Where to Find the Very Best Apple Strudel in Central Europe

Where to Find the Very Best Apple Strudel in Central Europe

Written By: Gail Clifford | Published By: Foodie Flashpacker| June 17, 2022

Where to Find the Very Best Apple Strudel in Central Europe

Whenever you have a chance to follow your child or grandchild through a new-to-you location, like Central Europe, do it! When my daughter participated in the Global Youth Leadership Foundation program, I followed her through Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Munich, Germany. Turns out, if you ever do any research on Vienna, you’ll learn that the most unmissable stop is Mrs. Braun’s for apple strudel. Thus started our search for the best apple strudel in Central Europe.

First, a review. Strudel originates from Turkish times, an iteration of baklava. The current version, though, developed from the 19^th century’s Austro-Hungarian Empire and remains a favorite childhood memory for many. The German word strudel means swirl, which is what the pastry looks like when crosscut. Apple strudel is apple filling stuffed in a roll of thin dough. 

In Central Europe, we learned, that one of the biggest differences was how the strudel is served: cream, ice cream, or additional sugars or fruit. In Vienna, the apple strudel is often served with hot vanilla cream sauce. In Budapest and Munich, ice cream was more common.

Best Apple Strudel In Central Europe

Best Strudel in Vienna, Austria:

Mrs. Braun’s

The premier restaurant for apple strudel, Mrs. Braun’s is located on the same square as St. Michael’s Basilica. Greeted by a grandmotherly figure, it’s most beloved by the “Sound of Music” tour guides and recommended across the city. We liked the cozy décor and traditional dress that some wore. The strudel came with a thin vanilla sauce with a light, flaky crust. We’ll always be partial to it as the first we tried. 

Café Mozart

Conveniently located for tourists and concert-goers, this café hosted lords and ladies during the time of Imperial Vienna. While it’s always been a favorite among the upper echelons, artists and the rest of society enjoy it now. Graham Greene, author of “The Third Man,” may even have written it there. It’s featured in the movie. As we waited for our order, we witnessed many deliveries of the Emperor’s Pancake. While the apple pie comes with ice cream, their apple strudel is served with vanilla sauce. 

Café Sacher Wien

Another Vienna institution, the Café is located within the Hotel Sacher Wien. The chandeliers could be hundreds of years old and cast a beautiful light on your time in this shiny city. While you may choose the traditional, and much beloved Sacher cake, try the apple strudel. I liked it even more than the cake. 

Eventhotel Pyramide

Located in South Vienna, this was the hotel where we stayed and, since I was in a wheelchair, ate several of my meals. Their apple strudel was served with a thicker vanilla cream. 

Lucky for us, it’s close to the Shopping City Sued, the largest mall in central Europe. So when going from a cold climate (like Ireland) to a super-hot and humid, you can go pick up anything you need.