Demel, Vienna
Step into the sugar-dusted time machine that is Demel, Vienna鈥檚 most regal sweet spot since 1786. Not just any pastry shop, mind you鈥攖his is the former Purveyor to the Imperial and Royal Court, which basically means it had the emperor鈥檚 official blessing to give everyone a sugar high.
Decked out in full Neo-baroque glamour, Demel serves tradition with a flourish. The waitresses, known as Demelinerinnen, don鈥檛 just take your order鈥攖hey address you in the third person, because in here, you are royalty too. 鈥淲ould the gracious guest prefer their strudel warm?鈥� Why yes, they would...
It all began at Saint Michael鈥檚 Square, thanks to Ludwig Dehne, a confectioner from W眉rttemberg, Germany, with a sweet tooth and ambition. In 1857, the shop passed into the hands of Christoph Demel, one of Dehne鈥檚 employees, whose sons鈥擩oseph and Karl鈥攍ater moved the whole sugary operation to Kohlmarkt after the old Burgtheater was torn down. Turns out, even pastries need a fresh start sometimes...
Demel hit its golden era during the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, becoming a magnet for the upper crust. Empress Elisabeth (known as Sisi), Princess Pauline von Metternich, and actress Katharina Schratt all indulged in its delights鈥攑roof that even the elite couldn鈥檛 resist a good slice of cake.
Speaking of cake: cue the great Torte Wars of the 20th century. Demel and the Hotel Sacher engaged in a legal battle over the rights to the "Original Sacher Torte." After years of courtroom drama, a peace treaty was signed in 1963鈥擠emel could keep baking its version, marked with a sleek triangular seal. Chocolate diplomacy at its finest.
Today, Demel is more than just cake and charm. It hosts a delightful museum showcasing its imperial connections and the fine craft of chocolate-making. So, whether you're here for history, sugar, or a touch of old-world theatrics, one thing is certain: no one leaves Demel unimpressed鈥攐r hungry.
Decked out in full Neo-baroque glamour, Demel serves tradition with a flourish. The waitresses, known as Demelinerinnen, don鈥檛 just take your order鈥攖hey address you in the third person, because in here, you are royalty too. 鈥淲ould the gracious guest prefer their strudel warm?鈥� Why yes, they would...
It all began at Saint Michael鈥檚 Square, thanks to Ludwig Dehne, a confectioner from W眉rttemberg, Germany, with a sweet tooth and ambition. In 1857, the shop passed into the hands of Christoph Demel, one of Dehne鈥檚 employees, whose sons鈥擩oseph and Karl鈥攍ater moved the whole sugary operation to Kohlmarkt after the old Burgtheater was torn down. Turns out, even pastries need a fresh start sometimes...
Demel hit its golden era during the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, becoming a magnet for the upper crust. Empress Elisabeth (known as Sisi), Princess Pauline von Metternich, and actress Katharina Schratt all indulged in its delights鈥攑roof that even the elite couldn鈥檛 resist a good slice of cake.
Speaking of cake: cue the great Torte Wars of the 20th century. Demel and the Hotel Sacher engaged in a legal battle over the rights to the "Original Sacher Torte." After years of courtroom drama, a peace treaty was signed in 1963鈥擠emel could keep baking its version, marked with a sleek triangular seal. Chocolate diplomacy at its finest.
Today, Demel is more than just cake and charm. It hosts a delightful museum showcasing its imperial connections and the fine craft of chocolate-making. So, whether you're here for history, sugar, or a touch of old-world theatrics, one thing is certain: no one leaves Demel unimpressed鈥攐r hungry.
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Demel on Map
Sight Name: Demel
Sight Location: Vienna, Austria (See walking tours in Vienna)
Sight Type: Shopping
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Vienna, Austria (See walking tours in Vienna)
Sight Type: Shopping
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Vienna, Austria
Create Your Own Walk in Vienna
Creating your own self-guided walk in Vienna is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Vienna Old Town Walking Tour
Vienna鈥檚 Old Town鈥攖he historic core of Austria鈥檚 capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site鈥攊s where cobblestones gossip, rooftops sparkle, and emperors still seem to whisper from the walls. Indeed, this is the kind of place where every alley seems to have a PhD in European history.
Once wrapped in medieval walls鈥攂efore they rolled out the grand Ringstrasse boulevard in the 19th... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
Once wrapped in medieval walls鈥攂efore they rolled out the grand Ringstrasse boulevard in the 19th... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
Johann Strauss Walking Tour
Throughout the entire 19th century, Vienna was a hub of cultural and musical activity, particularly in the realm of classical music, to which Johann Strauss and his father, Johann Strauss Sr., contributed greatly.
Strauss, the son had a personal connection with Vienna deeply rooted in its cultural fabric. Not only was he born here and spent most of his life, but also he achieved tremendous... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
Strauss, the son had a personal connection with Vienna deeply rooted in its cultural fabric. Not only was he born here and spent most of his life, but also he achieved tremendous... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
Vienna's Historical Music Venues
Austria is synonymous with classical music almost to the point of obsession, and to call Vienna the "Musical Capital of the World" would be hardly an exaggeration. Indeed, over the past centuries, the city served as the home and workplace for many great musicians like Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, Johann Strauss, Joseph Haydn, Franz Schubert, and others.
Among the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
Among the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
Klimt Paintings Tour
"I have the gift of neither the spoken nor the written word, especially if I have to say something about myself or my work. Whoever wants to know something about me - as an artist, the only notable thing - ought to look carefully at my pictures" 鈥� Gustav Klimt.
Klimt's name is indelibly linked to Vienna. The renowned symbolist painter was a prominent figure in the city. As a... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
Klimt's name is indelibly linked to Vienna. The renowned symbolist painter was a prominent figure in the city. As a... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
Mozart Walking Tour
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart spent a significant portion of his life in Vienna. Here, he achieved recognition, and the city holds enormous historical and cultural significance for his legacy. Mozart first visited Vienna as a child prodigy in 1762, and in 1781 came here to stay.
The city met the composer with a vibrant and cosmopolitan atmosphere brought about by some of the top musicians and artists... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
The city met the composer with a vibrant and cosmopolitan atmosphere brought about by some of the top musicians and artists... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
Old Town Churches Walking Tour
"Vienna is the city of miracles and music" 鈥� Whoever said that must have emphasized Vienna's close association with the Christian faith. The intertwining of Christian heritage and artistry in the Austrian capital finds expression primarily in its magnificent churches.
Sitting at "the crossroads of Christian traditions", Vienna is home to various Christian... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
Sitting at "the crossroads of Christian traditions", Vienna is home to various Christian... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
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