Vienna's best apple strudel - more than just a dessert
"A day without an apple strudel is like a night without stars in the sky," Emperor Franz Joseph knew even then. But who actually invented Vienna's most famous dessert? We will look into this question and answer, among other things, where Vienna's best apple strudel can be found. One thing we can reveal - it's more than just a dessert.
The historical background of the famous apple strudel
Nobody really knows exactly how the apple strudel was made back then. It is assumed that the origin of the delicious dessert is somewhere in the Persian or Arabic region. Far-reaching conquests and battles in the eastern region are said to have brought the first recipes to Constantinople (today's Istanbul). The fine craftsmanship surrounding the strudel dough was then further refined over the decades. The apple strudel was already very popular back then. Especially for soldiers, it was considered nutritious food that proved to be particularly durable. In the 16th and 17th centuries, the apple strudel finally made its way via Hungary to Vienna – where the apple strudel was first referred to as “Almasretes” (Hungarian) in 1696. So much for the history of the apple strudel.
Fun facts:
- In Austria, well-suited apple varieties for further processing in the strudel are often referred to as "Strudler".
- In 2015, the longest apple strudel in the world was baked in “Kaprun” (Austria) - with a total length of an unbelievable 752 meters.
But where can you find the best Viennese apple strudel?
Café Bräunerhof, Stallburggasse 2, 1010 Wien
An absolute insider tip in the first district, because very few people know this cafe. The café is so secret - it doesn't even have its own website. The café is located at Stallburggasse 2 and looks a little old-fashioned at first glance, but that's exactly where the Viennese charm lies. In addition to the classic Viennese coffee house classics, there is also a cake and pastry showcase with desserts freshly prepared every day. Among them is the apple strudel. A classic puff pastry is used for the strudel. What is special, however, is the delicious strudel filling. Large pieces of apple, not too sweet, but pleasantly fruity - add a portion of whipped cream and the tasty seduction is perfect.
Insider tip: On Sundays there is always live classical music as a treat in the café. In addition to sweet delicacies, the menu also offers savory dishes and the price-performance ratio is absolutely fine!
Café Landtmann, Universitätsring 4, 1010 Wien
Of course, how could it be otherwise? There is a reason we serve you the delicious apple strudel from Café Landtmann as part of our Culinary Sightseeing menu in the vintage electric car. Remarkably, the strudel is freshly baked and delivered three times a day in their own patisserie - it is perfectly stretched, a wafer-thin dough and the strudel filling tastes pleasantly sweet - simply irresistibly delicious! The strudel is served directly in the E-Oldtimer and if you're lucky, you'll see Arnold Schwarzenegger in the café, because in his opinion Café Landtmann has the second best apple strudel (right after his mum's).
Who could blame him? The apple strudel is simply incredibly delicious.
Tip: If you can't enjoy the strudel directly with us in an electric vintage car or drop by Café Landtmann, you also have the chance to take part in the so-called "Strudel Show" in the Café Residenz in Schönbrunn. Café Residenz is (like Café Landtmann) run by the Querfeld family, so the apple strudel recipe is identical. During the show you can experience how the strudel is prepared. If you feel like it, you can also book a workshop where you can learn how to make the strudel yourself using the original recipe.
The "apple strudel filling to take home" is also particularly popular - with which you can easily bring Vienna into your own kitchen.
Café Hawelka, Dorotheergasse 6, 1010 Wien
Café Hawelka is one of the most popular cafés in Vienna and is well known to both tourists and locals. From the very beginning, their pastries have been prepared by the family themselves. The 3rd generation of the Hawelka family still prepares the delicacies according to the original recipes of the grandparents (Leopold & Josefine Hawelka). Compared to the other Viennese apple strudels already mentioned, this one looks different. The strudel dough is visibly thicker and looks almost rustic. The filling itself consists not only of apple pieces, but also of sliced apples and some applesauce. The strudel is seasoned finely, not too sweet.
In summary - a little more rustic but prepared with a lot of love. The strudel just tastes like grandma's!
Insider tip: Since the apple strudel is particularly popular, it can happen that it is already sold out in the early evening. It is therefore worth not waiting too long and stopping by in the morning. And for all coffee lovers: Be sure to enjoy a coffee with the apple strudel, because the family roasts their own beans for the coffee.
If you want to learn more about Viennese coffee, we recommend our coffee tasting tour at Cafe Hawelka. After this experience, you will become a coffee expert yourself and know the subtle differences.
Our conclusion: Where can you find the best apple strudel in Vienna?
Hm.. Unfortunately, we can't quite commit ourselves to an favorite apple strudel. Fact is, however, all the cafés mentioned interpret the art of the strudel in their own way. Therefore we advise you: visit all three coffee shops and taste your way through the world of apple strudel. At the end of the day it's not about who has the best apple strudel in Vienna.
We personally find it much nicer to see how different the recipes and the craft behind them are.