Following in The Mole’s footsteps earlier this year when The Mole visited Vienna and its amazing coffee shops, long-standing specialist in holidays to Vienna, Tempo Holidays has created packages featuring self-navigation of the city by bicycle, followed the next day by coffee and breakfast at a traditional coffee house.Product Manager, Luisa Ragusa, said Vienna’s relatively flat city was ideal for cycling and the traditional coffee houses were “an institution not to be missed” – as confirmed by The Mole.
She added, “We have built them into our program because both present an insight to this fascinating historical city, which is very cyclist-friendly.”
The new non-brochured 3-day Viennese Delights package (from $227 per person twin share) includes 4.5 hr bike hire with map and sightseeing suggestions, a breakfast at Café Central, 2 nights’ hotel accommodation (with breakfast daily at hotel) and a Vienna gift book.
Coffee and cake voucher for the Café Schwarzenberg is included in the 4 days Taste of Vienna package (from $503), along with a dinner at the historic Piaristenkeller Restaurant (3-course set menu and a glass of sparkling wine), entrance voucher to the Apple Strudel Show at the Café Restaurant Residenz at Schönbrunn Palace, return private transfers, 3 nights accommodation, 3 breakfasts and half day Historic Vienna and Schönbrunn Tour.
Ms Ragusa said the coffee houses were interesting places to visit because patrons could buy one coffee and sit at their table all day, without being pressed to buy another drink – as tested by The Mole!
That’s the way of life in Vienna’s fabulous Kaffeehausers (coffee houses), or traditional cafes.
Cafés Schwarzenberg and Central, in the 1st District, are good examples with the pseudo-Gothic vaulting of the Central (complete with a dummy of the poet Peter Altenberg just inside the front door) contrasting with the stately Schwarzenberg on the Ringstrasse.
While these central coffee houses are frequented by tourists during the day, they are also patronised by locals, especially early in the morning, on their way to work, so if you want to experience the real thing with real Viennese, go for breakfast! “That’s why we included a breakfast at Café Central,” said Ms Ragusa.
And be prepared for the coffee list because there are 20 or so ways to take coffee in Vienna.
Ms Ragusa’s favourite: Phasisaer (strong black coffee with whipped cream on top, served with a glass of rum)!
The Mole reserves judgement, but the ones with heaps of whipped cream are yummy!
Report by The Mole
