The First Ringstrasse Coffeehouses and Cafes

Following on from Book 7's thematic focus on Vienna's historic-modern coffeehouse cultural evolution, Book 8 acknowledges the first coffeehouses established in conjunction with the construction of the legendry Ringstrasse (1857-1914). Whilst many coffeehouses/cafes arose during this era (which I discuss throughout my Book Series), Book 8 decidedly details the very first ones established during the Ring's early inception, including, Café Schwarzenberg, Café Ritter, and Café Imperial. In relation to Book 8's conceptual insight towards establishing/established Ring era cafés, I also refer to Café Sperl - for this is my favourite Ring epoch coffeehouse - founded in 1880, and notable for the Siebener C7 Club's Slavonic-infused arthouse patronage as well as that of Sophia [my lead protagonist] (See my Book Series). Book 8 underscores core thematic insights framing my Book Series: The first Ringstrasse Coffeehouses and Cafés. An everlasting testament to the Ring epoch - establishing/ established Ring era coffeehouses; Café Schwarzenberg (1861), the Ring, first coffeehouse for women, Loos, and Fairtrade; Café Ritter (1867), 'The Ritter': the 'Knight' in shining armour on Mariahilfer Strasse; Café Imperial (1873). From Royal Residence to Hotel Patronage; plus, my conclusive insight: crediting the Slavonic Contribution: defining Ring Cafés. Originally, there were more than 30 cafés on the Ringstrasse (Friehs 2022c; ibid 2022d). Schwarzenberg is regarded as the 'last' survivor of the Ring epoch (Café Schwarzenberg 2022a; ibid 2022b). that is: the oldest surviving customary Viennese café on the Ringstrasse. It was built in 1861, encompassing the mid-late 19th century era, relative to Habsburgs' reconstruction efforts (Friehs 2022a; ibid 2022b; ibid 2022c). The 19th century era of historicism, is defined by the building of landmark Viennese cafes, including Sperl, Landtmann, Bräunerhof, Central and Savoy, to name a few (Café Sperl 2017a; Vienna Film Commission 2020; Café Central 2021a; Vienna Guide 2021; Café Landtmann 2022a; ibid 2022e; ibid 2022g; Café Savoy 2022; Vienna Now 2022a; ibid 2022d; ibid 2022f). In relation to my Book Series' conceptual focus on Slavonic enlightenment, all my Books aim to illuminate the empowered entrepreneurial leadership of Slavonic peoples in Vienna's coffeehouse development as well as culinary and patisserie fare (See my Book Series). As such, Slavonic flair is evident through such peoples' coffeehouse leadership, architectural design works, café patronage, musical prowess, and coffeehouse literature, embellished within Vienna's evolving café society. In my Series, I emphasise the way in which cafés, espcially those established around the Ring epoch, continue to evoke the Slavonic joy de vivre as an enlightened way of life, omnipresent in Vienna's coffee society, such as: Central, Sacher, Sperl, Sluka, Aida, Hawelka, Kaffee Alt Wien, Jelinek and Kleines, represent West Slavic enlightenment and empowered leadership, framed by an omnipresent joy de vivre (OBL 2020b; Café Central 2021a; ibid 2021b; Café Jelinek 2021a; ibid 2021c; Aida 2022c; ibid 2022d; ibid 2022e; Café Hawelka 2022b; ibid 2022d; Café Sluka 2022b; Kaffee Alt Wien 2022a; Hotel Sacher Vienna 2022d; Lonely Planet 2022a; ibid 2022b; ibid 2022c).