Enjoyment at the cathedral: Figlmüller opens a new café with tradition in Vienna

Enjoyment at the cathedral: Figlmüller opens a new café with tradition in Vienna

The new Café am Dom in Vienna, which is part of the renowned Figlmüller company empire, will open on May 8, 2025. The location right next to St. Stephen's Cathedral in the city center promises to become a popular meeting place for locals and tourists alike. The café will not only offer traditional Viennese stand-up coffee, but also lunch and evening drinks to cater to visitors all day long. The opening will be celebrated with a culinary evening that will offer many delicacies from Figlmüller and will be accompanied by a celebratory blessing by cathedral priest Toni Faber.

The ambience of the new café at the cathedral will reflect the typical character of a Viennese coffee house. This special atmosphere is characterized by marble tables, Thonet chairs and loving details in the historicist style. Vienna's coffeehouse culture has a long history, dating back to the late 17th century, when the first coffeehouse in Vienna was founded by the Armenian spy Deodato. Since then, coffeehouses have evolved into places where “time and space are consumed, but only the coffee is on the bill,” as it is aptly described.

Opening and festivities

The opening of the café will be an outstanding event for both the operators and the guests. In addition to the invited guests, there will also be the opportunity to explore the historic south tower of St. Stephen's Cathedral, which offers a unique view of the city. This experience emphasizes the importance of the new café not only as a gastronomic establishment, but also as a cultural meeting place in one of Vienna's most important regions. On the occasion of the opening, the cathedral will open its doors to visitors and give them the chance to view the impressive architecture from the inside.

The Viennese coffee house culture, which is included in the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage, is further enriched by the Café am Dom. The coffee houses are not only places for enjoyment, but also centers for intercultural exchange and literary communication. They offer space for conversations about politics, art and society, making the café an ideal place for meetings and discussions.

Culture and tradition

The tradition of coffee houses in Vienna is characterized by numerous changes. The coffee makers suffered during Napoleon's continental blockade and in 1808 their existence suffered a deep downturn. But the Viennese valued the quality of their coffee houses so much that they were allowed to serve wine and warm food during the hard times. The admission of women into the exclusive rooms of coffee houses in 1856 marked a decisive change in the history of these institutions.

Today, Viennese coffee houses like Café am Dom are at the center of a lively cultural scene and are important places for social interaction. The Vienna Coffee House Owners Club, founded in 1956, promotes cultural projects and further training in order to preserve this heritage for future generations. The Café am Dom fits seamlessly into this tradition and will certainly be a valuable contribution to Viennese coffee house culture.

For more information about this important cultural event and coffeehouse culture in Vienna, visit oe24 and UNESCO.