?
The hours published on Google are: Monday: 07:00–22:00; Tuesday: 07:00–22:00; Wednesday: 07:00–22:00; Thursday: 07:00–22:00; Friday: 07:00–22:00; Saturday: 07:00–22:00; Sunday: 10:00–20:00. Check the venue's own site before a special trip — holiday and seasonal hours often differ.
Where is Café Sperl?
The address is Gumpendorfer Str. 11, 1060 Wien, in Mariahilf (Vienna's 6th district).
How old is Café Sperl?
It has been running since 1880, which places it among Vienna's genuinely long-established coffee houses.
What should I order at Café Sperl, 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 Sperl worth visiting?
It holds 4.0 out of 5 from 6,116 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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