Café Central
The Café Central has always been home to great philosophers, poets and leaders such as: Leo Trotsky, Peter Altenberg, Arthur Schnitzler, Sigmund Freud and Hugo von Hofmannsthal, to name but a few. The special charm of the world’s most famous cafe turns your visit into a supreme culinary event. Feel the cosy flair of this popular meeting point in the heart of our capital and enjoy the excellent Vienna cuisine, be it with a Viennese coffee speciality accompanied by a piece of our divine apple strudel or a consommé with aitch-bone of beef. Comprehensive and meticulous refurbishment has not only returned the Café Central to its former splendour, it has also maintained the special atmosphere of a place steeped in history.
Tabular History
| Architectural style: | late romantic historism |
| 1856-1860 | The young architect Heinrich von Ferstel constructs the grand Palais Ferstel inspired by a long journey through Italy. |
| 1860 | Opening of Palais Ferstel, the building is known as the „most up-to-date building of Vienna. |
| 1860 | The Vienna Stock Exchange rents the ground floor of Palais Ferstel, up until the opening of the official Wiener Börsensäle. The Austro-Hungarian National Bank also has its headquarters in this building (on the ground floor – later to become Café Central – Warenbörse). |
| 1876 | The Pach brothers open Café Central on the ground floor after the stock exchange moves out. (1877 the Stock Exchange (Börse) moves to the Stock Exchange building on Ring) |
| 1877 | The k.u.k. military mess moves to the old stock exchange floor on the first floor and stays there until 1911 |
| From 1900 | Café Central becomes the meeting point of academics and artists, the „Centralisten“ as the regulars like to call themselves; Sigmund Freud, Arthur Schnitzler, Leo Trotzki, Robert Musil or Hugo von Hofmannsthal as well as others meet here. The author and regular guest Peter Altenberg lives so close to Café Central, that he indicates its as his address. He uses Café Central as his workplace, living room and salon. Even today a life size figure near the entrance reminds us of this famous guest. |
| Until 1918 | Café Central remains the only literature cafe in Vienna. |
| 1925 | Café Central is renovated just before its 50th anniversary and is redesigned into a Cafe-Restaurant integrating the Arkadenhof, Säulensaal, a ladies salon (Damensalon) and several game rooms. |
| 1926 | The recently renovated cafe celebrates its 50th anniversary. |
| 1938 | Due to the arianization initiated by the national socialists, Café Central has to change its name to „Kaffeehaus“(coffee house) or „Kaffee“ (café). Many regular guests lose their lives due to the National Socialism movement and the Second World War. |
| 1943 | Café Central is closed and remains closed for four decades. The war causes a lot of damage to Palais Ferstel; the Café Central rooms amongst other things are used as stock rooms. |
| 1951 | After the Red Army departs and the war leaves meter high debris, broken windows and an almost completely destroyed interior, the Vienna basketball community works for months on a makeshift renovation of the Palais. The „Halle Herrengasse“ is later used to play basketball in. |
| 1958 | The Österreichische Realitäten-AG (ÖRAG) (Austrian Realities Corporation) takes over the building |
| 1970 | A team of experts is commissioned to develop ideas for restoration and future revitalisation of Palais Ferstel. |
| 1978 | Start of renovations |
| 1982 | Café Central re-opens in the Arkadenhof. The Café was rebuilt in the ORF studios (Austrian State Television and Radio) for a discussion programme which was regularly broadcasted until 1991. |
| 1986 | Café Central moves back to its original home in the Säulensaal. The Palais Ferstel ballrooms are run by the Imperial Austria Hotels AG under CIGA Hotels -and later under Sheraton or Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. as a „Veranstaltungszentrum“ (event centre) until the rental agreement ends in 2001. |
| 2000 | By purchasing ÖRAG, Karl Wlaschek’s Private Trust also takes over the Palais Ferstel building with the Café Central. |
| 2001 | In May, foundation of the Palais Events Veranstaltungen GmbH by the Private Trust as operating company, with the Wiener Börsensäle as its first member. |
| 2001 | In October, Palais Events Veranstaltungen GmbH absorbs part of Palais Ferstel and Café Central. |
| 2006 | The Café Central runs by availability (due to banquet events), again the famous arcaded courtyard as café and for group bookings. |
| 2011 | Inclusion and now member of Verkehrsbüro Group. The excellent in-house cuisine and service still exclusively attend all events. |
More famous buildings by Heinrich von Ferstel:
Votivkirche
Main University at Dr.-Karl-Lueger Ring
University for Applied Art in Vienna
Museum for Applied Arts
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