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Austria
Café Landtmann
Café Landtmann, founded in 1873, is one of Vienna's most iconic coffeehouses. With a prime location on the Ringstraße, next to the Burgtheater and the University of Vienna, it quickly became a popular meeting place for Vienna's intellectual and artistic elite.
The café was originally established by a purveyor of fine wines named Franz Landtmann, who transformed a former steam bath into a Viennese coffeehouse. Since its inception, the café has welcomed a number of notable patrons, including Sigmund Freud, Marlene Dietrich, and Paul McCartney, to name but a few. It's well-known for its traditional Viennese coffeehouse culture, offering a variety of coffee specialties, pastries, and cuisine.
The exterior of Café Landtmann is a stunning testament to the grandeur of late 19th-century architecture. The elegant façade, with its large windows and ornate detailing, is crowned with the café's name in golden letters. Its strategic location offers panoramic views of the Rathausplatz, the city hall square, and the magnificent Burgtheater.
Upon entering the café, you are immediately enveloped by the warmth and charm of the interior. High ceilings, dark wood paneling, crystal chandeliers, and plush red velvet seating create a cozy, yet opulent atmosphere. The walls are decorated with historic photos and memorabilia, reflecting the café's rich history and the many famous personalities that have frequented it.
Aside from the main salon, Café Landtmann also houses the Landtmann's Bel-Etage, a series of elegant rooms available for private events, and the Landtmann's Jausen Station, a summer garden where patrons can enjoy traditional Viennese "Jause" (snacks) under the shade of chestnut trees.
Over the years, Café Landtmann has managed to keep alive the essence of the traditional Viennese coffeehouse culture, where coffee is not just a beverage, but a lifestyle. It's a place where people come to read newspapers, engage in intellectual discourse, or simply enjoy the pleasure of each other's company. Today, as it has been for nearly 150 years, Café Landtmann remains a beloved institution and a must-visit destination for both locals and visitors to Vienna.