On a quiet corner of Museum Mile, hidden within the walls a beautiful Louise XIII-style mansion, there’s a little museum called the Neue Galerie dedicated to twentieth century German and Austrian art. And in the Neue Galerie lies a precious dining room that feels distinctly Central European, evoking the old world elegance of Viennese cafes. To call Café Sabarsky a museum restaurant would be diminishing. It more than carries its own weight as an institution, it just happens to be adjacent to a fine art destination. In a city of fast paced trends and influencer-ridden restaurants, Café Sabarsky somehow remains a sanctuary. Hardly a secret, appearing on many a city guide, and often with quite a queue, and yet still feels like an escape from the city. Named after the art dealer Serge Sabarsky who co-founded the gallery, Café Sabarsky is a transportive experience across space and time to the intellectual and artistic cafe scenes of Vienna, with dark wood paneling, plush banquettes, marble tabletops and white glove service.

In this magical place, strong Viennese coffee is topped generously with whipped cream. Strudels and sachertorte are decadently plated up like mains, competing with the classic Austrian savory dishes like wiener schnitzel and knödel. It’s a restaurant that compels its patrons to linger. To partake in a sophisticated conversation. And for a moment, forget where and when you are, imagining the stories these walls could tell.