Spring is just around the corner, and with the milder temperatures, the outdoor café season officially begins in Vienna. Already, the outdoor areas of restaurants in the streets, alleys, and pedestrian zones of the city are filling up. "As soon as the sun comes out, the outdoor cafés are well attended – the perceived warmth counts more than the actual thermometer," says Walter Ruck, President of the Vienna Chamber of Commerce.

Mayor Ludwig Opened Vienna's Outdoor Café Season

Ruck, together with Vienna's Mayor Michael Ludwig and the chairman of the Vienna coffee house association, Wolfgang Binder, officially opened the summer season for outdoor cafés on Wednesday morning. The first coffee was enjoyed at Café Diglas in the Inner City under bright sunshine.

Ludwig sees the season opening not only as a kickoff for the warm season but also as a symbol of the importance of Vienna's gastronomy. "Our gastronomy is a central economic engine and an indispensable cultural asset. It has significantly contributed to Vienna experiencing the most successful tourism year since records began."

Year-Round Open Outdoor Cafés Gain Popularity

The classic call "Schani, bring out the garden" is now outdated in many Viennese establishments: For two years, outdoor cafés have been allowed to operate year-round. This option is increasingly being used – of the approximately 3,500 outdoor cafés in Vienna, over 2,200 were open last winter.

"We see that this model is worthwhile," says Ruck. The city has implemented the regulation well, despite challenges – such as snow removal. "The decision was economically right: Many seasonal positions have become year-round jobs, which brings advantages for both companies and employees." Despite the new possibilities, the peak season for enjoying the outdoors remains spring and summer.

(Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.