I discovered Demel completely by accident.
After the weather cleared up in Vienna, I began exploring the area by foot. Right near the Spanish Riding school I saw this stunning wedding cake tower adorned with beautifully crafted flowers.
I had to stop.
As I peered through the window at this beautiful cake, I noticed there was a long line in front of this shop. What was going on?
Then I saw kaiserschmarrn window.
Yes, there was a window open to the street dedicated to selling this sweet, fluffy, and delectable Vienna specialty.
What is Kaiserschmarbn?
What is Kaiserschmarbn? Kaiserschmarbn literally means “Emperor’s Mess” or “Emperor’s Scramble”. It’s a light fluffy pancake (usually with raisins) that has been shredded into pieces, sprinkled with powdered sugar, and served with a tart jam.
The Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph was a huge fan of this dish, and it’s served all over Vienna now.
At Demel, you can their insanely popular Kaiserschmarbn in a takeaway bag for 9 EUROS. I guess this means you can avoid the line to get into the cafe, which could take much, much longer.
At the time I wasn’t hungry enough to buy a bag, so I made a mental note to try this very traditional treat later on in the week.
Cakes, Tortes, Chocolates, and More
The inside of Demel is worth a visit, even if it’s just to ogle at all of the beautiful sweets that they sell. If you’re looking for special gifts to take home, this is a great place to visit.
There’s a cafe inside where you can eat a meal or just coffee & cake, but definitely check the front desk first to make sure you know the situation regarding whether there is a line outside for the cafe. They don’t take reservations.
Demel makes its own Sachertorte, the famous rich and dense chocolate cake first invented at the Sacher Hotel. Demel acknowledge they did not invent this, but they claim they make one of the best versions of the cake.
Thought the kaiserschmarbn is the most famous item here, I was actually drawn more to this milchrahmstrudel (milk cream strudel), perhaps because it didn’t seem to have any raisins (which I don’t really like that much).
Alas, I had no room in my stomach to try so many things, so I didn’t get to try this milchrahmstrudel this time around.
I guess that just means I have to come back!
Demel Cafe in Vienna Austria
KOHLMARKT 14
1010 VIENNA AUSTRIA