Sachertorte is a dense chocolate cake in two rich halves, separated by a thin layer of apricot jam and finally slathered in rich and creamy chocolate ganache coating. It’s such a staple of Vienna’s world-famous coffee shop culture that lengthy and bitter legal battles have been fought over which café first dreamt it up. Never mind that – which is the best? Here’s our pick of the most delicious sachertorte in Vienna.
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Café Sacher
The OG sachertotre in all its glory / Credit: Alamy
The first sachertorte was supposedly crafted right here, at the Hotel Sacher in 1832. The story goes that regal Prince Metternich was hosting a party but his regular chef was taken ill. ‘Oh, that he may not discredit me tonight!’ Metternich supposedly wailed about the 16-year old apprentice quickly drafted into do the catering that night. Needless to say the young chef aced it, and nearly two centuries later, young Franz Sacher’s impromptu dessert is still a hit with locals and tourists alike.
4 Philharmoniker Str., Innere Stadt
sacher.com/en/restaurants/cafe-sacher-wie
Café Demel
Old-school indulgence at Café Sacher's key rival / Credit: Alamy
Ah, but there’s a twist in the tale. A few minutes stroll from Café Sacher, Café Demel claims it’s the spot where Franz Sacher’s son – Eduard Sacher – perfected the recipe we all know and love today. And besides, the original Hotel Sacher went bankrupt, only reopening in the 1930s and rather cheekily boasting that its new iteration is the true home of the ‘torte. A nine year legal battle in the 1960s established an uneasy dessert duopoly between the hotel and this refined café. Both tortes are pretty fab, for the record.
14 Kohlmarkt, Innere Stadt
demel.com/en/demel/
