Cafe Central, Vienna / Wien (Pete Tomsett)

There are many beautiful cafes in Vienna but the Café Central is worth special attention for its chapel-like, Gothic ceiling. Dating from the late 19th century, it was a popular place for writers, artists and political thinkers to hang out. Having fallen out of fashion, it closed in the 1940s but was brought back to life in the 1970s and 1980s, though its appeal is now as a tourist attraction. A life size model of a poet, Peter Altenburg, from the café's heyday sits on a chair near the entrance. It can be a bit pricey but if you stick to a drink and a cake it won't break the bank!