The new cake shops

Gone are the times when baking was considered uncool. Nowadays, little cake shops are opening in many corners of Vienna, where mostly people from the creative scene are making the transition to selling their homemade cakes, cupcakes, tarts and brownies. These cake shops do not see themselves as being in competition with the high pastry art of Viennese cuisine, but are much more focused on the charm of the homemade product.

"Fett+Zucker" is one such example. The charming cake shop is located in the vicinity of the Karmelitermarkt. Retro furniture from the flea market lends a living room atmosphere, the apple crumble cake and banana bread - baked by a former architect - have a loyal fanbase. The three operators of "12 munchies" on Aumannplatz in the 18th district are also gastronomic newcomers. Tasty muffins, brownies, cupcakes and tarts can be enjoyed here amongst furniture from the 1950s and 1960s.

Indeed, several shops have specialized in cupcakes: "CupCakes Wien" has two shops in the 8th district. In a charming doll's house ambience, a former graphic designer offers sweet classics such as chocolate mousse cupcakes in addition to piquant varieties in the branch on Albertgasse. In the opulent, Baroque-style "Cupcake-Manufaktur" in the 9th district there are mini-cakes with cream decoration as well as little cake pralines on a stick, which look like lollipops.

The seductive offering at "Rori's Finest Sweets" in the 5th district ranges from macaroons to small cakes to éclairs. The pale blue-white ambience creates a cozy, nostalgic atmosphere. "Süssi" in Operngasse offers a visual and culinary surprise with kitsch and sweet things as far as the eye can see, with stacks of irresistible tarts and crèmes, macaroons and quiches. A trained confectioner works here.