Café Gloriette sits inside the Gloriette on a hill in Schönbrunn Palace Park, with views across the palace grounds to Vienna. Come for the grand windows and terrace, then settle in for Viennese coffee and a slice of cake. The menu includes the café’s own Gloriette torte, Sisi torte, Sachertorte and apple strudel with vanilla sauce. It is a rewarding stop after the uphill walk; starting here and walking down towards the palace avoids that climb.
The Gloriette above Schönbrunn
The café occupies part of the Gloriette, an imposing building on the hill above Schönbrunn Palace. Built in 1775, it was the final addition Empress Maria Theresa made to the palace grounds. Its arches and colonnades were arranged to give the palace a striking feature on the hill, and the elevated position looks back over the palace and out towards Vienna.
The building has also been used as a reception and dining space. Emperor Franz Joseph I took breakfast here, and the Gloriette served as a dining hall until the end of the Danube Monarchy. Today, the café gives you a place to pause in the historic setting rather than simply viewing it from the park below.
Coffee and Viennese cakes
The café’s pastry selection includes familiar Viennese choices such as Sachertorte and apple strudel, alongside its own Gloriette torte. The house cake has a coconut crust and chocolate cream with egg liqueur. Sisi torte is another named speciality. If you want something warm alongside coffee, Kaiserschmarrn is also on the menu.
The spacious interior has large windows, decorated walls and a ceiling that suits the building’s formal character. Outdoor seating gives you another way to take in the hilltop setting. The café serves coffee and tea as well as cakes and light food, so a short coffee stop and a longer break both fit the setting.
Planning the uphill walk
The Gloriette stands above the palace on a hill, so reaching it from the palace means walking uphill. If you want to save that climb, head to the café first and continue downhill towards Schönbrunn Palace afterwards. The walk down through the grounds is a pleasant way to connect the café stop with the rest of the visit.
The café is open daily from 9 am to 6 pm. An early visit is a practical choice if you want breakfast before the grounds get busier. The interior can feel hot in summer, so the outdoor terrace may suit you better on a warm day. The setting is the main draw, but the cakes give you a good reason to sit down once you reach the top.
Häufige Fragen
Where is Café Gloriette?
It is inside the Gloriette on the hill in Schönbrunn Palace Park, Vienna.
What should I order at Café Gloriette?
Try the Gloriette torte, Sisi torte, Sachertorte or apple strudel. Kaiserschmarrn is also on the menu.
Is the walk to Café Gloriette uphill?
Yes. The route from Schönbrunn Palace to the café climbs uphill. Going to the café first lets you walk downhill towards the palace afterwards.
Does Café Gloriette have outdoor seating?
Yes. There is an outdoor terrace as well as seating inside the Gloriette.
