Cafe Museum

When you enter this historic café near Vienna’s Opera House, you’ll be accosted by a mouthwatering display of pastries and tortes behind the glass display. Apple and cottage cheese strudels, Esterházy torte, Cardinal slice, whipped-cream-filled rolls (Schaumrolle). They usually lure me into one of the crescent-shaped plush red banquettes (sadly, Adolf Loos's legendary interior from 1899 is no more).

You’ll sit alongside elegant local Viennese who camp out here under the silver globe lighting fixtures and do their reading or socializing with a cup of very pricey coffee or a glass of Zweigelt. Note: weekends are usually overrun by tourists.