Café Ritter

I was told by my host to visit Cafe Central, but looking at the queue I eschewed the idea to come visit Cafe Ritter. And I feel that it was the right decision. If you are standing in a queue for the sole reason that some unusual culmination of events made a place more coveted, then you have missed the point. Being in a queue - for me - is akin to the fascination with something like Starbucks even though the coffee is terrible and food is nothing more than overpriced junk. The hype and not the product itself is the product. To that end, Cafe Ritter is unapologetically old-school and stands in stark contrast to the hype wagon. It's one of the oldest surviving cafés of Vienna and the architecture reflects it. The ambience is evocative of an era gone by - I saw older gentlemen read newspapers while nursing their coffees. You can only pay by cash, although they do have an ATM machine within the premises. The service is distinctly curt and efficient - the stereotypical Viennese sombre forthrightness. For juxtaposition I ordered my usual cafe breakfast of Ham and Eggs (besides other things) and while it did the job, it wasn't a perfect but it was hearty. The portions were adequate - neither generous nor skimpy. I would recommend this place for a touch of the authentic Viennese charm blended with the modern tartness of service. In my opinion this is a perfect place for breakfast and brunch - it's relaxed and for the most part you will be undisturbed.

The best café on Mariahilfer Straße! ☕ The Viennese Sachertorte with vanilla ice cream was exactly what we needed after a long day, like rain in the desert. 🍰💕 It turned into such a sweet and happy dessert time with my daughter, and a memory I'll treasure for a long time.

This majestic cafe is filled with old world charm and shares a rich history with every customer who comes in. Being one of the oldest cafes in Vienna, established on this very corner in 1887, the patrons have been able to enjoy a comforting cup of coffee while watching the bustling shoppers on Mariahilfer Strasse for almost 140 years. The service is welcoming where your waiter can be seen going above and beyond. The food is simple yet perfected. This cafe is perfect for stepping back into another century and relaxing into Vienna’s hospitality.

Stopped in here for a quick bite since it was right across from my hotel — seemed like a no-brainer. Wish I could say it was a great experience, but honestly, the service was some of the worst I've come across in a while. After sitting down, I waited a good 15 minutes before anyone came over to take my order — and it wasn't even that busy. Turns out I wasn't the only one being ignored either; other guests were in the same boat. To top it off, getting the bill at the end was its own ordeal. I had to ask multiple times, which felt a bit ridiculous for a cash-only spot where all they need to do is print and drop off the check. That said, the food was actually pretty good and came out in about 10 minutes, so no complaints there. The café itself is gorgeous — really charming and well-preserved, the kind of place that has a lot of character. There was also a live piano player, which was a nice touch and honestly kept me entertained through all the waiting. It's a shame, because this place has real potential. If the service matched the atmosphere, it would easily be worth a return visit.

We chose this place among dozens of famous Viennese cafés to try wiener melange and apfelstrudel. While the food and drinks were generally satisfying, we were very disappointed with the service. If serving tourists is such an inconvenience for you, perhaps working in a tourist-oriented café is not the best choice? The coffee was much more bitter compared to other melanges I’ve tried before. Even though the apfelstrudel itself was not particularly exceptional, the sauce was genuinely delicious. One thing we truly could not understand was why the dessert was served with a fork and a spoon instead of a fork and a knife…