to ferret out good food

It wasn’t until we’ve visited Vienna that I’ve had a full grasp on how filthy rich the Habsburgs were. Albeit if a family has been in power for 640 years in a number of countries, one could just imagine the wealth they have amassed over the years.

This post however will not be about them yet. But rather about K.u.K Hofzuckerbäcker Demel; K.u.K Hofzuckerbäcker aka Imperial and Royal Court Confectionary Bakery. There’s this famous Habsburg Empress, Sisi , who was quite well known for being a Demel fanatic. There was even a receipt of a Demel purchase (and it was quite a long list at that!) in her museum. Now you may wonder why a confectionery receipt ended up in her museum – one would think there aren’t any other interesting stuff to display that’s why they even displayed receipts of her purchases. But no. It really makes sense. Because even with the proof of how addicted Sisi was with Demel confectionery, her waistline was still at a whooping 20″! Albeit she keeps to a strict exercise regimen (the props of which were also displayed in her museum) and that she is quite well known as well for her eating disorders. (Let’s have more of Sisi in another post).

Anyways, having had learned that Demel existed since 1786 and has been the Habsburg Imperial confectionary, you can just imagine how I so WANTED to eat here.

We planned to have our coffee break in Demel at mid-afternoon after scouring the Hofburg Palace. Our map told us we still need to round a corner after the last of the Hofburg buildings but I gave an excited cry when I spotted Demel in Kholmarkt just a few steps after we left Hofburg.

This building is the very same building that stood back in 1786, with the interior in Rococo style.

I love this coat hanger!

Now, I’m not one for cakes. I’m more of an ice cream person. But looking at their display made me want to taste one and all!

We deemed it was best to taste the traditional apfelstrudel in Demel. Of course it was a great decision! Gawdness it was good!

Had trüffletorte as well. Yuuuum!

I am most excited to try Sisi’s favorite ice cream though – Demel’s violet ice cream. My regret? I only had one scoop of it. I should have had four!!!!

I already had melange (the Vienesse coffee which comes close to cappuccino) in another cafè hence we decided to have Demel’s house coffee. It came with a generous serving of unsweetened cream. Wow.

The bill. If you’re living in Japan, after having had ordered all the above, this is definitely cheap.

We were lucky enough to be seated at a table where we can see how the apfelstrudel is made.

Of course, we didn’t pass up the chance to buy chocolates and biscuits with art nouveau packaging for omiyage.

When you pass by Kholmarkt, look for the sign and do drop by.

K.U. K HOFZUCKERBÄCKER
CH. DEMEL’ S SÖHNE GmbH
Kohlmarkt 14
A-1010 Vienna
phone +43/1/535 17 17-0
Fax +43/1/535 17 17-26
wien@demel.com
OPENING HOURS
daily from 09.00 am – 7.00 pm