A PIECE OF CAKE
One of the most famous specialties of Vienna, Sacher-Torte is a
dense chocolate cake coated with a thin layer of apricot jam and
then covered in dark chocolate icing on the top and sides. It is
traditionally served with unsweetened, whipped cream. The
famous dessert was originally created in 1832 for Prince Wenzel
von Metternich by the young apprentice Franz Sacher when the
head chef fell ill — the result delighted the guests of the prince.
Sacher’s son Eduard continued to develop and promote the recipe
while he worked at the Demel bakery, and later when he founded
Hotel Sacher. Though the recipe remains a closely guarded
secret, guests can purchase the Original Sacher-Torte at Hotel
Sacher in Vienna, in the duty-free area at the airport, as well as
via the hotel’s website, which offers worldwide delivery. (
www.
sacher.com
)
SWEET STRUDELS
One of Austria’s most beloved desserts,
strudel
became popular
in the 18th century and can be enjoyed throughout the former
Austro-Hungarian Empire. This traditional Austrian sweet (the
oldest known recipe dates back to 1696) is made with layered
pastry stretched so thin that a newspaper can be read through a
single layer, and stuffed with a usually sweet, but sometimes
savory, filling.
Apfelstrudel
is made with thin, unleavened dough that is
kneaded, rolled, and stretched until it develops a thickness
similar to phyllo, then filled with cooked apple, breadcrumbs,
raisins, sugar, and cinnamon. After baking, it’s served in slices
and sprinkled with powdered sugar, or topped with vanilla sauce,
whipped cream, custard, or vanilla ice cream. Pair it with a cup
of coffee, tea, or champagne at a Viennese cafe for one of the
city’s best-known treats.
COFFEE HOUSE CULTURE
Vienna’s
kaffeehäuser
, or coffee houses, aren’t just a place to
meet friends — they’re a major institution and part of the local
culture. In fact, “Viennese Coffee House Culture” is listed by
UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage. The tradition dates
Silvio Nickol
Located in the majestic luxury-suite hotel Palais Coburg, the two-
Michelin-starred Silvio Nickol boasts a dramatically sleek and modern
purple-and-white interior design. Promising “a culture of enjoyment at
the highest level for culinary adventurers” on its website, the
restaurant is notably home to a 60,000-bottle wine collection spanning
four centuries, including a 1727 Rüdesheimer Apostelwein from the
Bremen Ratskeller, considered by some to be the oldest wine that is
still drinkable.
µ
palais-coburg.com/en/culinary/silvio-nickol
Restaurant Opus
Featured in one of Vienna's most exclusive luxury hotels, Hotel
Imperial, Restaurant Opus offers modern international cuisine and
variations of Austrian-style dishes creatively prepared with local and
regional ingredients. Josef Hoffmann’s classic 1930s Viennese
architectural style is elegantly accompanied by chandeliers, wood-
paneled walls, and restored period furniture.
Before leaving the premises, be sure to stop by Café Imperial
Wien for a taste of the Imperial Torte, the house specialty dessert that
is said to have been created in honor of Emperor Franz Joseph on the
hotel's opening.
µ
/ Viennese Dining /
back to the 17th century
when Polish-Habsburg
soldiers found sacks
f i l l e d w i t h s t r a n g e
beans during the Battle
of Vienna. Polish army
officer Jerzy Franciszek
Kulczycki opened a
coffee house in which
he experimented with
the beans, adding sugar
a n d m i l k t o c r e a t e
coffee drinks. Today,
many Viennese coffee
houses hang a picture
of Kulczycki in their
windows.
Open from early
morning until late at
night, modern Viennese coffee houses boast a distinctive decor
consisting of marble tables and Thonet chairs in an interior
adorned with Historicism design details. Guests can choose from
a large variety of coffee drinks and delectable pastries while they
linger over a newspaper. For an authentic treat, order an
einspänner
, a strong black coffee topped with whipped cream,
served in a glass with powdered sugar on the side.
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