Demel facts for kids
Demel pastry shop in Vienna
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| Industry | Confectionery (Konditorei) |
| Founded | 1786 |
| Founder | Ludwig Dehne Christoph Demel |
| Headquarters | Innere Stadt, Vienna, Austria |
| Products | Pastries |
| Parent | Do & Co |
Demel is a very famous pastry shop and chocolaterie in Vienna, Austria. It first opened way back in 1786! This special shop has a fancy title: it's a "Purveyor to the Imperial and Royal Court." This means it used to supply delicious treats to the royal family of Austria-Hungary. Even today, it keeps this important title.
What Makes Demel Special?
Demel is located in the heart of Vienna, on a street called Kohlmarkt. It's very close to the Hofburg Palace, which was once a royal palace.
When you step inside, you'll see amazing decorations. The inside looks like a grand old palace, with a style called Neo-baroque. It's very fancy and elegant!
The waitresses at Demel are called Demelinerinnen. They wear white aprons and are known for their special way of speaking. They often use a very polite, old-fashioned way to ask if you've chosen your order. It's part of the unique experience of visiting Demel.
Demel used to have other locations, like one in Salzburg, Austria, and even a small cafe in New York City. However, these locations have now closed. The company is still hoping to open a new spot in New York in the future.
A Sweet History of Demel
The pastry shop was started in 1786 by Ludwig Dehne. He was a baker from a place called Württemberg. After he passed away in 1799, his wife continued to run the business for their young son, August.
In 1857, August Dehne sold the company to Christoph Demel. This is where the name "Demel" comes from!
Christoph Demel's sons, Joseph and Karl, took over the business in 1867. They renamed it Ch. Demel's Söhne, which means "Ch. Demel's Sons." In 1874, something very exciting happened: Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria gave them the special title of "purveyor to the Habsburg court." This meant they were the official pastry makers for the royal family!
In 1888, the old theater nearby was taken down, and the whole area was updated. So, Demel moved to its current spot on Kohlmarkt. It's still in that same building today!
During the time of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, many famous people visited Demel. These included Empress Elisabeth, who was often called Sisi, and other important figures like Princess Pauline von Metternich.
The Demel company stayed in the Demel family until 1972. Later, in 2002, a company called Do & Co took over Demel. They are a large restaurant and catering company.
Demel Museum
At the Vienna location, there's a small museum. It shows off old items and tells the story of how this famous imperial chocolate and pastry shop grew over the years. It's a great way to learn more about Demel's long history!
See also
- List of restaurants in Vienna
