Cafe Landtmann

Franz Landtmann opened Cafe Landtmann on October 1, 1873, with the intention of creating the finest coffee establishment in the city.To this day, Landtmann continues to be Vienna’s most elegant coffee house.The cozy and stylish atmosphere of the space is enhanced by the presence of Thonet armchairs from the imperial era and mirrors from the glamorous 1920s. The café is popular among actors, politicians, civil servants, and journalists because of its convenient location near Burgtheater, City Hall, and the Federal Chancellery. It is not uncommon for press conferences to be held at this café. The menu features a variety of coffee specialties, pastries, cakes, and dishes from the Viennese kitchen.

Café Landtmann was established by Franz Landtmann on October 1, 1873. Landtmann, originally from the Währing district, hails from a family with a rich history in the coffeehouse industry, as well as expertise in gingerbread baking and fig coffee production. When the original café opened, it was situated on Ringstraße, directly across from two expansive construction sites where the new Town Hall and university were being built. Adjacent to the café, there were the remnants of Löwelbastei, which would eventually be replaced by the construction of the Burgtheater.

In 1881, Landtmann decided to sell his café to Wilhelm and Rudolf Kerl, two brothers who then took over the business and kept the name Landtmann. After Rudolf’s retirement, Wilhelm took over the café and became a well-known figure in the local community. He gained popularity among prominent individuals such as Gustav Mahler, Sigmund Freud, and Emmerich Kálmán, who became regular visitors to the café. In 1916, Wilhelm decided to sell Café Landtmann after successfully managing it for 35 years. The buyer of the café was Karl Kraus, who had previously worked as a butcher and owned his own restaurant. Kraus and the private limited company Hokare Ges.m.b.H. worked together to run the café for a period of five years.

Konrad and Angela Zauner purchased Café Landtmann in the autumn of 1926. In 1929, the couple hired Ernst Meller, a renowned architect and professor, to expand and renovate their coffeehouse. Meller was well-known for his designs of various Viennese coffeehouses during that period. Café Landtmann’s extravagant and lavish interior decorations were added during the renovation, and they have been meticulously preserved ever since. Notably, the entrance is adorned with four wooden columns, skillfully sculpted by Hans Scheibner.After World War II, Konrad handed over the café’s management to his son Erwin. Erwin successfully ran the café until 1976, when the Querfeld family purchased it.

Café Landtmann underwent extensive renovations under the management of the Querfeld family. These renovations took place in 1982, as well as in 2001 and 2002, and required a significant financial investment. The Querfeld family organized a grand party on October 1, 1998, to celebrate the 125th anniversary of Café Landtmann. The event was attended by notable celebrities from the political and cultural spheres of the city, as well as numerous loyal customers. In 2003, the renowned café bid farewell to its beloved head waiter, Robert Böck, affectionately known as “Herr Robert,” who had dedicated 28 years of his life to serving there.

Throughout its extensive history, Café Landtmann has functioned as a prominent gathering spot for numerous influential figures in Austria, including industrialists, politicians, intellectuals, and artists. Notably, it was the favored coffeehouse of renowned individuals such as Sigmund Freud, Gustav Mahler, Peter Altenberg, Felix Salten, and Emmerich Kálmán.Café Landtmann is referenced in James A. Michener’s novel Poland, as well as Eva Ibbotson’s The Morning Gift.