Hot Coffee on A Hot Day 🥵

I think back to my first time in Vienna. It was last November, the day before Austria shut down again due to a spike in COVID numbers. When I think about it, I guess we were some of the last people to see the Viennese Christmas Markets that year 😔 🎄

While we walked around, I remember suggesting to Alex that we try to come back next summer and stop at some museums.

So we came in July 🥵

After a harrowing journey through the very, VERY warm Natural History Museum, we were desperate for a coffee and a sit. And water. 

That’s when we stumbled upon Gustav Emil Paula Paula - a part-cafe, part-hair-salon that is located only a few blocks from the museum entrance. Although, to be honest, I didn’t even notice that there was a hair studio until we were leaving.

Now as some of you may know, there is a well-known Viennese Cafe Culture that usually consists of having to flag down an annoyed waiter, order fast, and then expect your coffee practically thrown down in front of you as the server runs away never to be seen again, especially when it is time to pay 😬

However…

The service here was great! A very friendly gentleman server treated us like we were at some upscale NYC restaurant. He even answered Alex’s question about not knowing what iced coffee was, which I was laughing at, but this man totally kept his cool and described the drink as if it was their signature cocktail. ☕️

The decor was lovely, and the place had remained cool during this very hot day despite being very well lit, so sitting inside was very comfortable without feeling that we were missing the sunshine.

I was going to order an einspänner, which is one of the many kinds of coffee orders you can find in Vienna, but I chickened out in my heat exhaustion and ordered….a HOT single espresso??? 🧐 

I can’t be trusted when I’m tired…

And next time we go I will definitely order a pastry from their front counter 😋