Published 24th March 2025
Are you new to Vienna and looking for the best laptop-friendly cafes in the city or a Viennese local in search of some inspiration? We have you covered!
Vienna, the capital of Austria was once the seat of power of one of the largest empires in history, the Austro Hungarian empire. Today, Vienna is frequently rated as one of the best cities in the world for quality of life and is a popular digital nomad destination.
We’ve done the research (including Reddit!), asked digital nomad friends in Vienna and compiled our list of the best and most popular places to work in the city as well as a few hidden gems.
(Click here to skip directly to our list of laptop-friendly work cafes in Vienna)
Vienna (Wien in German) is a beautiful, cultured city and one to spend some time in if you get the opportunity.
Like the relaxed coffee-drinking experience Vienna is famous for, the city of music is not one to be rushed but rather savoured like a perfectly made Milchkaffee (latte).
Wandering the streets of Vienna you can’t help but admire the wonderful architecture and feel a sense of the imperial past of yesteryear.
Unlike other once-powerful empires that became a shadow of their former selves, Austria still packs a powerful punch, if perhaps on a smaller scale.
Vienna is the capital of Austria, a country with a population of 9.1 million, almost the same as Portugal with 10.4 million and interestingly Vienna has many things in common with the capital of Portugal, Lisbon.
Both Vienna and Lisbon are capitals of former empires and both are capitals of countries that are similar in population.
I’ve been lucky to spend time as a digital nomad in both Vienna and Lisbon and love both cities in different ways. As with Lisbon, there are plenty of great laptop-friendly cafes and other spots in Vienna if you dig deep.
Vienna’s Café Culture: A Blend of History and Tradition
Vienna has a rich coffee-drinking history
Vienna’s café culture dates back to the late 17th century when the first coffeehouse was opened after the Ottoman siege of 1683.
Vienna quickly embraced coffee, and by the 19th century, Viennese cafés became intellectual and artistic hubs where writers, philosophers, and musicians would meet to discuss ideas.
Famous figures like Sigmund Freud, Stefan Zweig, and Leon Trotsky were regulars at these establishments.
During the early 20th century, Vienna’s coffee houses flourished, becoming places not just for drinking coffee but for reading newspapers, playing chess, and engaging in lively discussions.
Many of these historic cafés, such as Café Central, Café Landtmann, and Café Sperl, still exist today, maintaining their old-world charm.
One only hopes that these historic cafes will still be around in 100 years time.
What Makes Viennese Café Culture Unique?
Unlike in many other places where cafés focus on quick service and a quick turnaround, Vienna’s coffee houses are designed for a delightfully unhurried coffee-drinking experience.
Guests can spend hours nursing a single cup of coffee without feeling rushed.
The atmosphere is often elegant, featuring chandeliers, marble tables, and classic wooden interiors.
Many cafés also serve traditional Austrian pastries, such as Sachertorte (chocolate cake with apricot jam) and Apfelstrudel (apple strudel).
The Wiener Kaffeehaus (Viennese coffeehouse) is such an integral part of the city’s culture that UNESCO recognized it as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2011.
Vienna’s Café Culture Today
While historic coffee houses remain popular, modern trends have also influenced Vienna’s café scene.
Third-wave coffee shops focusing on high-quality beans and artisanal brewing methods have gained traction, with coffee roasters like CoffeePirates and Jonas Reindl being popular.
Places like Café Balthasar cater to a younger crowd looking for lively living room vibe in the city.
However, traditional coffee houses continue to thrive, offering a nostalgic escape from modern life.
Whether sipping a Melange (Vienna’s take on a cappuccino) while reading a newspaper or enjoying a live piano performance, Vienna’s cafés remain an essential part of the city’s social and cultural life now and into the future.
Looking for free WiFi hotspots in Vienna? There Are Around 400 Free Wi-Fi hotspots in the city with 40 in District One
While laptop-friendly cafes have their charm and advantages, there are also other places where you can get access to free WiFi.
Follow the link below to the official Vienna website where you can get more information on where to find free wifi hotspots in Vienna.
https://www.wien.info/en/travel-info/tourist-info/wlan-366210
Tip: when using open public Wifi do consider using a VPN to keep your activities secure.
Vienna District Guide and direct links to laptop-friendly work cafes in each
Vienna is divided into 23 districts, each offering unique characteristics and attractions. You can click on the district name if there is a link and it will take you directly to the best laptop-friendly work cafes in that district.
Innere Stadt (1st District): The historic heart of Vienna, featuring St. Stephen’s Cathedral, the Imperial Palace (Hofburg), and upscale shopping streets like Kärntner Straße.
Leopoldstadt (2nd District): Home to the Prater Park with its iconic Giant Ferris Wheel and the vibrant Karmelitermarkt market.
Landstraße (3rd District): Features the Belvedere Palace, housing an extensive art collection, and the Hundertwasserhaus, known for its unique architecture.
Wieden (4th District): A trendy area with the Naschmarkt, Vienna’s most popular market, and the Karlskirche, a baroque church with a distinctive dome.
Margareten (5th District): Known for its bohemian atmosphere, local eateries, and the Margaretenplatz square.
Mariahilf (6th District): Hosts Mariahilfer Straße, Vienna’s longest shopping street, and the lively Naschmarkt.
Neubau (7th District): A hip district with the MuseumsQuartier, housing contemporary art museums, and numerous boutiques and cafes.
Josefstadt (8th District): A residential area with historic buildings, theaters, and the Piarist Church.
Alsergrund (9th District): Location of the Sigmund Freud Museum and the Liechtenstein Garden Palace.
Favoriten (10th District): A diverse district known for the Thermalbad Oberlaa spa and the expansive Kurpark.
Simmering (11th District): Features the Central Cemetery, where notable figures like Beethoven are buried, and the Gasometer, former gas tanks now used as apartments and entertainment venues.
Meidling (12th District): A residential area with the Theresienbad pool and the Meidlinger Markt.
Hietzing (13th District): Home to Schönbrunn Palace and its gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Penzing (14th District): Features the Vienna Technical Museum and access to the Vienna Woods.
Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus (15th District): Known for the Stadthalle event center and diverse culinary offerings.
Ottakring (16th District): A multicultural area with the Ottakringer Brewery and the lively Brunnenmarkt.
Hernals (17th District): Offers green spaces like the Schwarzenberg Park and the Neuwaldegg Castle.
Währing (18th District): A residential district with the Türkenschanzpark and the Währinger Cemetery.
Döbling (19th District): Known for its vineyards, heurige (wine taverns), and the Kahlenberg hill offering panoramic city views.
Brigittenau (20th District): Located between the Danube River and the Danube Canal, featuring the Millennium Tower and recreational areas along the water.
Floridsdorf (21st District): Combines urban and rural elements, with the Old Danube offering water sports and relaxation.
Donaustadt (22nd District): The largest district by area, housing the modern Donau City, the United Nations Office, and the Danube-Auen National Park.
Liesing (23rd District): A suburban area with industrial zones, the Riverside Shopping Center, and the Liesingbach stream.
Each district contributes to Vienna’s rich tapestry, offering residents and visitors a diverse array of experiences.
Tip – if you’re unsure which district of Vienna an address is, simply look at the postal code. The format is usually 1XXA – 1. The XX would denote the district number and if it’s a single digital e.g. district 7 it would be 07, i.e. 107A
If you have any suggestions or have experiences with any of the cafes to work in our Vienna list please feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of this page.
You can also submit a personal review of your favourite laptop-friendly cafes in Vienna or other cities around the world.
Our recommended list of laptop friendly cafes in Vienna is listed by district below to make it easy to find the best places to remote work near you
ALSERGRUND, 9TH DISTRICT, VIENNA
COFFEEPIRATES, 9TH DISTRICT, VIENNA
Spitalgasse 17, 1090 Wien, Austria
CoffeePirates, situated in Vienna’s 9th district is one of the most laptop-friendly cafes in Vienna and ideal for digital nomads and students looking for a lively place to work without feeling guilty!
Coffee Pirates features a spacious, bright interior with plenty of seating options, including communal wooden tables where you can work, window-side bars, and cosy lounge areas.
Laptops are welcome at any time, with no specific restrictions noted for weekends, making it a flexible workspace.
While CoffeePirates provides free Wi-Fi, the availability of power outlets is limited, so it’s advisable to charge devices beforehand.
Renowned for its coffee, CoffeePirates roasts its beans on-site, ensuring fresh and high-quality brews. A standard café latte is priced around €4.
CoffeePirates was founded in 2012 and was the first organic certified 3rd wave coffee shop and speciality roastery in Vienna. If you’re serious about your coffee, this could be a great choice for you!
The menu also includes a selection of vegan baked goods and pastries, with food items ranging from €3 to €5.
Given its proximity to the University of Vienna, CoffeePirates attracts students, leading to a sometimes lively and bustling environment.
The cafe can become crowded, especially during peak hours, so arriving early is recommended to secure a preferred spot.
If you are looking for a quiet place for focused work, this cafe may not be the best choice, but if you are looking for a bit of a buzz while you work it could be a great choice!
Overall, CoffeePirates combines excellent coffee and a truly welcoming environment for laptop users which is becoming rarer by the day!
JONAS REINDL COFFEE ROASTERS, 9TH DISTRICT, VIENNA
Währinger Str. 2-4, 1090 Wien, Austria
Jonas Reindl Cafe, the second laptop-friendly cafe in our guide, also in the 9th district is popular with remote workers, locals and students and has a modern, casual and friendly vibe.
An interesting piece of trivia is the origins of the name Jonas Reindl.
Across the street from their first cafe is the transport hub, Schottentor, built by a former city mayor, Franz Jonas.
The shape of the transport hub resembles a cooking pan (a Reindl in Viennese) and thus the area came to be known as Jonas Reindl, and the cafe got its name.
Next time you’re there,e you know why the cafe is called what it’s called!
Jonas Reindl is a coffee roaster and prides itself on preparing exceptional coffees.
Jonas Reindl Coffee Roasters, located at Währinger Strasse 2-4 offers a welcoming environment for digital nomads and pets too!
Jonas Reindl café features a modern interior with ample seating options, including communal and individual tables suitable for laptop use. Do note that in some spaces it’s not possible to work on a laptop.
Customers have noted the availability of some power outlets, making extended work sessions more comfortable.
In terms of refreshments, Jonas Reindl is renowned for its coffee, sourced directly from producers and roasted in-house.
A standard café latte is priced around €3.50, and there’s a nice menu where you’ll find nice food options, including vegan.
Jonas Reindl café operates from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM on weekdays and 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM on weekends.
Lastly, Jonas Reindl gets a little afternoon sun, so if you’re looking to catch the last sunrays and some vitamin D it’s a great place.
NEUBAU, 7TH DISTRICT, VIENNA
DAS CAFÉ, 7TH DISTRICT, VIENNA
Burggasse 10, 1070 Wien, Austria
Das Cafe in the 7th District of Vienna is a laptop-friendly cafe that has some tables where it’s possible to work and other laptop-free tables with quite a strict policy.
Apparently, Das Cafe was more laptop-friendly during pandemic times but it perhaps got a little too out of hand and they are trying to create a more even balance which is fair enough.
Do note that laptop-free also includes tablets and other forms of working.
There are power outlets available and if you can grab a table where it’s possible to work on a laptop you are good to go and can feel free to stay a while and work.
Pricewise, Das Cafe is perhaps a little more pricey, a cafe latte will cost you around €5.70 and an espresso will set you back around €3
Note that you can only pay by card for bills over €15, so do keep cash on you if you are not likely to spend €15.
Have you worked from Das Cafe? Let us know in the comments
RUDOLFSHEIM-FÜNFHAUS, 15TH DISTRICT, VIENNA
IKEA WESTBAHNHOF, 15TH DISTRICT, VIENNA
Europaplatz 1, 1150 Wien, Austria
IKEA Westbahnfof in the 15th district of Vienna is a potentially good option if you are either on a limited budget or have no budget at all and need somewhere with WiFi to work from or just want a quiet enough place to work where you won’t be bothered.
In the IKEA cafe, you can get food and drink at very affordable prices and if you are really looking for completely free you can get yourself an IKEA family card as someone suggested on Reddit and get your coffee for free too!
You can get the IKEA family card here > https://www.ikea.com/at/de/ikea-family/
Now as you will no doubt expect it won’t be the best coffee ever but it will do the trick.
You can also work at IKEA guilt-free as let’s face it, they are not a small cafe surviving on serving food, but rather a huge company that makes enough money selling furniture.
If you do decide to work from the IKEA cafe do avoid lunchtimes as it does get busy. If you go there in the morning and work a few hours you should be fine, or after lunchtime.
There are power outlets on the side of the cafe if you can grab a table there.
Have you worked from IKEA cafe in Vienna? Let us know your experiences in the comments
HIETZING, 13TH DISTRICT, VIENNA
FAMILIE REITER, 13TH DISTRICT, VIENNA
Lainzer Str. 131, 1130 Wien, Austria
Familie Reiter is something of a hidden gem in the 13th District of Vienna if you are looking for somewhere not overrun by digital nomads or tourists.
Yes, we get the irony so try and keep it a secret! ; )
While we feature the most popular laptop-friendly cafes in each city we try to find places that are hidden gems and places that perhaps even many locals don’t know about.
Familie Reiter is one of these places.
Familie Reither is tucked away in a courtyard (Innenhof) and is another second living room kind of space.
It’s warm, cosy and inviting, like going to visit your grandma for Sunday brunch.
They specialise in using regional products where possible and are focused on providing high-quality food prepared by an experienced chef.
A cafe latte will cost you €4.80 and there is a varied menu with vegan and vegetarian options.
We don’t have specifics about the WiFi or power outlets yet but have been told it’s possible to work from there and it’s quite a nice and cosy place to work from.
If you have worked from or been to Familie Reiter please share your experiences in the comments, we’d love to how what you think.
WIEDEN, 4TH DISTRICT, VIENNA
LIBRARY OF THE AUSTRIAN CHAMBER OF LABOR, 4TH DISTRICT, VIENNA
Prinz-Eugen-Straße 20-22, 1040 Wien, Austria
The Library of the Austrian Chamber of Labor (Bibliothek der Arbeiterkammer Wien) in the 4th district of Vienna is a local tip and space where you can work in peace with free WiFi in the heart of the city
If you are looking for a quiet place to work without being disturbed with a proper table and chair and stable Wifi then this could be a great option for you.
As a bonus, there is a lovely terrace where there is also WiFi available or just to take a break for a while and it’s air-conditioned, ideal for scorching hot summer days.
Free Wifi without registration
All users have access to Wi-Fi in the reading room and reading foyer. This service is free of charge and does not require a password.
You only need to accept the terms of use available on the first access each day to establish a connection.
Terrace and garden use
Depending on the weather, visitors can use the terrace and garden from spring to autumn. Access is via the reading room.
The terrace offers shaded seating, and seating is also available under the trees in the garden. Wi-Fi is also available in the library’s outdoor area.
Library opening hours
Monday to Friday (weekdays), 10:00 to 19:30
For more info you can visit the official page (in German):
https://wien.arbeiterkammer.at/service/bibliothek/bibliothek_nutzen/Ausstattung_der_Bibliothek.html
Have you worked from Bibliothek der Arbeiterkammer Wien? Let us know your experiences in the comments section at the bottom of this page
LEOPOLDSTADT, 2ND DISTRICT, VIENNA
BALTHASAR COFFEE BAR, 2ND DISTRICT, VIENNA
Praterstraße 38, 1020 Wien, Austria
Balthasar Kaffee Bar, located at Praterstraße 38 in Vienna’s 2nd district was recommended by nomad friends at Vienna Digital Nomad group.
Balthasar offers a bright and modern atmosphere ideal for digital nomads seeking a bright and comfortable workspace. The café features comfortable seating, high-speed free Wi-Fi, and power outlets, making it comfy for longer work and study sessions.
The interior is stylishly designed, providing a cosy and relaxed environment. Balthasar Kaffee Bar offers a variety of seating options, including separate tables suitable for individual work.
Balthasar is renowned for its high-quality coffee sourced from the Wildkaffee Rösterei in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, featuring a house blend combining beans from Ethiopia, Brazil, and Guatemala.
Balthasar café also offers a variety of pastries and confectionery. In terms of price, a café latte typically ranges from €3 to €4, and food items are generally priced between €5 and €10.
If you love coffee, you should make a point of visiting Balthasar!
Have you been to Balthasar? Let us know your experiences in the comments
INNERE STADT, 1ST DISTRICT, VIENNA
CAFÉ CASPAR, 1ST DISTRICT, VIENNA
Grillparzerstraße 6, 1010 Wien, Austria
If you are looking for a lively and cosy living room experience in the heart of Vienna’s 1st district then Cafe Casper should be on your list.
Cafe Casper is a great spot if you are looking for a bit of buzz and the chance to interact with others. The cafe has a youthful vibe and was apparently once a student canteen.
This can be a great environment if you are new to the city or just want to strike up a conversation.
The menu at Café Caspar is diverse and caters to various dietary preferences, including vegetarian and vegan options. Dishes range from soups and salads to burgers and wraps.
Visitors appreciate the relaxed ambience, with one reviewer noting the “super gemütliche” (super cosy) setting and the friendly staff who don’t mind if guests work on their laptops for several hours.
The café operates daily from Tuesday to Sunday 11.30 AM to 8:00 PM. Ideal for those who prefer a slightly later start and like to work until later.
Have you been to Cafe Casper? Let us know your experiences in the comments section at the bottom of the page
