Vienna: Coffee, Cake & Pastries Tour with Local Bakeries

Summary

Vienna food tour by subway tasting krapfen strudel & Naschmarkt

You’ll ride Vienna’s subway with a local guide to taste krapfen in a family-run bakery, share cakes in an old-school café, sample chocolates at Naschmarkt, and end with a drink where locals unwind. Expect small surprises—like learning how to say “marillenknödel”—and leave with new favorites (and maybe some powdered sugar on your coat).

What’s the experience like?

We stepped out from under St. Stephen’s Cathedral and straight into Vienna’s morning shuffle — pigeons, trams, that soft bakery smell drifting somewhere close by. Our guide, Anna, handed us metro tickets (I still can’t fold them right) and we squeezed into the U-Bahn heading for the 10th district. The city changed as we rode — more Turkish groceries, kids on scooters, paint peeling in that way old cities do. Anna said this neighborhood is where real Viennese buy their bread. I believed her; the bakery was tiny but busy, and the krapfen she gave us was warm and sticky with apricot jam. I tried not to inhale it in one bite.

After that, we hopped back on the subway — I lost count of stops because Anna kept telling stories about her grandmother’s strudel recipe (she swears you have to use sour apples). The next café didn’t look like much from outside — yellowed curtains, old men reading newspapers — but inside it smelled like coffee grounds and something nutty baking. We shared slices of gugelhupf and palatschinken rolled up with plum jam. Li laughed when I tried to pronounce “marillenknödel” — probably butchered it. The owner poured me hot chocolate so thick my spoon stood up for a second.

The last part was a walk through Naschmarkt, which felt more like Istanbul than Vienna for a minute — olives piled high, vendors calling out in German and Turkish, chocolate samples melting on my fingers. There was a guy selling candied violets who winked at me when I hesitated over which flavor to try. By then I’d lost track of how many cakes or pastries we’d eaten (three? four?) but Anna insisted we finish at this bar tucked behind a bike shop in the 7th district. She ordered something herbal for us — not sure what it was but it tasted green and sharp after all that sugar.

I left feeling full in every sense; my coat pockets smelled faintly of yeast and cocoa all afternoon. Sometimes when I think of Vienna now it’s not the opera house or palaces that come first, but that little bakery kitchen heat and powdered sugar on my sleeve.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Vienna's local pastries and markets

• Meet at St. Stephen’s Cathedral
• Subway to family-run bakery in 10th district
• Sample krapfen doughnuts
• Subway to little-known coffee house in 4th district
• Taste Austrian cakes and strudels
• Visit Naschmarkt in 6th district
• Sample handmade Austrian chocolates
• Finish with a drink in 7th district hipster hangout

Top questions

How long does the Vienna coffee & pastries tour last?

The tour typically lasts around 3 hours as you visit multiple locations across Vienna.

Are vegetarian or vegan options available on this food tour?

Vegetarian and vegan options are possible but may be limited; contact ahead for specific dietary needs.

Is hotel pickup included in this Vienna food tour?

Hotel pickup is included only if you book the private tour option; otherwise there is a central meeting point.

What types of pastries are included on the tour?

You may try krapfen (jam doughnuts), palatschinken (crepes), marillenknödel (apricot dumplings), gugelhupf (bundt cake), strudel, or ice cream depending on season.

Does the tour include drinks?

Yes—hot chocolate in winter or homemade ice cream in summer plus coffee or tea or juice at cafés are included.

Is this Vienna food tour suitable for children?

The small group experience is for ages 12+, but private tours may be flexible; check before booking.

Does the tour use public transportation?

Yes—the standard experience uses metro tickets provided by your guide; private tours may use a van instead.

What’s included

Your day includes all metro tickets or private van transport if selected, tastings of classic Austrian pastries at three to four different spots around Vienna—including krapfen from a family bakery—plus two cakes with your choice of coffee, tea, or soft drinks like apple juice or homemade iced tea. In winter there’s hot chocolate; in summer you get homemade ice cream. A friendly English-speaking local guide leads your small group or private experience, starting from St. Stephen’s Cathedral with personalized tips along the way—and hotel pickup if you book privately.