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List of Viennese Balls

The ball season in Austria is usually December through March with most balls taking place in the months of January and February. Over 400 balls happen every season in Vienna, and you have plenty of options to choose from. Most of them are usually held in beautiful venues from Hofburg Palace to the Vienna Opera House. Depending on what you would prefer, you can choose among very formal ones with strict dress code and rules or relatively informal.

• Vienna Opera Ball: One of the most (if not THE most) well-known Viennese balls. It is held at the State Opera.
• Philharmonic Ball at Vienna Musikverein.
• New Year Gala: Happens every December 31 at the City Hall.
• Coffee Brewers’ Ball (Wiener Kafeesieder Ball): at Hofburg Palace.
• Confectioner’s Ball (ZuckerBäckerball): at Hofburg palace.
• Flower Ball – venue: Viennese City Hall.
• Ball of Sciences – venue: City Hall
• Ball of Industry and Technology – Venue: Musikverein
• WU Ball – venue: Hofburg palace
• Lawyers’ Ball (Juristenball) – venue: Hofburg palace
• Doctors’ Ball – venue: Hofburg palace
• Chimney Sweeper’s Ball – venue: Palais Ferstel
• Hunters’ Ball – venues: Hofburg or Spanische Hofreitschule
• IAEA Staff Association Ball – venue: Hofburg palace
• Wiener Rotkreuz Ball – venue: City Hall
• Bonbon Ball – venue: Wiener Konzerthaus
• Rudolfina Redoute – a masked ball at the Hofburg palace
• Concordia Ball – hosted by the Austrian press club at the City Hall.
• Sports Ball – venue: City Hall

This is the list of most famous and beautiful Balls, but doesn’t cover everything. There are other options, including Engineers’ Ball, Students’ Ball, etc. So everyone can find what they prefer.

You also have a number of Balls outside Vienna, for instance, a Casanova Ball in Graz.

How to Choose the Viennese Ball You Would Like to Attend

With so many options, it’s quite hard to choose. There are a few things to consider.

• Venue: For me this was an important point. All these venues are gorgeous, but Hofburg Palace appealed to me more. Here is the list of the Balls held there. The City Hall (Rathaus) is also a popular venue. So decide, which one appeals more.

• Price: All Balls come at a hefty price tag, but some are far more than others. The entrance only tickets can range from 70 EUR (Rotkreuz Ball cost – not sure if there is any that costs less) to 350 EUR (Viennese Opera Ball cost). This is just the entrance ticket. If you would like to book a seat at a table, you are paying more – table at one of the other rooms costs less, while the main ballroom prime spots are far more expensive. You have to decide how much you want to splurge. We didn’t care about sitting at the table and eating, so we went for general admission tickets.
• Theme: All balls have their own theme, whether it’s celebration of different professions, music, sweets, flowers, coffee or anything else. Just have a look at what each of them offers and decide relevantly.
• Invited Musicians: if this matters to you, find out which orchestra and singers will be invited to perform during the ball. At about 9-10pm at the ball there will be basically a concert, which can last half an hour to an hour.

I took into consideration all above and decided to attend the Coffee Brewers’ Ball (Wiener Kafeesieder Ball). It was held in Hofburg Palace, which was my venue of choice, the price was mid-range (plus, we got a student discount at the time), and what can I say, I love coffee and café culture in Vienna

I wrote a detailed guide to traditional coffee houses in Vienna. Check it out for cafe recommendations. 

Tickets for the Viennese Balls

Normally, you would buy tickets on the website of the ball itself. Check the relevant official websites of each ball in the list above. I decided to buy tickets directly on the Kafeesiederball official website here. The process was very straightforward, and I received tickets on my email without any issues.

None of the balls are cheap with prices starting from 70 EUR per person just for the entry and go far higher, depending on what exactly you want to choose.

All balls offer you several types of tickets:

• The most basic ticket – This includes only entry and a small gift bag (on that later). The prices vary depending on the ball. The Kafeesiederball price is 180 EUR (if you have a student card, you get a discount and pay 84 EUR).
• You also have an option to buy a ticket with a reserved seat and dinner at one of the rooms (not the main ballroom).
• The most expensive option is the ticket for a dinner table in the main ballroom. Of course, if you have the means, this is the best option, as you will have the best view of the shows going on in this hall.

Dress Code for Viennese Ball

Wondering what to wear for the Viennese Ball? Almost all of them have a pretty strict dress code with a white-tie or black-tie attire that you need to follow to be let in. Each ball will have its own guidelines about this, so be sure to check it out. The Kaffeesiedeball guidelines are here:

“Ladies: Large ball gown or floor-length evening dress.

Gentlemen: Tailcoat with decoration, tailcoat, tuxedo or gala uniform (Tailcoat with tailcoat bow, tuxedo with tuxedo bow).

The Committee reserves the right to refuse admission, in the event of non-compliance of the dress code!”

This warning is there for a reason – I have heard of people being turned away from the door because they were not relevantly dressed.

Viennese Ball: Dress Code for Women

• Floor length gowns: This doesn’t mean ankle length; it means that only the tips of your shoes should be showing. Some balls would allow shorter cocktail type of dresses, but it’s rarer (from what I have seen only Sports Ball allows this), so be sure to check. Color of the dress is usually not important. Just be advised that you should not wear white, as it’s the color for the debutantes and you might be frowned upon, if you aren’t one. I wore a long blue dress.
• Women’s shoes aren’t strictly controlled. Wear any non-sporty shoes, which would make it easier for you to dance on a parquet floor. I decided to wear black heels.
• Preferably gloves – but many don’t ask this. None of us wore gloves, as the ball we attended didn’t ask for it.

Viennese Ball: Dress Code for Men

• Black tailcoat or a tuxedo with a white shirt: We specifically bought this for the occasion. You can buy cheap ones; it doesn’t have to be anything expensive.
• Black bow tie for tuxedo or white bow tie for tailcoat. The usual ties are not allowed.
• Black shoes. Some balls even require patent black leather Oxford shoes.
• Preferably white gloves, but this is optional for most balls. We skipped this.

Accommodation in Vienna

We really didn’t have a hard time finding accommodation in Vienna during the Ball season. I heard that hotels fill fast. However, we didn’t book any luxury hotels and I assume those are the ones some ball-goers book. Given that the ball season is not high tourist season, the more basic hotels are quite readily available and not as expensive, as in summer.

Luxury options with rich history: If you have the means and want to attend the Viennese Ball in style, there are a number of luxury hotels near the Hofburg Palace – a venue of most popular Balls. This list includes hotels that are not only luxurious but represent the sightseeing venues themselves.

• • Hotel Sacher: This hotels certainly deserves the first spot, due to its reach history dating back to 1876, as well as its modern comforts. You have probably heard of it due to its famous Sacher Torte. This elegant 19th century luxurious stay will be a great start for your Viennese Ball adventure.
  • Hotel Imperial: Another opulent 5-star hotel, which boasts its historical routes back to 1873. It’s beautiful halls are among the best in vienna.
  • Palais Coburg: This luxurious hotel is located slightly farther – 15 minutes walk to Hofburg, however it used to be a count’s residence since it was built in 1840. It’s one of the amazing historical hotels in Vienna.
  • Ambassador Hotel: Until 1898, when the hotel was built, a Concert Hall was located here and hosted Mozart and Beethoven. Since the hotel opened, it was the venue for royalty and celebrities, as well as official visitors.
  • Grand Hotel Wien: This is the relatively cheaper 5-star hotel on the list, but its history is no less magnificent.

Where we stayed – a mid-range option: I decided to book a hotel at about 20 minutes walking distance from Hofburg – the venue of Kaffeesiederball we attended – to make sure that we could get back late, when the metro no longer works. Of course, you can get around by taxi, but that’s pretty expensive in Vienna. The hotel was Hotel Graf Stadion. It was very clean and well maintained. Interestingly, it has some old elements remaining throughout, like a staircase and a very cute old elevator. The staff were welcoming and nice.

Dance Classes for the Viennese Ball?

Many people think that they need to know how to waltz well before attending a ball. It is certainly nice if you do, but it’s not necessary. While in the main ballroom, people are waltzing and the music is relevant, in other rooms you will have other types of music too. So you can move there to do your free style, if you prefer – we sure did

How Much Money Do You Need to Attend a Viennese Ball

While Viennese Balls are an opulent experience, it can be done on all types of budgets. You can plan a budget trip to Vienna, like we did. You can stay in a cheaper hotel/apartment, buy reasonably priced clothes at home and purchase the basic tickets for the Ball.

However, if you have the means, definitely splurge on this experience. You could stay in a hotel with a rich history, like Hotel Sacher or Hotel Imperial, buy gorgeous dresses and black tailcoats at the Viennese shops and reserve a dinner table in the main ballroom.

Whatever your choice, you will still have an amazing time in this beautiful city.

What to Expect at the Viennese Ball: Our Experience at the Coffee Brewers’ Ball (Kaffeesiederball)

We arrived to the Hofburg Palace at around 8pm to attend the Coffee Brewers’ Ball (Kafeesiederball). We were not sure about the entrance, but it was easy to spot with the dressed-up people heading there. The doors normally open around 7pm (check your ticket and the website). We showed our printed tickets at the door and received the traditional Ballspende – that’s a small gift that women receive at the balls. This was a fan with the ball’s theme.

The Cloakroom was located to the left-hand side of the entrance, and we first headed there to leave our coats. This was well-organized and we had no issues.

Our aim was to walk around the beautiful rooms of the palace and explore. I had been to Hofburg palace before, but with this setting of beautiful lights and dressed up people, it was even more amazing.

Around 9pm the ceremony started in the main ballroom. Most balls have sort of a concert, with singers and dancers performing for the guests. There is also a sort of welcoming of the high-level guests (we didn’t really know who they were). This is followed by the presentation of the debutantes. I am not sure how I feel about this tradition being honored, given that this originally meant to be a presentation of the girls to the society and showing that they were ready to be married off.

It was quite hard to find a spot to watch, as the main ballroom was very crowded – there certainly is no sufficient space for the thousands of people, who attended (from what I hear, it’s about 5-6000 people).

The ball begins after a ceremony. At this point anyone can go to the dance floor. We went there for a few minutes, but we don’t know how to waltz really, so did it just for experience and moved to the other rooms to free style

You will be able to order dinner or buy alcohol or coffee during the Ball, notwithstanding whether you have booked a table or not. We only bought coffee – Kafeesiederball had the Julius Meinl coffee.

At midnight the ball culminates with a quadrille dance in the main ballroom.

When we were leaving, we received gift packs with some cookies, Viennese sausage and a small Julius Meinl espresso cup, which I still keep.

Overall, we had a lot of fun. It was a lovely and lively evening with beautiful attire, dancing, coffee and a lot of photos.

After the Ball, it’s quite common in Vienna to continue the night (or morning) in one of the city’s traditional coffee houses. Many locals and visitors alike head to cafés for a late coffee, a slice of cake, or even breakfast after dancing all evening.

If you’d like to explore this unique part of Viennese culture, check out my full guide to the best traditional coffee houses in Vienna.

<p>The post Attending a Viennese Ball: Complete Guide and Tips first appeared on Hit the Road Ket.</p>

“Small marble-topped tables on which the coffee is served, Thonet chairs, alcoves, newspaper tables, and interior design details in the style of Historicism.”

I love Viennese café scene. While looking for the options to attend a Viennese Ball, I chose the Coffee Brewer’s Ball (Kafeesieder Ball), which celebrates Viennese coffee house tradition.

Needless to say, whether you are in Vienna for a day or a month, you should not miss these amazing cafes.

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Tips for Visiting Viennese Cafes

Viennese Food and Drinks you shouldn’t Miss

There are a few food and drinks that are traditionally Viennese and you should definitely try, while in Vienna:

• Wiener Melange – espresso with steamed milk and foam. It’s a Viennese invention and you might have tried it in other countries under the name of Viennese coffee. This is my favorite coffee and I order it whenever I get a chance.
• Sacher torte – chocolate sponge with jam and glazed with chocolate. This cake was invented at the Sacher café (see below), where you should try it at least once. Despite being a chocolate cake lover, this cake is one of my least favorites.

• Apfelstrudel – traditional Austrian strudel with apple filling often sometimes served with custard, whipped cream or ice cream.
• Wiener Schnitzel – it’s a breaded and fried veal cutlet served with garnish. While you won’t find it in all cafes, many of them do offer good food. You should definitely try this local dish whether in a café or in a restaurant.

Most of the cafes on this list offer dairy free milk options. Some of them also provide gluten free cakes.

Opening Times of the Viennese Cafes

Most Viennese cafes have long opening times – usually from 7-8am to after 11pm. This is an amazing opportunity for you to café hop and visit as many of them as possible.

Advance Reservation at the Viennese Cafes

The most popular cafes usually have very long queues, especially during the high touristy seasons, like in summer or before Christmas. If you absolutely want to visit them without waiting, either turn up very early in the morning or reserve in advance – sometimes 2-4 weeks advance booking is necessary.

That said there are many cafes on this list, which you can most probably visit with little to no queuing involved.

Visit Viennese Cafes Alone

Interestingly, visiting Viennese cafes alone is a tradition. Historically frequented by intellectuals, artists and writers, these cafes have creative vibes and many people enjoy the atmosphere alone.

Unlike in many other countries, where for some reason going and eating alone has been considered strange (especially until the recent years), in Vienna you would find numerous people sitting alone, sipping their coffee and reading.

Language

You will find the waiter speaking English in all the cafes listed here, as they are mainly in quite touristy areas. Plus, in my experience, most Viennese do speak English very well. However, if you try to tell them a few words in German, it would be nice.

Prices

None of the cafes on this list are cheap. Vienna is a quite expensive city and these grand cafes with long traditions do have steep prices. However, you should set some budget aside for them, if you can afford it. They are worth it!

Visit Viennese Cafes after the Formal Events

It’s very common for Viennnese to go to a coffee shop shop after an opera performance, a Ball or another formal event. In some of the cafes, you will find beautifully dressed people in the evening coming after their formal event. If you want a cup of coffee or some food after the event, head to one of the amazing coffee shops listed below.

Stay in Central Areas for Easy Access to Traditional Coffee Houses in Vienna

Luxury Hotels in Central Vienna

(Golden pinned hotels on the map)

The following hotels are not only luxurious but represent the sightseeing venues themselves.

• Hotel Sacher: This hotels certainly deserves the first spot, due to its reach history dating back to 1876, as well as its modern comforts. You have probably heard of it due to its famous Sacher Torte. This elegant 19th century luxurious stay will be a great start for your Viennese Ball adventure.
• Hotel Imperial: Another opulent 5-star hotel, which boasts its historical routes back to 1873. It’s beautiful halls are among the best in vienna.
• Palais Coburg: This luxurious hotel is located slightly farther – 15 minutes walk to Hofburg, however it used to be a count’s residence since it was built in 1840. It’s one of the amazing historical hotels in Vienna.
• Ambassador Hotel: Until 1898, when the hotel was built, a Concert Hall was located here and hosted Mozart and Beethoven. Since the hotel opened, it was the venue for royalty and celebrities, as well as official visitors.
• Grand Hotel Wien: This is the relatively cheaper 5-star hotel on the list, but its history is no less magnificent.

Mid-Range Stay in Central Vienna

(Purple pinned hotels on the map)

If you can’t splurge on luxury, there are plenty of charming mid-range hotels within walking distance of many traditional cafes.

• A great example is Hotel Graf Stadion a clean, welcoming 3-star hotel, where we stayed during the Viennese Ball season. It keeps some historic elements, like its old staircase and elevator, but offers modern comfort at a more affordable price.
• A more modern option close to all attractions is the Holiday Inn. This reasonably priced hotel is very centrally located near Karlskirche and at a walking distance to the Ringstrasse.

Most Famous and Beautiful Traditional Coffee Houses in Vienna

(Red pinned cafes on the map)

Café Mozart

This is my favorite café in Vienna, maybe only contested by Café Schwarzenberg. This café first opened in the 18^th century, although changed over time and was named Mozart only in the beginning of the 20^th century. The café was frequented by famous writers, musicians and actors, including Orson Wells and Graham Greene.

The interior of this classic Viennese coffee house is beautiful with big windows and classic upholstery. You definitely have to try the Mozart cake. They also have delicious ice cream sandaes and, of course, coffee – I always order Melange, when in Vienna. The café even offers gluten free cakes. My parents loved this place as well.

Given its very central location – near opera and just across Albertina – the café is very popular among tourists. So, you may have a problem finding a seat, especially if you visit during the peak times – in summer or around Christmas. So you may prefer to book it at least a week in advance via Google or their website. Otherwise, do drop by, you may be lucky and find a table free.

Café Sacher

You will probably find this café first on every list of Viennese cafes. This is where the famous Sacher torte – a chocolate cake with jam – was invented in 1832 for Metternich’s guests. I personally don’t like Sacher torte at all (even though I love chocolate cakes a lot), it’s very dry for me. I have tried it here, as well as in other cafes. However, you should try it at its original location to see if you like it or not. Plus, I do believe everyone should definitely visit this café at least once because of its history and ambiance.

This is a café, which has to be booked in advance, unless you are visiting in a very low season, like February. If you are visiting in summer though, you should reserve at least 2 weeks in advance on their official website. I went only once, about 10 years ago and we had to queue about 15 mins in November. Nowadays, queues are much longer, sometimes even a couple of hours – that doesn’t sound like an appealing idea to me.

Café Schwarzenberg

This traditional Viennese coffee house opened in the 19^th century and was one of the go-to places for the Viennese society of the time. It still remains very popular, especially among the opera-goers. If you come here late in the evening, you will find beautifully dressed people getting their drinks and food after the opera performance.

This café is another of my favorites. I love its 19^th century charm and very spacious room. They also have outdoor seating, but I 100% recommend sitting inside to soak up the atmosphere.

As this café is centrally located, it may be crowded, so you may want to look into booking it, if you are visiting in the touristy season. I personally never needed to during the Autumn and Winter months, but you can reserve via Google or their website.

I especially loved visiting it alone, getting my coffee and reading here. They have a wonderful selection of coffees and cakes, you will definitely find one to your liking. My favorite cake here is their chocolate cake – I think the name was the opera cake, however, I may be remembering it wrong. I haven’t tried their food, but I am sure it’s good, as everything else here.

Café Landtmann

Opened in 1873 this café still amazes with its beautiful décor – old upholstery, chandeliers, decorated columns and much more. It also has generous outside seating space. The must try cake here is apfelstrudel with custard. They also have gluten free options.

The café is also known, as Freud’s favorite – not sure how true that is You may manage to get into this café without reservations way in advance, just with a short queue. But you can also book via Google or their website.

Café Central

This is another one of the gorgeous traditional Viennese cafes. Once you enter it, a gorgeous dome-like structure with golden lights of the chandeliers greets you. They also have live piano performances throughout the day. I especially love their mousse cakes and, of course, all sort of coffees.

The history also is important here – opened in 1876, this was a café frequented by famous people, like Freud, Kokoschka, Adler and Trotsky.

This is one of the cafes, where you better make a reservation via Google or their own website, unless you want to queue for a while. In summer, I only found an option to book 3 weeks in advance, no earlier. Although sometimes you may be lucky queueing and have them find you a table just half an hour later. I did manage to get in without a queue once, but that was winter time.

Café Jelinek

Somewhat farther from the Ringstrasse area, this café is more frequented by locals than tourists. It has a charming old feel. They offer you a selection of newspapers you can read while sitting at the café. You should come to have your breakfast, homemade cakes and coffee here.

Unlike most cafes on this list, you probably will be fine simply turning up without a prior reservation. If you still want to pre-book, you will have to call them, not sure if you can book via website.

Café Sperl

Opened in 1880, this café retains 19^th century atmosphere, the beautiful wooden décor with marble top tables and large windows. Interestingly, you will find antique billiard tables in the middle of the room. You can grab a newspaper to read while drinking your coffee.

Prices here are slightly lower than in the other traditional coffee houses nearby. But as with all the other cafes, you will most probably have to queue to enter. However, reservations are made only by phone, which complicates things.

Café Hawelka

This café is less grand than others on this list. It has old-time quaint and cozy vibes. What’s especially unique about it is that opened in 1945, it’s been owned by the same family for generations. It’s been popular with young artists and writers. For instance, it was visited by Andy Warhol.

People mostly come here for drinks, although they do have cakes and food. You might encounter a queue but you won’t have to wait long. I am not sure if it can be booked in advance to avoid the queues though.

Other Notable Traditional Coffee Houses in Vienna

(Blue pinned cafes on the map)

Café im Kunsthistorischen Museum Wien: This museum café has to be on every list simply because of its beauty. The Vienna art museum is an absolute must to visit itself, and you shouldn’t miss this café either.

Café Demel: This popular pastry shop (opened in 1888) has a huge selection of cakes. As soon as you enter, you are greeted with the smell of cakes. The golden old-time interior, traditional marble table tops and wooden charm make it worth a visit. Note that this café has shorter opening hours than most on this list.

Café Votiv: Established in 1876, this café has been popular with students for many years. If you want a traditional charm with less queues, check his one out.

Café Museum: Opened in 1899 it was frequented by famous people, like Klimt, Wagner, Kokoschka and Schiele in this case, as many other cafes The café also offers gluten free cakes.

Café Frauenhuber: This café is less popular but no less beautiful in its traditional setting. Opened in 1824, its predecessor café/restaurant in this building dated to 1720, where Mozart and Beethoven performed.

Café Ritter: Another 19^th century traditional coffee house with all that you would expect – wooden décor, marble tabletops, chandeliers newspapers, delicious cakes and of course coffee. Please, note that the café is cash only.

Café Prückel: This café is more “modern” for Viennese standards. Opened in 1903, it was redecorated in 1950s Therefore, you won’t find the wooden panels or marble tabletops, however, it has the atmosphere of the traditional Viennese coffee house. It is also frequented more by locals rather than tourists.

Gerstner K. u. K. Hofzuckerbäcker: Dating back to 1847, this café’s décor is breathtaking. Just the paintings on the ceiling of the second floor are amazing. It’s often crowded, so you might wish to reserve it.

Café Goldegg: Unlike its peers on this list, café Goldegg has darker, art nouveau feel. It’s located near Belvedere and the main train station, so can be easily accessed.

Café Aida: While not as traditional, as other cafes, Aida has become increasingly popular. It started, as a cake shop and since 1946 became a café. The branch I linked here, is the oldest, although there are several around the city.

Adlerhof: While it used to be a Viennese pub, currently, it’s bar and café. It has many elements of the traditional Viennese coffee house and is cozy and quaint.

Café Eiles: Established in 1901, this café has a beautiful décor and offers highly rated food. While it was recently renovated, it still keeps its traditional vibes.

Café Restaurant Bräunerhof: Opened in 1920s under a different name (Sans Soucci), this café has been an artistic and literary hub. It maintains traditional wooden décor and upholstery and the old-time vibes.

Kaffee Alt Wien: Early 20^th century vibe with darker atmosphere, posters on the walls and marble tables.

Café Gloriette: A classic café inside the Schonbrunn palace.

Modern Café Scene in Vienna

(Green pinned cafes on the map)

In addition to traditional coffee houses, mainly concentrated in the city center, Vienna also offers a number of modern cafes (so called third generation cafes). Here is the list of some of the beautiful cafes with good coffee:

• Balthasar Coffee Bar
• Viennese Coffee Roastery
• Coffee Pirates
• GOTA Coffee Experts
• Brass Monkey
• Caffè Couture
• Jonas Reindl Coffee Roasters
• Kaffeein
• La Gioia
• Café Comet
• Vollpension

Which one is your favourite Viennese coffee house? Mine is certainly Cafe Mozart – the atmosphere, Mozart cake, and Melange here always draw me in.

<p>The post Explore Vienna’s Café Culture: A Guide to the Best Traditional Coffee Houses first appeared on Hit the Road Ket.</p>