People went to coffeehouses to read, play, set the world to rights, share philosophical ideas and to write. The Viennese coffeehouse had its heyday at the end of the 19th century. It wasn’t just the extra glass of water that took off in other places due to the World Expo countless visitors from all over the world had their first encounters with Viennese coffeehouse culture in 1873, too. To this day, a glass of water is a seal of quality and the practice was then adopted in other countries. Serving a glass of water with every cup of coffee was the cafe operators’ way of showing that their food and drinks were prepared using clean, crystal-clear mountain spring water. Later it became a way for coffeehouse owners to show off the quality of the water used to make their coffee – something that took on added significance with the World Expo of 1873, which was staged in the same year that the First Vienna Mountain Spring Pipeline came online. Originally the glass of water was served to give patrons somewhere to put their spoon once they had finished stirring their coffee. Today, the Einspänner is also served in Vienna’s coffeehouses, in a stylish glass mug with a handle. So to meet the brief, their mokka (double espresso) was covered with a large topping of whipped cream for insulation. While the carriage driver holds their coffee, sitting on the box, they want it to stay warm for as long as possible. ![]() This particular coffee specialty has its origins in a cart or carriage drawn by a single horse, known as an Einspänner or single-span. Like Viennese Heuriger wine tavern culture, traditional Viennese coffeehouse culture now appears on the UNESCO list of intangible cultural assets.Ī central reason recorded in the official UNESCO report is that “the coffeehouses are a place where patrons consume time and space, but only the coffee appears on the bill.” Intangible cultural heritage of UNESCOĪ typical Viennese coffeehouse exudes a unique atmosphere with booths, bentwood Thonet chairs, marble and newspaper tables and coffee in all its rich variety from Melange (a shot of espresso “lengthened” slightly with hot water, topped up with hot milk and milk foam) to Einspänner (mokka in a glass, topped with whipped cream). And not everyone will be aware of the ten facts that follow. The German writer Bertolt Brecht summed it up perfectly when he said of Vienna: “The city is built around a few coffeehouses where the population sits together and reads papers.” There is a lot to be said about Viennese coffeehouses. While you wait, try one of the fancy coffees, such as the iced coffee with vanilla ice cream, chocolate syrup and cream, or go for one of the wonderful house cakes.The Viennese coffeehouse is an institution. Its location close to the opera and just a corner away from Nagymező utca (Budapest’s own Broadway, where the city’s most famous theaters jostle each other along one block) make it a great place to meet friends before seeing a show. It opened in 1898 during Budapest’s golden age, and it still operates on the grand Andrássy Avenue, just across from the Hungarian State Opera House. ![]() Hang out at Művész Kávéház before a showĭubbed the "Little Gerbeaud," Művész (which means "artist") is a great alternative for the classic cafe experience without the price tag that comes with its more glamorous counterpart. Try the house specials, such as the Gerbeaud Cream Cake (with flaky layers of buttery pastry and vanilla custard cream) or the Gerbeaud slice (with ground walnut and apricot jam in shortcut pastry with chocolate glazing on top). If you can’t choose just one and want a taste of different Hungarian cakes, order the Hungarian Classics on One Plate option, which can be paired with Tokaji dessert wine. It’s not as dramatic as the New York Café – instead, it has a more regal, intimate atmosphere where you can slip into a mahogany chair with a decadent slice of cake. Dripping with crystal chandeliers in its opulent damask-draped salons, Gerbeaud captures the aristocratic feel of a former world. This cafe and confectionery on Vörösmarty tér opened in 1870 and soon reeled in an esteemed list of guests, from composer Franz Liszt to Austro-Hungarian Empress Elisabeth, more affectionately known as Sisi. The opulent Gerbeaud has been serving locals and the aristocracy since 1870 © titoslack / Getty Images Order a slice of cake at Gerbeaud
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