Café Savoy
Café Savoy is a traditional Viennese coffee house that also operates as a gay bar, located in the Mariahilf district on the Linke Wienzeile. Its palatial interior and long history make it one of the reference points among the city's historic cafés.
History
It opened in 1896 in a building designed by the architect Franz von Neumann between 1896 and 1897, commissioned by textile manufacturer Julius Léon von Wernburg, who had bought the site in 1889. Originally called Café Wienzeile after its location, it was run by the Kuszak family, who also owned coffee houses in Prague and Budapest.
In 1983 it was renamed Café Savoy and reduced to just over a third of the ground floor. Renovations in 2008 and 2009 refurbished the premises.
Culture
The palatial style is evident in its mirrors, which were advertised as the largest in Europe cast in a single piece, in the manner of those at Versailles, and in a chandelier designed by Theophil von Hansen. Over time it also became a meeting place for Vienna's gay community, combining the café tradition with a diverse clientele.