Café Schwarzenberg is a cafe on the Ringstrasse in the 1st district of Vienna, Austria. It is located at Kärntner Ring 17 across from the Schwarzenbergplatz. Unlike most traditional Viennese cafes, the Cafe Schwarzenberg did not cater to a clientele of artists and intellectuals. The interior is notable for having remained largely unchanged since it was opened in the 19th century.
In 1861 Café Schwarzenberg was opened by a married couple with the family name Hochleitner. It quickly became an important meeting place for influential financiers. Among the famous frequent guests was the renowned architect Josef Hoffmann, one of the founders of the Wiener Werkstätte movement. Many of his creations were drafted at Café Schwarzenberg.
After 1945, the occupying Soviet Army used the space for various events. As a result of this the decor was damaged by gunfire, the results of which were apparent as late as 1979.
Café Schwarzenberg was run by the Österreichischen Verkehrsbüro AG until January 1, 2008. It was then purchased by Vivatis Group.
The Café Schwarzenberg is a popular spot with both tourists and locals. As well as hosting a wide variety of cultural events such as readings and concerts, the cafe hosts Kaffeehausmusik ("Cafe Music") on several evenings during the week. In the Viennese ball season, the Cafe Schwarzenberg is one of the few cafes to offer early morning breakfasts for the ball attendees.