In 1683 the Turks besieged the city of Vienna. Their military aspirations failed and they were soon driven back by the Habsburg army under the command of Prince Eugene of Savoy. However, they did not disappear without traces. They left behind some bags filled with what today is one of the cornerstones of Viennese culture: coffee!

The classical "Kaffeehaus" (Kaffee = coffee + Haus = house) emerged in the 18th and 19th century as "the" meeting point for Vienna's artists and intellectuals as well as students and ordinary citizens. Mozart, Beethoven, Freud, Trotsky, and Mahler are among those who have whiled away the hours over a cup of coffee in a Viennese café.

It is often said that the cafés lost much of their atmosphere with the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian empire. Yet, Vienna has more than 1,900 cafés and many are still good places to sit down for a couple of hours, enjoy a coffee or two, and browse through the usually large variety of local and international newspapers. A café is also a place for families: most coffee houses serve delicious cakes and pastries and kids are welcome. Customers seldom drink alcohol in a Kaffeehaus and although some establishments are smoky, most cafés are lively yet relaxing places where to enjoy an afternoon alone or with the family. As the 19th century writer Alfred Polgar put it: "Vienna's coffee houses are full of people who want to be alone in company." And do not be put off by rumors of unfriendly waiters being an integral part of the Viennese café life: this is more a myth than reality!

Visiting some of Vienna's best and most traditional cafés is a "must" for anybody visiting the city. But which Kaffeehaus should you head for? And what should you drink? Help is at hand in our Guide:

• Coffee houses in Vienna

• Coffee ABC