Vienna's Top Coffee Houses - International Traveller Magazine

The best places to to indulge in a Viennese caffeine hit, by Jennifer Pinkerton

The classics:
These old-school cafes prove why everyone loves a classic

Café Sperl

Located near the Museum Quarter, a little off the city’s beaten track, Sperl is known as a ‘window coffee shop’ of the Ringstrasse, Vienna’s late 19th-century string of architectural opulence.
True to this class of shop, Sperl’s seats rest beneath towering windows and ornate brass chandeliers, a perfect place to polish off the Sperl torte – a ‘secret recipe’ based on vanilla, cinnamon and almonds.
Open Mon–Sat from 7am–11pm; Sun from 11am–8pm. Gumpendorfer Strasse 11; cafesperl.at

Café Hawelka

The Hawelka (located near Stephansplatz, one the city’s busiest shopping squares) is the Kombi Van of coffee houses: like a wood-panelled ski lodge it is classic, worn around the edges, yet filled with charm.
Thonet chairs, hat racks, red velvet upholstery and vintage posters are scattered through its artsy interior. Sweet tooths will approve of its much-lauded buchteln, a yeast bun with plum jam.
Open Mon–Sat 8am–1am; Sun and holidays 10am–1am. Dorotheergasse 6; hawelka.at

Café Sacher

Café Sacher is all about its namesake torte. Queues form early in the morning to sample the famous rich chocolate cake, sponged with apricot jam and topped by a stamp made from icing.
Flanked by the Opera Theatre and the Albertina Museum, it’s hard to fault the Sacher for location, though its opulent furnishings and military-style service create an atmosphere that’s a little stiffer than its rivals.
Open daily from 8am–midnight. Philharmonikerstrasse; sacher.com

Café Central

Once home to Vienna’s stock market, Café Central trades in ‘wow factor’ with a large marble columned hall, high arched ceilings and intricate carved wooden artwork. This rather touristy haunt has a business-like, bourgeois atmosphere – one that’s amplified by live piano music. The staff has a reputation for being brisk, so bring thick skin and patience for queues. Open Mon–Sat from 7:30am–10pm; Sun from 10am–10pm; with daily live music from 5–10pm. Herrengasse 14; palaisevents.at

Café Prückel

Lovers of mid-century modern design will drop their cat’s eye glasses over Prückel’s scuffed 1950s rattan chairs, lino floors, work-of-art cigarette machine and its golden-plated stucco ceiling.
Opposite the Museum of Applied Arts, Prückel offers a light-filled retreat where pocket watch-toting waiters nip between well-groomed guests. At night, a house piano plays.
Open daily from 8:30am–10pm. Stubenring 24; www.prueckel.at

The new-school coffee houses:
Ride the new wave with these modern purveyors

Kaffeefabrik

The ‘coffee factory’ is a small, minimalist roaster with white and wood furniture and a clean, cool feel.
Favoritenstrasse 4–6; Kaffeefabrik.at

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People on Caffeine

Barista Robert employs old-fashioned drip filters to serve coffee in the wing of a high-ceiling church.
Schlösselgasse 21; facebook.com/poccafe

Espressomobil

Three-wheeled Italian mopeds flip open café windows to serve takeaways in busy city squares.
espressomobil.at

Akrap Espressobar

Using beans from Milan’s Akrap roastery, ‘triple shots’ are commonly ordered in this coffee addict’s den.
Königsklostergasse 7; akrapcoffee.com

See the full coffee lovers’ guide to Vienna here…

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

Vienna’s Top Coffee Houses