Breakfast in Vienna: Local Favourites & Tourist-Approved Cafés
The most pleasant thing about having breakfast in Vienna is that the waiter drops a glass of water, sets the breakfast, and lets you all on your own.
Welcome to Vienna, where Wiener Frühstück is served in 3 major styles: In a traditional coffee house, in a fast-paced pastry shop, or in the form of eggs, pancakes, and bowls in a modern brunch café.
This guide covers all three and offers an explanation of what you should get and how much it will cost, as well as pairing side-by-side the visits with where you are sightseeing on a particular day.
What Does a Traditional Viennese Breakfast Look Like?
A traditional Wiener Frühstück is merely a bread roll, a piece of butter, a slice of jam or honey, and a soft-boiled egg. Typically, the coffee is served separately, and there are many menus where they serve a larger portion with ham and cheese. Keep in mind that the contents and prices of these cafés will differ, so use it as a guideline, not a rule.
Not all Viennese eat it every day does not imply that all Viennese don’t eat it at all. This Vienna guide indicates that weekday mornings can get busy, and that Sunday mornings are the time to book a full breakfast.
| Food / Drink | What It Is |
| Wiener Frühstück | The traditional Viennese breakfast set: rolls, butter, jam or honey, egg |
| Kaisersemmel | Classic Austrian bread roll (menus often just say Semmel) |
| Kipferl | Crescent-shaped pastry, made in yeast-dough, butter or shortcrust versions |
| Wiener Melange | Espresso with hot milk and milk foam, milder than a cappuccino |
| Weiches Ei / Eier im Glas | A soft-boiled egg, or two eggs served in a glass |
| Marmelade | Jam; apricot (Marille) is a common choice |
If you order it, it will be a “Wiener Frühstück”. Most establishments serve a hot drink included with the meal; however, some establishments don’t offer a hot drink, so check the menu line first.
Where to Have Breakfast in Vienna?
As per the Vienna Tourist Board, nearly every coffeehouse offers breakfast, though it highlights other types of establishments for the most innovative breakfast menu. We’ve organised everything you can find by your dream types of morning.
Experience 1: Traditional Viennese Coffee Houses
In 2011, Viennese coffee house culture was added to the Austrian national list of intangible cultural heritage and signed up by the Austrian UNESCO Commission. They charge an equivalent to a cup of coffee, but that’s not the only thing you are paying for. Look for newspapers, bent wood chairs and marbles on the tables.
Café Landtmann, Universitätsring 4
Opened in 1873 on the Ringstrasse, right next to the Burgtheater and opposite the Rathaus. Thanks to the Wiener Frühstück, which is quite an institution, with its two options of eggs in a glass, with chives and bread, and Kipferl, there are two eggs in a cup, plus a selection of egg Benedicts, breakfast is on the agenda, and it is served all day up to 11:30.
Café Mozart, Albertinaplatz 2
It has been open since 1794 and located behind the State Opera, a few steps from the Albertina. Breakfast is offered throughout every day until 11:30 a.m., and Wiener Frühstück, semolina porridge (Grießkoch) and Viennese scrambled eggs are offered. One set is named after The Third Man, which features the café.
Café Sperl, Gumpendorfer Straße 11
It has been open since 1880 in Mariahilf, halfway between Mariahilfer Straße and the Naschmarkt. Falter lists all-day breakfast, and there are billiard tables at the back. It opens at 7:00 Monday to Saturday; Sundays start at 10:00, and it closes on Sundays in July and August. Falter names it writer Robert Menasse’s usual café, which makes it a neighbourhood regular rather than only a tourist stop.
Café Korb, Brandstätte 9
It has been near Stephansplatz since 1904, with all-day breakfast and plenty of 1960s patina. Falter calls it an insider tip among coffee house connoisseurs rather than a tourist headliner.
Café Hawelka, Dorotheergasse 6
A family-run legend near Stephansplatz that also offers breakfast. Its warm jam-filled Buchteln is an evening thing, from around 8 pm, so come in the morning for the atmosphere. Bring cash just in case; sources disagree on cards.
Café Central
It’s closed for a period of renovations, opening in autumn 2026, from 16 March 2026. Do check before you go. The “pop-up” Decentral at “Palais Harrach” (Freyung 3) offers croissants and tartes – not a full Wiener Frühstück.
Experience 2: Modern Breakfast and Brunch Cafés
Ulrich, St.-Ulrichs-Platz 1 (Neubau)
A quiet square of our 7th district is the setting for a bar, restaurant, and café. Breakfast runs 8:00-11:45 on weekdays and 9:00-15:00 on weekends. The ham and eggs, shakshuka, pancakes and vegan options will be available in the April menu. Bookings online or some tables are always available for walk-in customers.
Joma, Hoher Markt 10
Egg breakfast and Bircher muesli, açaí and breakfast bowls are among the Vienna Tourist Board’s egg dishes. Open daily from 8:00, in the Old Town. Open daily from 8:00, in the Old Town.
Café Drechsler, Linke Wienzeile 22
Just by the Naschmarkt, breakfast will be served until late, also on Saturdays & Sundays (PHone-In). Poached eggs, omelettes, pancakes and porridge will be available. Good if your morning starts at the market.
Haas & Haas, Stephansplatz 4
Behind the cathedral a teahouse with over 30 breakfast styles with a Chinese choice where ingredients are steamed in a basket and termed dim sum (cesi). Open Monday to Saturday 8:00-20:00 and Sundays 9:00-18:00.
Experience 3: Bakeries and Neighbourhood Favourites
Joseph Brot, Albertinaplatz (Führichgasse 6) & Landstraßer Hauptstraße 4
A sourdough-focused organic bakery with bistros. The Albertinaplatz menu runs daily 7:30-15:00, including a Kaiserin Frühstück of two rolls, butter, a soft egg, apricot jam and yoghurt with berries. The Landstraße branch in the 3rd district opens at 7:30 every day, including Sundays.
Meierei im Stadtpark, Am Heumarkt 2A
The casual sibling of the Steirereck restaurant, in the Stadtpark in Landstraße. The Vienna Tourist Board raves about the breakfast, which even includes a Viennese brunch with beuschel or goulash. Falter lists breakfast Monday to Friday 8:00-12:00 and Saturday 9:00-12:00. A slower, pricier morning.
Breakfast in Vienna’s City Centre: Where to Go Before Sightseeing
Match breakfast to your first stop:
- St Stephen’s Cathedral and Stephansplatz: Caffé Korb and Hawelka are close to the site, and Haas is directly behind the cathedral, and Joma is in Hoher Markt.
- Hofburg and the Burgtheater: Burgtheater backs onto Landtmann; the Volksgarten and Parliament are within walking distance of the café.
- Vienna State Opera: The closest is Café Mozart and Joseph at Albertinaplatz, which will serve Sunday brunch from 11:00 to 14:00 and from the wedding of the Opera. The closest is café Mozart and Joseph at Albertinaplatz, which offers Sunday brunch from 11:00 to 14.00, and is in the direction of the Opera.
- Graben: It is located between Stephansplatz and Hofburg, and Hawelka, Dorotheergasse, is just a short detour.
Landtmann and Mozart open at 7:30 and 8:00, respectively, with an early start near the Old Town. For a slower morning, Hawelka opens at 9:00, and Gerstner’s brunch starts at 11:00.
What Should You Order for Breakfast in Vienna?
Start with the Wiener Frühstück and a Melange. It’s the easiest way to taste the tradition. For something lighter, order a Kipferl with butter and jam. “Eier im Glas” gets you two soft-boiled eggs in a glass, and “Eierspeise” is Viennese-style scrambled eggs.
Grießkoch is a warm semolina porridge. You can find cafés making shakshuka, pancakes and bowls these days. A cup of water is usually served to accompany coffee, and that’s just the way it’s done. Cafés are modernized by adding shakshuka, pancakes, and bowls.
How Much Does Breakfast in Vienna Cost?
Prices vary by café and menu. On official 2026 menus, a classic Wiener Frühstück is €9.80 at Café Landtmann, ham and eggs start at €8.00 at Ulrich, and a bakery-bistro breakfast set at Joseph is €13.80. Drinks are listed separately on these menus.
| Style | Example (menu date) | Price |
| Single Roll | Handsemmel at Ulrich / Landtmann | €2.00 / €2.50 |
| Coffee House Classic | Wiener Frühstück, Landtmann (Sept 2026) | €9.80 |
| Bigger Coffee House Plate | Kaffeehaus Frühstück, Landtmann | €12.90 |
| Modern Café | Ham & eggs, 2 or 3 eggs, Ulrich (Apr 2026) | €8.00 / €10.00 |
| Bakery-bistro Set | Kaiserin Frühstück, Joseph (Jul 2026) | €13.80 |
A Melange is €4.80 at Ulrich, so coffee adds up. We couldn’t confirm current prices for the weekend buffet brunches at Gerstner, Magdas Lokal, or the Aurora Rooftop Bar, so check their websites. Landtmann also lists a 20% Vienna City Card discount, once per cardholder, when you show the card as you order.
Local Breakfast Habits vs Tourist Expectations
A bakery breakfast and a coffee house breakfast are different occasions. At a bakery it’s a roll or Kipferl and a coffee, quickly. In a coffee house you sit, read, maybe order again, and stay. That slower rhythm is the whole point of Viennese coffee house culture.
International brunch is on the menu too. Eggs Benedict and pancakes appear in modern cafés and even in grand coffee houses, so a Wiener Frühstück is a choice, not an obligation. A common mistake visitors make is requesting a “cappuccino” at a traditional coffee shop, as it is the equivalent of a Melange, or a coffee house is used as a quick getaway coffee shop. On a schedule, choose a bakery. As in all places, breakfast is eaten differently by different people here.
Practical Tips for First-Time Visitors
Breakfast Hours Aren’t Opening Hours
Landtmann and Mozart stop breakfast at 11:30, and Ulrich’s weekday breakfast ends at 11:45. Check each café’s own menu page.
Weekends
Brunch buffets and longer breakfast hours appear. Ulrich’s runs until 15:00 on weekends.
Sundays
Landtmann, Mozart, Ulrich and Joseph all open for breakfast. Sperl opens later and closes in July and August.
Reservations
Landtmann and Ulrich take online bookings. To avoid queues, arrive at the opening. Café Central’s lines on Herrengasse were famous before its closure.
Payment
It is common to pay by card, but tips are commonly paid in cash. Note: Service is not included in the menu of Café Mozart, which calls 10% customary.
Dietary needs
There is a vegan breakfast plate on offer at Ulrich, gluten-free pastries and porridge with a vegan milk option at Landtmann, and a vegetarian breakfast at Haas & Haas.
Avoid choosing just because of a landmark; rather, choose it because of what it offers. Check that it serves breakfast at your hour.
A Viennese Morning for First-Time Visitors
- 8:00, Café Landtmann: Wiener Frühstück and a Melange. Breakfast is available until 11.30 am.
- Next door, the Burgtheater: In front of which we depart in private vintage-styled carriages (with an electric driver). The “Classic” tour lasts for 45 minutes, guided in English or German (tours are €35 per person).
- Afterwards, on foot: Take a stroll through the Volksgarten towards Heldenplatz and the Hofburg.
If you prefer the Opera side, you must take a look at Joseph, Albertina, Kärntner Strasse to Stephansplatz, and tea at Haas & Haas at Albertinaplatz.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is a traditional Viennese breakfast?
A: A Wiener Frühstück, a roll, butter, jam/honey and a soft egg (sometimes with a Melange). There is ham and cheese added to bigger versions.
Q: What do locals eat for breakfast in Vienna?
A: It varies. It can be a busy weekday, of course, and a roll and coffee may be a choice, but, a full breakfast or brunch may be more likely to be available on weekends or on days off.
Q: Where is the best place to have breakfast in Vienna?
A: Depending on your plans. Start the day by enjoying a grand-café at Café Landtmann, café Mozart and a local coffee bar at Café Sperl, or have some eggs and modern plates at Ulrich and café Drechsler.
Q: How much does breakfast cost in Vienna?
A: On official 2026 menus, from €9.80 for a Wiener Frühstück at Landtmann to €13.80 for a bakery-bistro set at Joseph, with drinks extra. Prices vary by café.
Q: What time do cafés serve breakfast in Vienna?
A: A number of them begin at 7:30 and 9:00, and others end around 11:30 (Landtmann, Mozart). Other events such as Sperl, Drechsler and Haas & Haas offer breakfast all day.
Q: Do Viennese coffee houses serve breakfast?
A: Yes. The Vienna Tourist Board says almost all do, from the classic roll-based breakfast to more elaborate plates. Check the breakfast menu, since it doesn’t always match opening hours.
Q: Where can I find affordable breakfast in Vienna?
A: Rolls cost €2.00 to €2.50 at Ulrich and Landtmann, and Landtmann’s Wiener Frühstück is under €10. If a café serves coffee in the morning with breakfast, then it will be cheaper than having the breakfast at a different establishment and coffee in the morning from another.
Q: Are cafés in Vienna open for breakfast on Sundays?
A: Many are. Landtmann opens at 7:30, Mozart and Ulrich at 8:00, and Joseph at Albertinaplatz at 7:30. Sperl opens at 10:00 and closes on Sundays in July and August.