Great Austrian Cafes in Manhattan
When only a Sachertorte, Apfelstrudel or Viennese coffee will do, check out these 3 spots in Manhattan
Café Sabarsky
Elegant old-school Viennese kaffeehause
Sachertorte at Cafe Sabarsky
About: Café Sabarsky is a Viennese café located inside the Neue Gallery on Museum Mile. The café is elegantly designed to evoke an old-school Viennese kaffeehause, with dark wood paneled walls, 1912 Otto Wagner upholstery, and plates of strudel served on silver trays. It is open all day, serving a long list of Viennese dishes, tortes, strudels, and specialty coffees. Despite its popularity, the Sachertorte was underwhelming. Instead, try the apple strudel, stuffed with thinly sliced apples, wrapped in perfectly crisp strudel pastry and dusted with powdered sugar. Don’t skip the savory options – try the wiener schnitzel or Viennese beef goulash served with spatzle. Opt for the specialty Viennese coffees instead of the hot chocolate, which is average.
How to do it right: Café Sabarsky only takes reservations for dinner, with breakfast and lunch seated on a first-come, first-served basis. The line can be long, starting outside the Neue Gallery and continuing indoors, so prepare to wait 30 minutes or more at peak times. Come to Café Sabarsky to enjoy a midday dessert or light lunch in its charming and lively salon.
The Hungarian Café:
Cozy and casual all day cafe
About: The Hungarian Pastry Shop has been a staple of the Upper West Side since the 60’s. The narrow room is cramped, with small wooden tables almost touching each other, but the red paneling, dim lighting from tulip lamps and hand-written menu boards impart a warm feeling. You can get Eastern European pastries and coffees here – try a strudel, a slice of one of their rotating tortes or a Viennese coffee.
The walls of the Hungarian Cafe are covered with pictures of novels which have been written in the cafe
How to do it right: On a weekend, there can be a line. Once you get in, order at the front and then try to squeeze yourself into a free seat. While there are definitely better options for strudel in NYC, the cozy vibe makes it easy to enjoy a slice with a Viennese coffee. The tortes are solid – try the Sachertorte, featuring a generous layer of jam sandwiched between perfectly light chocolate cake, covered in a thick ganache
Café Katja
Hearty Austrian tavern in LES serving
About: Café Katja is a casual Viennese restaurant in LES serving up Austrian and Bavarian beers and stick-to-your-ribs tavern dishes (think goulash, spaetzle, schnitzel and bratwurst). Try the house-made bratwurst and appetizer sampler. Unlike the other spots on this list, dessert is not a focus here, but Café Katja still has solid options. Try the apple strudel or Tapfenpalatschinken – cheese-filled crepes with plum sauce.
How to do it right: The cooking is hearty and earnest, with large portions and massive pitchers of beer. This is a casual and unpretentious spot with a meat-focused menu– don’t come here if you want a light meal. The space is tight and cozy, so there may be a wait depending on the day.
