From affogato to barista to cortado: the freshly brewed Falstaff Café Guide 2025 reflects the rich diversity of Austrian coffee house culture and serves you a melange of the country's best addresses. In addition to the state winners, the coffee hotspots in Vienna were evaluated in seven categories.
Hissing portafilter machines, clinking cups and steaming milk frothers: in Austria, guests are not just served a glass of water with their coffee, but an entire sensory experience. Deeply rooted in everyday life, the coffee house culture keeps pace with the times and offers the right address for every lifestyle. After all, the Melange belongs to the business meeting like the Flat White belongs to the remote office in the coffee shop – and you can find out where the best ones are served in the newly published Falstaff Café Guide 2025.
Whether it's a culturally pregnant coffee house institution or a minimalist brew bar - long queues in front of the establishments prove that there really is no question of a coffee house extinction. In fact, more homage is being paid to the coffee bean than ever before: third-wave coffee bars and coffee roasters have positioned themselves as modern taste laboratories. Not only in the (coffee) capital city of Vienna is the taste for Shakeratos, Einspänner and Cortados great, as the federal state rankings prove.
725 of the best of these addresses were rated on the basis of four aspects coffee, food, ambience and service with up to 100 points and 4 coffee cups.
Vienna is not only considered the country's coffee capital, but is also internationally famous for its coffee temples. The Falstaff Café Guide pays particular attention to this cultural heritage. The confectionery wonder K.u.K. Hofzuckerbäckerei Demel in the heart of the city takes first place in our ranking of classic coffee houses. As the oldest k. u. k. Court Confectionery in Vienna, Demel has stood for the highest art of confectionery since 1840.
Top 3 classic Viennese coffee houses
In order to bring order to the almost unmanageable variety of coffee hotspots in Vienna and provide you with exactly the tip you are looking for, we provide you with lists of the best in various categories:
You can find the guide to the Viennese category winners here:
THE BEST CAFÉS IN LOWER AUSTRIA
1st place: Rauwolf SCS, Vösendorf, 94 points
From traditional roasts to the third wave: every coffee lover will find the right bean here, from the best farms in the world. In the heart of the shopping center, you can take a look behind the scenes and experience the roasting oven live in action. And if you want to try it yourself, you can also take part in a coffee workshop.
THE BEST CAFÉS IN UPPER AUSTRIA
1st place: Kaffeewerkstatt, St. Wolfgang, 95 points
Numerous specialties, especially the in-house roasts such as the strong 10/90, attract guests. The carefully selected beans, which are grown fairly and sustainably, tell their very own story with every sip. There is also a lovingly prepared breakfast with high-quality ingredients from the region. In addition, freshly baked cakes and delicious milkshakes sweeten the experience every day.
1st place: 2Beans, Eisenstadt, 94 points
On Coffee Day on October 1, 2Beans Kaffeerösterei has come up with something special. Under the motto Coffee to help - coffee enjoyment for a good cause, the café invites you to enjoy not only the taste but also the thought of charitable activities over a cup of coffee. The cozy atmosphere and the wide range of coffees on offer, from Cuban Serrano Lavado to French Press and exotic varieties such as the Überstürzte Neumann, make a visit a highlight. Brunch without a reservation? Hardly possible!
1st place: Zero Gravity Speciality Coffee, Klagenfurt, 95 points
A special selection of freshly prepared coffee awaits guests here - from aromatic filter coffee to strong espresso. There are also exquisite delicacies such as fine pastries, chocolate and handmade pralines. The café attaches great importance to quality and sustainability, which is reflected in every product. Visitors can not only enjoy cappuccino made from freshly roasted beans on site, but also take their favorite coffees and chocolates home with them.
1st place: Kaffeerösterei Maitz, St. Anna am Aigen, 94 points
The coffee house relies on a 30 kg drum roaster, but despite the latest technology, the experience of the master roaster remains indispensable. Since coffee beans react differently as a natural product, it is crucial to closely observe the roasting process with all your senses. They only use high-quality raw beans from the best coffee-growing regions in the world.
1st place ex aequo: 220 Grad Rösterei, Salzburg, 95 points
1st place ex aequo: Café Bazar, Salzburg, 95 points
In Salzburg, coffee houses with heart and expertise spoil you at two locations. At the 220 Grad Rösterei, you can enjoy fine coffee specialties in a stylish ambience, accompanied by delicious breakfast variations and fine cakes. Another highlight of the city is the traditional Café Bazar on the quay, which has served as a meeting place for generations. Here, Evelyn Brandstätter and her team create a warm atmosphere – whether on the sunny terrace or in the charming interior. Especially popular in summer: the irresistible apricot dumplings.
1st place: Katzung, Innsbruck, 94 points
It is one of Innsbruck's most traditional cafés and a popular meeting place in the historic old town. The almost 600-year-old walls are home to the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and sweet delicacies from the in-house bakery. The homemade cakes and tarts, which are made without artificial additives – such as the famous Katzungtorte with quark and hazelnuts – are particularly popular. On sunny days, the charming garden invites you to linger.
1st place: Café 21, Dornbirn, 94 points
The dedicated team attaches great importance to fair trading conditions and the preservation of natural flavors. The café brings this passion to the table with every cup of coffee. Since the refurbishment, the café has become even more impressive: in addition to first-class coffee specialties such as Flat White or Nitro Cold Brew, the varied food on offer is also impressive – from shakshuka and pancakes to sushi and tapas.
