No sightseeing tour of Vienna is complete without a visit to Kohlmarkt, where the famous Café Demel is nestled between the boutiques of Dior and Tiffany's. Young visitors to the Austrian capital, tired of sightseeing or shopping with their mothers, will be delighted by the variety of desserts on offer and will soon forget their tiredness in anticipation of the sweet delights to come.
A journey into the past
The almost two hundred year old café was known as the Court Confectionery Demel and was named after the famous confectioner.
Empress Elisabeth of Bavaria (Princess Sisi) used to come here for her exquisite sweets. The recipes for many of them have been preserved to this day, delighting and surprising thousands of visitors.
The Café Demel is on the first floor of the two-storey building, while the confectionery is on the ground floor. The place has retained its 19th-century location, interior and atmosphere, with waiters still dressed in dinner jackets and asking the ubiquitous question "Have you chosen yet?", addressing customers in the third person.
Just like a hundred years ago, the sweets are handmade and the desserts and pastries are worthy of the imperial court. So, as you explore the sights of the Austrian capital, remember that Café Demel in Vienna is not only of gastronomic interest, but also of historical value.
The magic of fine treats
Who loves sweets more than anyone else in the world? Children, of course! It's worth taking a girl here to try the magical 'Princess Candy' — candied violet petals, said to be the favourite of Princess Si Si herself — and promising the boy a real magical chocolate Sacher cake.
For a long time, Café Demel fought with the Sacher Hotel and its pastry shop for the rights to the brand name of this famous dessert. As a result, the Emperor's Café Sacher is able to offer the Demel cake, which differs from the original in that it does not have an apricot confit layer.
The patisserie's showcases are a magical attraction, stimulating all the guests' gastronomic senses. It is hard to choose: strawberry baskets, all kinds of cakes, gingerbread, apple strudel, all kinds of sweets, tarts, pastries, chocolates and jams. How can you stop at just one?
It is said that coffee in its pure form has not caught on with the Austrians, so they serve it with various additives. There are dozens of varieties: whipped cream, Turkish, with ice and rum, with orange liqueur and, of course, the famous mélange — a Viennese coffee — with egg yolk or milk.
Behind glass
As well as the magical atmosphere of the court patisserie and the stunning desserts, the café has another highlight. The kitchen is enclosed in glass so that everyone can see the process of making the sweets and decorating the cakes.
To get an idea of the popularity of these imperial treats, it is worth noting that confectioners use 25,000 tonnes of product every year just to make the traditional strudel.
Twelve master bakers and 12 apprentices assist them. The desserts are decorated by a dedicated team.
What to try and what it costs
What's the best way to enter sweet heaven? The little ones will love the box of brightly wrapped sweets, the jar of jam or marmalade or the basket of strawberries, while the parents will love the classic delicate strudel and the famous mélange.
As Demel is one of the top three cafés in Vienna, the prices are hard to beat. As a guide, the desserts will set you back around
- Sacher cake — 51 EUR for 1.25 kg.
- Marble cake — 17.40 EUR for 640 g.
- Candied violet petals — 12.5 EUR for 38g.
- Set of sweets — from 18 to 80 EUR for a box.
- Average bill in a café — 30-35 EUR.
- Two Viennese coffees and two desserts — about 30 EUR.
To complete the gastronomic tour of the famous café, it is worth going down to the basement. There you will find yourself in the marzipan kingdom — the Demel Museum — for just 4 euros (entrance fee).
All sorts of human and animal figures, marzipan paintings and the history and long-standing traditions of the famous Café Demel will delight you and be the icing on the cake in every respect. Be sure to check the museum's opening hours — it may only be open for a few hours on certain days of the week.
What could be better than a morning coffee in the heart of Vienna or a truly royal dessert break with your favourite toddler? Café Demel lets you experience the magical atmosphere of the city and leaves a pleasant aftertaste when you add it to your list of must-sees in the Austrian capital.
