Café Tomaselli, Salzburg

Every European city has what can be referred to as "the posh-café" – the one with the history and the elevated prices. It can usually be relied upon to deliver a minimum standard and your experience will be formed by a combination of ambience, service, and the final bill. Tomaselli is the main contender for Salzburg's "posh-café", with a long and distinguished history going back to 1700, allied to a good reputation and a superb location. On the whole, it could easily be viewed as one of the city's best, especially in summer when it can spread out into the Alter Markt, making for a perfect people-watching spot.

Ideally, take a book of Stefan Zweig, go to Tomaselli, have one of their delicious coffees and pastries, and relax. One aspect here is the waitress who roams around with a tray of the most delicious-looking confectionery (only the ladies serve the pastries, while men serve the drinks). Approaching tables and having people choose from a complete selection of cakes that are available has to be preferable to having them hover around the chiller-cabinet, getting bamboozled by a never-ending choice of patisserie items. Just a bit of a nice tradition!

***MOZART WALKING TOUR***
A frequent guest of the establishment, Wolfgang Amadeus used to have his almond milk at this very café when he was young. In 1852 Johanna Staiger sold the café to the "confectioner" Carl Tomaselli , the son of tenor Giuseppe Tomaselli from Milan, who enjoyed a close relationship with the composer's family, playing music with his father Leopold and his sister Nannerl, attending theatre performances with them, and also acting with them alongside other mutual friends. In the hands of Carl Tomaselli, the café became renowned far beyond the borders of Salzburg. Wolfgang's widow, remarried Constanze von Nissen, also lived in the building between 1820-26.