Croissant city guide through Vienna

The map of Austria resembles a croissant and the vibrant heart of pastry in the east is divided into many districts. The Viennese are in the mood for fluffy complexity in greasy paper wrappers. The city's new hotspots show that they are very serious about their new breakfast habits: Artisan bakeries, pop-ups and coffee shops with a focus on croissants have made the leap across the »Gürtel«. Until now, the chic corners of the city center and bohemian miles in Wieden and Neubau have been where the dough was toured and prepared according to selected recipes, but the high demand is also making itself felt in the outer districts. This trend goes hand in hand with two international movements: the growing artisanal bakery scene and the popularity of third-wave coffee bars, which serve their young clientele photogenic Danish pastries with flat whites. Croissant specialties such as the pistachio croissant or sensational hybrids such as the Cronut or, most recently, the Crookie are spreading quickly via Instagram and TikTok, inspiring experimental pastry chefs who hope for long queues outside their stores.