About us - Landtmann

The History of Café Landtmann

For more than 40 years, the Querfeld family has run the traditional Viennese coffeehouse with dedication and a commitment to preserving its unique atmosphere. Historic details, timeless elegance and genuine hospitality meet modern Viennese coffeehouse culture. As a result, Café Landtmann remains a cosmopolitan place where guests can experience the charm of a true Viennese Grand Café.

Franz Landtmann

When Franz Landtmann opened the café on 1 October 1873, he had a clear vision: to create Vienna’s most elegant café. It was a bold move. The Ringstraße was still under construction, the Burgtheater had yet to open, and both City Hall and the University of Vienna were still being built. Yet from the very beginning, Café Landtmann captured the hearts of Viennese locals and quickly became one of the city’s most celebrated meeting places.

Wilhelm & Rudolf Kerl

The café was later acquired by brothers Wilhelm and Rudolf Kerl, who continued to run it under the name Café Landtmann. Rudolf soon retired from the business, while Wilhelm remained at the helm for 35 years before selling the café to butcher and restaurateur Karl Kraus – not to be confused with the famous Austrian writer of the same name.

Karl Kraus

Karl Anton Kraus owned Café Landtmann for just five years. In 1921, the café became part of a hotel, café and restaurant company before being sold to Konrad and Angela Zauner – a change of ownership that would prove to be a fortunate one for Café Landtmann.

Angela & Konrad Zauner

In 1929, Konrad and Angela Zauner commissioned a complete renovation of Café Landtmann. Designed by renowned architect Professor Ernst Meller, the elegant interior, now protected as a historic landmark, still defines the café today. Following the Second World War, their son Erwin Zauner took over in 1949 and successfully continued the family tradition. When the Zauner family decided to sell the café in the mid-1970s, Café Landtmann faced an uncertain future and was at risk of being replaced by a bank branch, like several other historic Ringstraße cafés before it.

Anita & Herbert Querfeld

In the mid-1970s, Anita and Herbert Querfeld fell in love with Café Landtmann and, with the support of Vienna’s then City Councillor for Culture, Helmut Zilk, helped save it from closure. Recognising the need to preserve the historic café while preparing it for the future, they undertook an extensive restoration in 1982, carefully renovating the landmark building with great attention to detail.

In 1988, Berndt Querfeld joined the family business. Today, Café Landtmann is run by Anita and Berndt Querfeld, who continue to honour its rich history while carrying its tradition into the future.

Anita und Berndt Querfeld im Café Landtmann

Querfeld Family

Today, Café Landtmann is run by the third generation of the Querfeld family, who continue to combine its rich heritage with contemporary hospitality and fresh ideas. In 2023, the café celebrated its 150th anniversary – a milestone that reflected both its remarkable history and its continued place in Vienna’s cultural life.

From thoughtful new concepts such as Die Stadtfrau and the evening experience with Art Deco ceiling projections to the ongoing evolution of its culinary offering, Café Landtmann continues to honour its traditions while embracing the future. More than 150 years after opening its doors, it remains a place where Viennese café culture, innovation and genuine hospitality come together.

The History of Café Landtmann

Franz Landtmann

A Glimpse of Café Landtmann