If you look for great Italian coffee, look no further than La Stella. This small shop, which also features a café and aperitivo bar, is tucked away under the arcades across the opera house. The place is nondescript and I can’t really tell how often I’ve passed it. Until I heard from a friend that La Stella serves the best coffee in town.
On that day we didn’t come for coffee, but rather for drinks after watching ‘The Substance‘ on a big screen. We definitely needed something and ordered a round of Aperol spritz. Nothing captures the Italian way of life better than Aperol. Personally I prefer Campari, but on that evening everything would do the trick. The drink was excellent, made with Prosecco and a generous amount of Aperol, a bit of mineral water, as well as a lot of ice.
Aperol spritz @La Stella
While sitting and nursing my drink, I watched the many prosciutto legs hanging from the ceiling, the bursting shelves full of pasta, sauces, and antipasti and developed an appetite. We decided to share among the three of us one Focaccia and a mixed antipasti plate for two with pickled vegetables. In hindsight a plate for one would have been enough, portions are huge at La Stella.
We shared the Focaccia with artichoke cream, grilled vegetables, and ham. There might have been something else inside, but I am not sure anymore. The only thing I remember was the pleasure of eating it. The bread was warm and greasy and the filling generous. The artichoke cream burst outside, when I took a bite, and I needed to lick my finger. Not a chance to just clean it off, it was way too delicious for wasting it.
Focaccia with artichoke cream @La Stella
The mixed antipasti plate was a large wooden board full of cold cuts, different cheeses, sandwiches with Tapenade, truffle cream (my least favorite), artichoke cream, pesto, and porcini cream, as well marinated vegetables. Served with a couple of slices of white bread, which was deliciously crusty and soft at the same time. It was supposed to be a snack and felt more like a meal. In any case it was perfect!
mixed antipasti plate @La Stella
Service was friendly, especially once we ordered a second round and something to eat. The only thing I disliked was the rush in the end. La Stella closed punctually at 21:30 and the personnel kept stacking chairs and tables. I am not sure why they even sold us something to eat 20 minutes earlier, if they were in such a hurry to leave. Next time though I have to visit La Stella with a bit more wriggle room timewise. Yours, Pollybert
La Stella Wien | Apericafè Gastroshop
1010 Wien, Opernring 3-5/Top 15-16
Tel: +43 1 5812548
email: management@masidea.it
Mon-Sun: 09:30-21:30
https://www.instagram.com/lastella_wien/
