Cafe Sperl

We spend the morning in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, are surprised by the extent and quality of the art collection and decide to take a lunch break at Cafe Sperl for our second coffee house visit.

We are determined not to embarass ourselves again and instead decide to impress the waiters with our Vienna coffee expertise. 

My Russian friend decides to order a Pharisaer und ich go for Maria Theresia as we like the names.


Pharisäer: allegedly only 4 cl Rum with sugar, hot coffee and whipped cream in a glas

Maria Theresia: coffee with orange licor and brandy

Einspänner:  black coffee, sugar and whipped cream in a glas

                    Instead of a cozy shot of rum they seem to have filled at least half the glass with rum, easily knocking out my vodka loving Russian travel companion. We vow only to order Einspänner going forward. Our stomachs are soothed somewhat by the lovely Viennese Schnitzel and we can dedicate our afternoon to the second part of the museum's impressive art collection with a warm and fuzzy feeling in our bellies.


Cafe Sperl is one of the coffee houses we liked the best - you could easily spend the whole day here, it attracts a very diverse crowd and the food is very good. The waiters serve you when you need them but leave you in peace most of the time.