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Viennese coffee houses were declared a World Heritage Site in 2011. After all, the coffee house tradition has its origins in Austria and nowhere else, except perhaps in Prague and Budapest, are there such beautiful coffee houses. The Viennese coffee houses have produced a whole range of Viennese coffee specialties. But what exactly makes them so special?

Viennese coffee house culture and its history

Towards the end of the 19th century, the Viennese coffee house experienced its heyday. They are true “temple of pleasure” in which drinking coffee is celebrated. From the very beginning, they have been places for the exchange of ideas and workplaces for writers who spent many hours here every day. Art Nouveau is not the only thing that is clearly evident in the historic ambience: Even today, Viennese coffee houses exude the special flair of the creativity and freedom of thought of great writers.

Austria is not a pioneer when it comes to coffee houses

The Venetians opened the first coffee house more than a century before the Austrians. Only when they appeared in England did the trend spill over to Vienna. Johannes Theodat, an Armenian merchant, opened it on today’s Rotenturmstrasse. The coffee house culture was born. By the middle of the 19th century, 150 coffee houses were opened in Vienna, which served as a meeting place for the Viennese.
Did you know: In the 19th century, only men were allowed to enter coffee houses!

Viennese coffee houses in danger

This golden era did not last forever for coffee houses. Napoleon’s trade embargo made coffee more and more expensive and many of the cafes were struggling to survive. Therefore, more and more of them also offered food – their survival was assured. When televisions suddenly found their way into households in the 1950s, coffee house culture fell into crisis. Many of them had to close their doors.

The rescue of the Viennese coffee houses

In the last 35 years, however, the coffee houses in Vienna have recovered somewhat. Since the 300th anniversary of the coffee house culture in 1983, people have returned to their coffee house tradition. In 2011, Viennese coffee house culture was even recognized as an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO thanks to the Club of Viennese Coffee House Owners.

Traditional coffee house in Vienna The unique atmosphere that they radiate is recognized as worthy of protection. And we are pleased that this intangible value has now been officially established.
However, visitors to Vienna have known this for a long time, because the special flair of the Viennese coffee houses is, along with Schönbrunn Palace, the reason why Vienna is the most visited tourist destination in Europe.

Coffee is more present today than ever before and can be found all over the world in a wide variety of combinations and flavors.

If you want to experience real coffee house culture, you can look forward to an exciting trip to the history of the cafés.

Coffee is more present today than ever before and can be found all over the world in a wide variety of combinations and flavors. However, what many of us hardly perceive is the fact that the actual drink has also developed a true coffee house culture. This has spread across Europe since 1554 and embodies so much more than just the enjoyable and unforgettable taste of a coffee.

Budapest, Naples, Istanbul, Venice, Vienna and Oslo – the most beautiful coffee houses in Europe can be found in these and many other cities. You can find them in large places in the city center, in charming alleys of old towns and everywhere else. Cafés are the perfect meeting point for a cozy get -together. Here we can exchange ideas about the worries of everyday life, enjoy fresh coffee and let the first rays of the spring of spring work on us when the weather is good. Cafés used to be a social hotspot and attract people of all nationalities, cultures, skin colors and languages. However, the classic coffee house culture has changed significantly in some points. However, the old charm continues in the most beautiful coffee houses in Europe and invites you to an exciting journey through the history of the cafés.

Coffee house culture of the old school

Many of us understand the term coffee house, many of us, like Starbucks and Co. Especially young people hardly see the flair of the “old school” in today’s cafes. But what exactly is hidden behind the classic concept of coffee house culture and what does this mean for the history of the cafés? In 1554, the first coffee house was created in Constantinople, i.e. today’s Istanbul. A few years later, other cafes followed in Venice, London, Oxford, Bremen, Marseille, Vienna, Paris and many other cities. The coffee house owners invited the state’s well -lifted society to dine together, enjoy delicious coffee and to discuss current topics. In fact, the coffee houses of the time were a meeting point for philosophers, artists, scholars and writers. Top -class citizens of every city met here to open up new perspectives and to exchange ideas with each other. Music, art, literary works and political decisions found their origin in coffee houses such as the Café Rivoire, the Greco in Rome or the Procope in Paris. Thus, the classic coffee house culture had developed from a simple café to a place of revolution, development and modernity. Cities like Florence or Vienna in particular benefit from the new coffee houses and still look back on a story that would hardly have gone without those meeting points. Of course, there were also delicious coffee and tasty pastries to taste. With always new coffee creations and a first -class service, the coffee house owners tied their customers themselves and created a new gastronomic standard that cannot be experienced everywhere. This unique flair is an integral part of today’s coffee houses from the old days, which distinguishes it from modern and hip cafés.

Denker and artist of past years, such as Jean-Paul Sartre, Thomas Mann, Hugo von Hofmannsthal or Hemingway, socially important works in coffee houses. For many, it was the perfect places to discuss and control the political and society events. These places of inspiration continue to exist today and invite people to think and exchange ideas. A good example of this is the world-famous book series of the Magic apprentice Harry Potter. The author Joanne K. Rowling wrote the first volume in Elephant House, a charming coffee shop in Edinburgh. So if you are looking for classic coffee house culture, you will still find it these days. Appropriately, the photographer Adonis Malamos went on a trip across 20 countries in which he explored the most beautiful coffee houses in Europe.

The old school’s cafés: Experience coffee

The most beautiful coffee houses in Europe invite each of us to experience the coffee culture as it existed from the start. The flair of the old facilities, waiter with red west and noble suits, confectionery with history, confectionery of the old school and coffee houses from other times. If you want to join famous writers, politicians and artists, you are in good hands here and can experience real coffee house culture apart from the “coffee-to-go”.