![]() ![]() A number of famous personalities regarded this place of tranquillity, upheaval, cigars, coffee, chess and billiards as their home. In his “Theorie des Café Central” (Theory of Café Central), Viennese dramatist and essayist Alfred Polgar (1873-1955) gives a detailed insight into the nature and essence of ‘Centralists’, as Café Central’s regulars were known. Legendary ‘Centralists’ „Central is not a coffeehouse like any other – it’s a philosophy.“ Heinrich von Ferstel died at the age of 51, but the spellbinding beauty of his designs for Vienna’s Votivkirche church, Museum of Applied Arts and University of Applied Arts, as well as the Palazzo del Lloyd Austriaco in Trieste live on. This is even more astonishing in view of the words of the central bank governor of the time, Franz von Pipitz, who demanded that “the construction should be strictly economical and eschew worthless luxury”. The entire construction including the interior cost the princely sum of 1,897,600 guilders (today approx. The interior features stucco lustro, ornate paintwork, leather wall coverings and fine wood panelling. The sturdy wrought-iron gates were the work of a silversmith, and the facade is adorned with sculptures from Hanns Gasser. Today visitors can stroll through the Ferstelpassage – a wonderful setting for parties and functions, with the gentle murmur of Anton von Fernkorn’s Danube Mermaid Fountain in the background – before stopping off at Café Central around the corner.įerstel championed the use of natural materials, and only the finest stone was good enough. It was only given the name Palais Ferstel in 1982. The building was never actually intended as a city palace in the traditional sense, but as the home of the central bank and stock exchange. Incorporating whichever aspects appealed to him, von Ferstel’s elegant design combined elements of Venetian and Florentine architecture and art from the Trecento period. We're going back for dinner.Architecture Palais Ferstel – or what comes of a trip to Italy.Ī slice of Italy in the heart of Vienna?! This was the brainchild of Heinrich von Ferstel, who returned from a journey to Italy brimming with inspiration, and between 18 built what is the most magnificent example of a Gründerzeit mansion house. Our server was polite, knowledgeable, available and efficient - everything you want in a server. It was topped with the same terrific vinaigrette that dressed our cousin's salad. ![]() I had the large house salad which was comprised of a generous portion of German potato salad under a fresh and crisp mixture of romaine, cucumber, and slices of ripe tomato. Again the bread was a wonderfully crusty roll holding an oversized delicious cutlet which was crisp on the outside and tender on the inside - just as it should be. The accompanying salad was fresh and dressed with a very nice vinaigrette. The contents were fresh and nicely proportioned, which yielded an excellent sandwich. She raved about the soup and found the sandwich bread to be unique which enhanced the flavor of the sandwich. Our cousin ordered the barley soup and the Rueben Sandwich. All in all, a cozy place to sit and chat over lunch, which was exactly what we were looking for. The place is pretty small, but because of the arrangement of tables, it didn't seem cramped. The ambiance was quite pleasant and inviting. We were greeted at the door graciously, and seated promptly. We have never been here and had no expectations save the reviews I read on Trip Advisor, which were outstanding. My wife, her cousin and I decided to try this place for lunch this afternoon. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |