An upmarket open-air café now stands where Imperial children once played. Toy castles give way to cake, coffee and more at Café Pavillon in the grounds of Schönbrunn Palace.
- Peaceful location away from palace crowds
- Seasonal retreat for April to October
- Ideal for warm, lazy days
- Book a Schönbrunn concert, tour & more*
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Away from the crowds
Sit in Café Pavillon and you’re just a short walk from thousand of tourists taking in the historical palace and its landscaped gardens. Except you’d never know it.
The café lies at one end of a grassed area and small rose garden. But tall hedges hide you from the masses; you can just about see the top of the palace above the treetops.
It’s remarkably tranquil (unless the gardeners choose that moment to strim the verge). Almost as if you’re in another universe given the whirl of activity elsewhere.
Outdoor seating rings the café’s central pavilion, so you always have a choice of sun or shade. The décor feels al fresco 1920s, a sense enhanced by the light jazz music that played over the speakers on my visit.
I almost expected the male waiting staff to turn up in boaters and a striped blazer (they didn’t).
At the time of writing, the menu is classical Viennese coffee house updated for modern needs.
Which means such options as a traditional Viennese breakfast, cheese platters, Sachertorte, Strudel and coffee. But also organic and vegan choices, blood orange and basil lemonade, and a streak of internationality and creativity in many dishes.
Inevitably, the location means prices match those found in cafés bulging with history and visitors in the old town. But not excessively so.
The people behind the café (Gerstner) make a habit of appearing in historical surrounds. You find them, for example, in Palais Todesco and the State Opera House.
The café’s owners also run the Café-Restaurant in the Kavalierstrakt outbuilding opposite the main visitor entrance to Schönbrunn Palace, where you can expect more of a traditional coffee house ambience.
Café Pavillon’s predecessor was a bit of an insider tip fiercely guarded by the Viennese. Time will tell if the new café can repeat that success. I shall watch with curiosity.
How to get there
Use these directions to reach Schönbrunn. Then…
Go round the back of the palace to where the landscaped gardens are. A long broad gravel alley (the Lichte Allee) stretches away to the east parallel to the palace. Go down there and look right for a brown post not far from where the alley ends. Turn right to reach Café Pavillon through the tall hedge.
If you arrive at Schönbrunn subway station, then go west around the side to enter the palace complex at the Meidlinger Tor. Once inside, take an immediate left, then the first right into the alley mentioned above. Watch left for the signpost.
Address: Schönbrunner Schlosspark (Kronprinzengarten), 1130 Vienna | Website