"A day without a whirlpool is like a night without stars in the sky," knew Emperor Franz Joseph even back then. But who actually invented Vienna's most famous dessert? We look into this question and also answer where Vienna's best apple strudel can be found. One thing is clear - it's more than just a dessert.
The historical background of the famous apple strudel
Nobody really knows exactly how apple strudel originated. It is assumed that the origin of the delicious dessert lies somewhere in the Persian or Arab region lies. Far-reaching conquests and battles in the east are said to have brought the first recipes to Constantinople (now Istanbul). The art of making strudel dough was then refined for decades. Even back then, apple strudel was already very popular. It was considered a nutritious snack, especially for soldiers, and proved to be particularly durable. In the 16th and 17th centuries, apple strudel finally became popular. Hungary to Vienna - where the apple strudel was first called "Almasretes" (Hungarian) in 1696. So much for the history of apple strudel.
Fun facts:
- In Austria, well-suited apple varieties for further processing in strudel are often referred to as "Strudler".
- In 2015, the world's longest apple strudel was baked in Kaprun, Austria - with a total length of an incredible 752 meters.
But where can you find the best Viennese apple strudel?
Café Bräunerhof, Stallburggasse 2, 1010 Vienna
An absolute insider tip in the first district, because very few people know about this café. 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 display case with freshly prepared desserts every day. These include apple strudel. There is a classic puff pastry is used for the strudel. However, the delicious strudel filling is special. Large pieces of apple, not too sweetbut pleasant fruity - Add a dollop of whipped cream and the tasty temptation is perfect.
Our insider tip: On Sundays there is always live classical music in the café. The menu offers sweet delicacies as well as savory dishes and the price-performance ratio is absolutely fine!
Café Landtmann, Universitätsring 4, 1010 Vienna
Of course, how could it be otherwise? It's not for nothing that we serve you with our Culinary sightseeing menu in a vintage electric car the delicious apple strudel from the Café Landtmann. Remarkably, the strudel is freshly baked and delivered three times a day in the in-house patisserie - it is perfectly pulled, a wafer-thin dough and the strudel filling tastes pleasantly cinnamony and 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 mom's). And who could blame him? The apple strudel is simply unbelievably delicious.
Tip: If you can't enjoy the strudel directly from Vienna in an electric vintage car or pass by Café Landtmann, you can also enjoy it in Schönbrunn at the so-called Whirlpool show at the Café Residenz. Café Residenz (like Café Landtmann) is run by the Querfeld family and so the apple strudel recipe is identical. During the show, you can see 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 according to the original recipe. The "apple strudel filling for at home" is also particularly popular - making it easy to bring Vienna into your own kitchen.
Café Hawelka, Dorotheergasse 6, 1010 Vienna
The Café Hawelka is one of the most popular cafés in Vienna and is well-known to tourists and locals alike. From the very beginning, the pastries served there have been prepared by the family themselves. The now 3rd generation The Hawelka family still prepares the delicacies according to the original recipes of their grandparents (Leopold & Josefine Hawelka). Compared to the other Viennese apple strudels already mentioned, this one has a different look. The strudel dough is visibly thicker and almost rustic in appearance. The filling itself consists not only of apple pieces, but also of sliced applesand something Applesauce. The strudel is finely seasoned, not too sweet and not too cinnamony. To sum up - a little more rustic but prepared with extra love. The strudel tastes just like grandma's!
Our insider tip: As the apple strudel is particularly popular, it can happen that it is already sold out in the early evening. So it's worth not waiting too long and stopping by in the morning. And for all coffee lovers: be sure to enjoy a coffee with your apple strudel, as the family roasts their own beans for the coffee.
If you would like to find out more about Viennese coffee, we recommend our Coffee tasting 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 decide on an apple strudel. The fact is, however, that all the cafés mentioned interpret the art of strudel in their own way. So we advise you to visit all three cafés 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 craftsmanship behind them are.
