Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Austria Vienna Vollpension
AO Edited Gastro Obscura

Vollpension

Visiting this café is like visiting the Austrian grandma you wish you had.

Vienna, Austria

Added By
Diana Hubbell
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Omas and Opas at work.   Vollpension
An almond-sprinkled Linzertorte.   Vollpension
Multigenerational magic in the works.   Vollpension
Austria’s legendary Sachertorte with a side of Schlagsahne (whipped cream)   Vollpension
Menu page  
  otterwhere / Atlas Obscura User
  otterwhere / Atlas Obscura User
  otterwhere / Atlas Obscura User
Menu page   davearch / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

While many restaurants may claim to serve homespun comfort food “just like grandma used to make,” at this Viennese café, the baked goods are made by real grandmas. Vollpension, or “full pension” in German, is a social enterprise that aims to give local retirees a chance to connect with people while earning extra income. The staff consists of a squad of Omas (grandmothers), with a few Opas (grandfathers) onboard for good measure. Order a slice of apple strudel or Sachertorte, Austria’s famous chocolate cake layered with jam, and the Oma who baked it from her family recipe may tell you all about it. 

In 2012, Mike Lanner and Moriz Piffl came up with the idea of using food as a means to help bridge the generation gap and address growing levels of isolation and poverty among the elderly. Two years later, they were touring the country in a revamped VW van with 10 Omas. The pop-up café was such a success that they decided to create a more permanent establishment. By 2015, they had set up shop in a cozy, kitschy space that leans into the grandma aesthetic with plenty of tchotchkes and lace doilies. A second branch opened in 2019, and the founders hope to continue to expand.

Guests planning to linger may wish to opt for one of the Granny Care Packages, which come with unlimited hot drinks such as coffee, tea, or cocoa, or cold beverages such as iced tea and lemonade, for a set amount of time, as well as various sweets or dishes. For homesick travelers or locals, it’s the next best thing to Kaffee und Kuchen (coffee and cake) at grandma’s house.

Related Tags

Food Bakery Coffee Cafe Cake

Know Before You Go

Coffee and cake may be the main attraction here, but there are also hearty Austrian breakfast platters in the morning and wine spritzers in the afternoon.

Community Contributors

Added By

Diana Hubbell

Edited By

WhiskeyBristles, otterwhere, davearch

  • WhiskeyBristles
  • otterwhere
  • davearch

Published

October 20, 2021

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.vollpension.wien/en/grannys-public-living-room/4th-district/
  • https://www.vollpension.wien/en/grannys-public-living-room/1st-district/
  • https://www.vollpension.wien/en/kiosk-1st-district/
  • https://theculturetrip.com/europe/austria/articles/discover-the-vienna-cafe-run-by-the-elderly/
  • https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/vollpension-grandma-cafe-vienna-austria/index.html
Vollpension
16 Schleifmühlgasse
Vienna, 1040
Austria
48.197619, 16.36513
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Café Sperl

Vienna, Austria

miles away

Vienna Sewer System

Vienna, Austria

miles away

Karlskirche (St. Charles's Church)

Vienna, Austria

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Vienna

Vienna

Austria

Places 66
Stories 7

Nearby Places

Café Sperl

Vienna, Austria

miles away

Vienna Sewer System

Vienna, Austria

miles away

Karlskirche (St. Charles's Church)

Vienna, Austria

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Vienna

Vienna

Austria

Places 66
Stories 7

Related Places

  • A slice of cake filled with vanilla bean-flecked custard.

    Munich, Germany

    Kuchentratsch

    German-style coffee and cake, just like Oma used to make it.

  • A bánh mì chả lụa comes with all the fixings.

    Gretna, Louisiana

    Dough Nguyener’s Bakery

    Dunk your doughnut in a Vietnamese egg coffee or come through during Mardi Gras for the highly coveted king cakes.

  • Seattle, Washington

    Byen Bakeri

    Pause for an afternoon fika with sublime Scandinavian cakes and pastries.

  • Pasties are an Upper Michigan tradition dating back to mining days.

    St. Ignace, Michigan

    Lehto’s Pasties

    Miners in Michigan developed a taste for Cornish beef pasties, which this roadside stand has been selling since 1947.

  • The Cathedral Café has been serving its community for more than 120 years.

    Fayetteville, West Virginia

    Cathedral Café

    Soak in the sacred vibes at this beloved food and coffee hangout inside a former church.

    Sponsored by West Virginia Department of Tourism
  • Wash your egg tarts and pineapple buns down with a cup of strong, black tea with evaporated milk.

    Hong Kong

    Kam Wah Cafe

    This cha chaan teng’s pineapple buns are so sought-after that they sell 5,000 a day.

  • Krofi, an airy Slovenian doughnut, are one of the many treats for sale.

    Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Zvezda

    Since 1999, this bakery has been turning out the dreamiest tortes in the Slovenian capital.

  • Lunch arrives via pneumatic tube here.

    Christchurch, New Zealand

    C1 Espresso

    Get your meal delivered via pneumatic at this former post office.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.