Café Gloriette, Vienna Travel Guide

Built in 1775 as a monumental baroque garden pavilion, Café Gloriette crowns a gentle hill in Schönbrunn Palace Park, commanding breathtaking vistas over the sprawling estate and Vienna beyond. Emperor Franz Joseph I and Empress Sisi cherished this spot, fitting it with a private breakfast room. Today, it stands as one of Austria's most splendid coffeehouses, where the imperial ambiance harmonizes with contemporary urban style.

The café's interior features light-flooded architecture with large seating niches and podests along the walls, framed like flat islands. Woven Loom chairs create an open flow, using noble materials: imperial red evoking historical tradition, paired with light maple wood for tables and benches. Outdoor areas mimic Italian street cafés, inviting guests to linger under the Vienna sky while gazing at the palace below.

Savor breakfasts fit for emperors, from classic Viennese pastries like Sachertorte to house specialties such as Gloriettetorte with coconut base and egg liqueur chocolate cream. Handcrafted by in-house confectioners without artificial additives, the menu emphasizes Austrian, European, and café fare including brunch, lunch, and drinks. Vegetarian options abound, with weekend Sisi Buffets requiring advance reservations.

Open daily from 9:00 to dusk or 17:00-18:00 seasonally, the café welcomes walk-ins though tables fill quickly. Reach it via U4 metro to Schönbrunn or Hietzing, then a scenic stroll through the park; bus 8A stops nearby at Stranitzkygasse. Public parking available at Seckendorff-Gudent-Weg. Highchairs, credit cards, and table service enhance comfort.

No visit to Schönbrunn is complete without ascending to the Gloriette. The panorama encapsulates the palace's golden domes, manicured gardens, and distant cityscape. Pair your coffee with the satisfaction of burned calories from the uphill path, making it an ideal reward in this UNESCO-listed imperial complex.