5 Viennese cafes you should visit

Vienna’s Kaffeehäuser (coffee houses) are as central to the city’s social life, as pubs are to London and delis to New York City. Vienna was introduced to coffee by the Turks in the 17th century, and is dotted with traditional and modern coffee houses. Not just your regular cafes, Viennese coffee houses have also historically been spaces of discussion and reflection. To soak in their leisurely ambience and old world charm, spend an afternoon lingering over your coffee and cake, or poring over your newspaper, magazine or iPad. There are a range of coffees on offer: melange (the local version of cappuccino), mocca (black coffee), kaffee verkerhrt (literally "reversed coffee" or latte macchiato), eiskaffee (vanilla ice cream and coffee topped with whipped cream and a wafer) and the fancy Maria Theresa (mocca with Cointreau and whipped cream). Most coffee houses also offer a food menu, with wine and beer.