Ask anyone for cafe recommendations in Vienna and the first thing you’ll hear is Café Sacher. This place hardly needs an introduction – it’s the most popular cafe in the whole city! – and it also serves what may be the most popular dessert in all of Austria: the Sacher Torte.
I arrived at Hotel Sacher and immediately joined the queue outside; I thought I could avoid crowds if I ate my cake mid-morning when people would presumably still be full from breakfast, but that wasn’t the case!
However, the line was fast-moving, and it was only a few moments before we were whisked into one of the salons covered in deep red wallpaper, gold-framed paintings, and dangling chandeliers. Fancy!
What is Sacher Torte?
So what is this Sacher Torte that brought me all the way here?
Why, a heavenly dessert for chocolate lovers, of course!
The Sacher Torte is a dense chocolate cake, filled with a thin layer of apricot jam and covered in a dark chocolate icing. At Café Sacher, it is served with a swirl of whipped cream on the side and each slice bears a chocolate seal that reads “Hotel Sacher Wien” in case there was any confusion about where you ended up.
The History of the Original Sacher Torte
And now for a bit of history and cake feuding:
The Sacher Torte was created in 1832 by a young 16-year-old boy by the name of Franz Sacher, who worked in Prince Wenzel von Metternich’s kitchen as an apprentice.
The story goes that the Prince had asked his head chef to prepare a dessert to impress some very important guests who would be visiting, but then the head chef fell ill, leaving this grand task to the young apprentice.
Well, Franz Sacher whipped up some magic and the new cake went on to delight both the prince and his guests…and then the cake received no immediate attention.
Franz Sacher went on to live in modern-day Bratislava and then Budapest before returning to Vienna where he opened a delikatessen shop.
Eventually, Franz Sacher had a family, and his son, Eduard, trained with the Royal and Imperial Pastry Chef at the Demel Bakery. It was during this time that he perfected his father’s Sacher Torte recipe developing it into its current form.
That means the Sacher Torte was first served at Demel, where Eduard worked, and later at the Hotel Sacher, which Eduard opened in 1876; and this is where the legal cake battle begins!
In the 1930s, there arose a disagreement over who was selling “The Original Sacher Torte”.
Was it Demel or was it Hotel Sacher?
The hotel sued the bakery and this resulted in a drawn-out battle that was eventually resolved in an out-of-court settlement.
The result?
Hotel Sacher won the right to call their cake “The Original Sachertorte” and Demel got to call his cake “Eduard-Sacher-Torte”.
But that’s enough about the history, now let’s eat some cake!
What we ordered at Café Sacher
Seeing as we had come all the way to Café Sacher, we had to order a slice of the Sacher Torte, but we also perused the menu for some new cakes and drinks to sample on the side. In the end, we ordered:
Original Sacher Torte mit Schlag
A chocolate cake with a thin layer of apricot jam, covered in dark chocolate icing, with whipped cream on the side.
Liliput Original Sacher Gewürzgugelhupf
A Viennese ring cake with sweet spices, ginger and candied oranges.
Wiener Eisschokolade mit Schlagobers
This Viennese iced chocolate is honestly one of the best drinks I’ve ever had in my life.
They didn’t reveal the ingredients that go into making this, but I imagine it takes some decadent scoops of dark chocolate ice cream because the end product was so rich and frothy, I almost felt like I was having a milkshake.
The drink was topped with whipped cream and two praline sticks. I could have easily had a second one!
Wiener Melange
The Viennese Melange is a speciality coffee drink similar to a cappuccino.
If you order this anywhere in the city, you should get one shot of espresso topped with steamed milk and milk foam in equal parts, but at Café Sacher, you also get a swirl of whipped cream in your coffee.
“Wenn es im Herzen weh tut,
braucht der Mensch viel Süßes.”
“If your heart is weary,
you need more sweets.”
– Anna Sacher
So that’s Café Sacher for you. It’s far from a well-kept secret and you’re almost guaranteed to always find a bit of a line, but sometimes you just have to join the crowds to eat delicious cake.
I mean, it just wouldn’t have been a proper trip to Vienna without a slice of Sacher Torte!
If you’re looking for more foodie recommendations, check out some of my favourite places to eat in Vienna and also where to eat in Salzburg.
How to Plan Your Café Sacher Experience
Café Sacher is busy from open to close. However, the line moves quickly and the salon is worth the wait. Go in the spirit of a “Viennese hour”: unhurried, chatty, and indulgent.
- Aim for late morning or late afternoon to dodge the lunch rush.
- The queue looks long but moves; factor 15–35 minutes most days.
- Bring a light layer—salons keep it comfortably cool for the cakes.
Café Sacher Logistics
| Item | Good to Know | Quick Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Peak times | 12:00–15:00 & 18:00–20:00 | Slide in 10:30–11:15 or after 16:30 |
| Average wait | 15–35 min (faster on weekdays) | Solo/couples are seated quickest |
| Dress code | Smart casual | Layers for cool, air-conditioned salons |
| Photos | Allowed (no flash preferred) | Order first, shoot between sips |
| Payment | Cards widely accepted | Keep a bit of cash for tips |
Beat the Queue
There’s no ironclad hack here. To be perfectly honest half the fun is the anticipation. But you can stack the odds. Weekdays are calmer than weekends. And shoulder season calmer than summer.
- Go on a Monday–Thursday if possible.
- Arrive right at opening or after the afternoon lull.
- Two people beat four—split the party if you can.
- If you must bail, grab a boxed mini Sacher from the shop and picnic later.
Best Times & Waits Cheat Sheet
| Time Slot | Typical Wait | Vibe | Strategy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening – 10:15 | 0–10 min | Fresh trays, calm | Perfect for photos & first coffee |
| 10:30 – 12:00 | 10–20 min | Brisk, cheerful | Order cake + Melange, take your time |
| 12:00 – 15:00 | 20–40 min | Peak lunch crowd | Consider takeaway + coffee elsewhere |
| 15:00 – 16:30 | 10–25 min | Reset, steady flow | Ideal for “cake as late lunch” |
| 16:30 – Close | 5–20 min | Golden hour glow | Cake + iced chocolate nightcap |
What to Order (Beyond the Classic Slice)
Yes, the Original Sacher Torte is non-negotiable. But part of the joy is tasting around it: a spiced Gewürzgugelhupf if you like cozy winter flavors, a Wiener Eisschokolade if you want a drink that basically counts as dessert, and a Wiener Melange for pure coffeehouse nostalgia.
- Order 1× Sacher Torte + 1× “wildcard” cake to share.
- Pair rich cakes with an unsweetened coffee; pair spiced cakes with hot chocolate.
- Add Schlag even if you don’t think you’re a whipped-cream person.
- If you want a lighter bite, split a miniature Liliput cake.
Flavor & Pairing Cheat Sheet
| Treat | Texture & Taste | Best Drink Pairing | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original Sacher Torte | Dense crumb, glossy icing, whisper of apricot | Wiener Melange | Bitter-sweet balance, airy foam |
| Gewürzgugelhupf | Fragrant spice, candied citrus | Hot chocolate or tea | Spice meets cocoa/citrus lift |
| Wiener Eisschokolade | Frothy, ultra-rich “liquid dessert” | Espresso on the side | Sip-and-sip contrast |
| Apple Strudel (if on) | Flaky, tart-sweet apples | Black coffee | Cuts butter, lifts fruit |
| Seasonal specialty | Rotates | Ask staff | They know the magic combo |
A Sweet Half-Day Itinerary: The “Torte & Stroll” in Vienna Loop
Turn your Sacher slice into a mini Vienna day—walk, nibble, repeat.
- 11:00 – Light, savory bite near the Opera (keep room for cake).
- 11:30 – Café Sacher: Sacher Torte + Melange.
- 12:30 – Ringstraße walk: State Opera → Albertina → Burggarten.
- 13:15 – Optional second slice at Demel or a classic café nearby.
- 14:15 – Museum hour (Albertina/Art History) or window-shopping.
- 16:00 – Iced chocolate or espresso to toast a very Viennese day.
Mini Pastry Crawl Timeline
| Time | Stop | Treat | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11:00 | Snack café near Oper | Small savory | 2–5 min walk |
| 11:30 | Café Sacher | Sacher + Melange | You’re here! |
| 12:30 | Ringstraße stroll | Coffee to-go | 10–20 min loop |
| 13:15 | Optional: Demel/other | Second slice | 12–18 min walk |
| 14:15 | Museum or shops | Culture break | Flexible |
Read More about Austria:
- Viennese Food Tours
- Vienna Boat Cruises on the Danube
- Wine Tours in Vienna: Vineyards, Wineries & Castles
- Best Vienna Cycling Tours
- Must-Try Tyrolean Dishes
- Things to do in Vienna
- Austria’s Almabtrieb Cow Parade
- Visiting Tyrol’s Alpbachtal Valley
- Visiting Werfen Castle
- Day Trip to Gaisberg
Have you been to Café Sacher?
What are some other cafes in Vienna you’d recommend?
Wow! this looks yum. Have never tried them….seems like I need to taste it soon.
Simply mouth-watering. Loved it. Thanks for sharing.
That chocolate cake looks irresistible. I would travel all the way just for that cake 🙂
Matter of taste… I hope they make it better in Vienna. I live in Germany and I don’t find this kind of cake so impressive.There are much tastier chocolate cakes in Europe. If you travel to Bulgaria, try “Garage”, compare and tell me : )
I haven’t tried this kind of cake yet because I haven’t been to Vienna, but everyone traveling there says that’s it’s a must try. Your pictures show a very mouth-watering dessert! 🙂
Dessert to cure a weary heart. Sounds about right to me
That looks so yummy.
It makes my belly grumble.
Aw, this brings back memories.
My mom took me to Vienna for my 16th birthday and we ate Sacher Torte at Cafe Sacher.
It was really busy, so we couldn’t stay too long, but it was so beautiful inside the cafe that it was still a lovely experience!
I went there for my birthday for breakfast and the famous Sacher torte, it was divine, the atmosphere is beautiful and the staff are extremely efficient and professional, will definitely love to visit again, Thank you for beautiful memories spent there. Well done keep up the good work.