Zum Schwarzen Kameel: A Legacy Since 1618
In a city where history echoes from every stone façade, Zum Schwarzen Kameel holds a unique place – not as a museum piece, but as a living part of Vienna’s cultural DNA. Established in 1618 by Johann Baptist Cameel as a spice shop, Zum Schwarzen Kameel eventually becomes a favorite among Vienna’s elite. The name, which translates to ‘The Black Camel,’ is believed to be a play on the founder’s surname, Cameel. Over the centuries, this address on Bognergasse evolved, shifting from purveyor of delicacies to social salon, all without losing its essence.
The deli counter that now serves delicate Brötchen stands on the shoulders of 400 years of culinary tradition. And yet, what makes Zum Schwarzen Kameel remarkable is how gracefully it has moved with the times. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the space had begun attracting the city’s intellectual and creative elite. It was a popular meeting place for painters, poets, and musicians such as Beethoven and Waldmüller, who were among its notable guests. Its current Art Nouveau design, added during that era, still defines its distinct visual identity today – think dark wood, golden accents, and a sense of understated opulence.
What sets the Zum Schwarzen Kameel apart is its ability to feel both historic and vividly current. Today, it plays three roles in one: an elegant dining room for modern Austrian cuisine, a deli where locals grab open-faced sandwiches on marble counters, and a bustling bar that’s just as suited to a quick Spritzer as it is to a late-night rendezvous. All of it hums with a sense of rhythm and ritual, familiar to generations of Viennese. Importantly, this is not a tourist set piece. It remains deeply loved by locals – not out of nostalgia, but because it still delivers.
