Back in Vienna after a long holiday, I was looking forward to a traditional Viennese breakfast. What better place to do so than the traditional Café Prückel? Opened in 1903, it recently changed owners, and with that came a careful renovation in 2024. The menu has stayed more or less the same. There are traditions to uphold, after all. You won’t find eggs Benedict here, which would be far too flashy. But soft boiled eggs served in a glass with a slice of chive bread are always on the menu. So last Saturday I made my way to the first district, ready for coffee and a small breakfast.
Café Prückel @Vienna
We sat inside as the weather was typical for April. Cold and blustery in the morning, warm and sunny in the afternoon.
inside @Café Prückel
As you can see, at 9 am the coffee house was mostly empty, although quite a few tables already had reserved signs on them. When we left an hour later, the place was packed. Keep that in mind if you are not into reservations.
still empty in the morning @Café Prückel
Although I had the boiled eggs in mind, I eventually decided against them and ordered a ham roll. I love a filled slice of ham with Russian salad. This is probably not everyone’s idea of a good breakfast, but from time to time it is exactly what I want. Especially since it is not often on the menu. The mayonnaise egg and the ham roll are as classic as they can be for a Viennese coffee house.
ham roll @Café Prückel
Interestingly, the filling didn’t have a lot of mayonnaise, so the dollop on top was definitely needed. But together this was just perfect. The carrot and yellow beet julienne were marinated and had a slight citrusy taste, which worked fantastically in combination with the Russian salad. The lamb’s lettuce was not marinated and didn’t add much to the whole dish. I ordered a bread roll on the side, and it made for a really fine breakfast. Not exactly a breakfast dish, but delicious nonetheless.
My friend ordered the smoked salmon bagel and was happy with his choice as well. His only critique was that the bagel was a bit chewy, which in his opinion meant it was not fresh. I can’t really say, but to me it looked toasted and the salmon had a nice color. Overall, a very appetising dish.
salmon bagel @Café Prückel
Service at Café Prückel was very friendly and efficient. Our coffee arrived shortly after ordering. The atmosphere was relaxed, and the large windows invite you to gaze outside. My biggest challenge was the cake counter right next to my table, but I managed to withstand the cravings this early in the morning. Yours, Pollybert
Café Prückel
1010 Wien, Stubenring 24
Tel: +43 1 5126115
Mon-Sun: 08:30-22:00
https://www.prueckel.at/en/cafe-prueckel/
