Віденська кав'ярня
 
Some things are worthy
of our undying loyalty

Coffee, for example.

James Golsworsy

Since ancient times coffee has played a great role in Lviv. Here it has been enjoyed by locals for more than a century. Lviv's first Coffee Houses were opened in the 1780s after the reconstruction of the western neighborhoods of the city. In the beginning of the Nineteenth century coffee was already served in special places, including a confectionery founded in 1803 by Swiss confectioner Dominic Andriolly, in the alley named after him (between Rynok Square and Pidkova Square). The first Coffee House, designed specifically for coffee, was built in
Lviv in 1829. It was given the name Viennese . Here is the interesting history of the famous Viennese:

Svyaty Dukh Square and Hetmanski Walls. At this place was later built "Viennese Coffee House".

From ancient times the city was in need of a watch-tower, but, as usual, there was no money in Lviv. At that time one townsman, Karol Gartman, applied to the city's magistrate to reconstruct one building, bought days earlier from the family of Prince Poninsky, as a Coffee House. It was a rather profitable deal for the city.
In a short time Gartman built at his own expense a watch-tower and the Coffee House for the city of Lviv. The Coffee House had three fronts on all sides except Svyaty Dukh Square (today Pidkova Square). Nevertheless, as a sign of exceptional kindness (precario modo), the magistrate of Lviv permitted Gartman to make windows and the official door on the square side, which would be close on the first requirement.
View of Viennese Coffee House and monument to Yan Sobesky (beg. XX cent.)

The Coffee House was very profitable because it was situated in a convenient place. After the owner's death in 1847, the family business was continued by Mr. Gartman's wife Klymentyna, and after her death was inherited by her daughter Irena Rustel. In 1870 the Coffee House passed to Antonio and Genovef Ziber. In the beginning of the Twentieth century it was bought by Gabriel Stark. Under his energetic ownership, Viennese achieved the peak of its lustre. Decorated in modest taste, without excessive chic, grand halls, irreproachable waiters and no music, the Coffee House attracted respectable aged persons.
View of the "Viennese" (beg. XX cent.)
In Polish times pensioners of state service military men, ex-officials and policemen gathered at Viennese. Through the large windows in the Hetmansky-side wall, one could see the monument of Yan Sobesky on horseback. And through the windows to Svyaty Dukh Square one could listen to the military band, which played marches and popular melodies every Sunday and Holiday.
Until 1939 a separate hall in the Viennese was reserved for particular respectable gentlemen. Not only were important meetings and receptions held there, but many commercial and financial agreements as well.
In 1902, Viennese gained new life thanks to the creative vision of its owners Shtadtmiller and Chudzak. Construction was completed of a roof terrace which overlooked Svyaty Dukh Square. The terrace however necessitated some remodeling of the interior Coffee House: the main entrance, which was in the middle of the building from Hetmanska Street (prospect Svobody), was relocated to the corner of Kilinsky Street (PamvyBeryndy Street). The billiard table from the first hall was relocated into the hall on the Svyaty Dukh Square side. The interior was redesigned to Secession Style. The owners also added new furniture designed by Zajhovsky and Krupsky.
In the beginning of the Twentieth century Viennese prospered amongst the coffee houses and restaurants of Lviv. The regular visitors of Viennese were the elite of Lviv during that time period, including Myhajlo Grushevsky, Stanislav Ljudkevych, ethnografics Volodymyr Ohrymovych and Volodymyr Gnatjuk. Another frequent visitor, one who normally had no interest in bars and restaurants , was Ivan Franko, who often visited Viennese to read the daily newspaper while enjoying a cup of coffee.
The modern history of Viennese Coffee House begans 6, June 1998, when the first hall of Coffee House was opened, and one year later began its activity two halls of restaurant. In 2002 remodeling of the roof terrace began, in effort to restore it to its original design according to plans from Lviv’s archives.

The last stroke in creating the image of Viennese Coffee House in modern times was the addition of the statue "Daring Soldier Shvejk" - a character in Czech author Yan Gashek's writing. Standing near the entrance, the bronzed Austrian soldier, with a jug of beer in hand, gladly greets the visitors of the Coffee House.

So, for nearly two centuries, Viennese has remained a warm and endearing coffee house for regulars and guests alike.
Our address: 12 Prospekt Svobody, Lviv. For order:
tel.: 72-20-21 e-mail: wienkaffe@mail.lviv.ua