Vienna’s historic water tower opens as a neighbourhood cafe
Friday 2nd October 2026 on 11:00 in
Austria
A cafe has opened in a renovated, heritage-protected water tower in Vienna’s Nordbahnviertel district, with the aim of becoming a local meeting place, ORF reports.
The red-brick tower stands beside the Freie Mitte park, among new buildings in Vienna’s second district. Built 135 years ago to supply water to steam locomotives, it was renovated by its owner, Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB).
The interior was stripped out, creating a room with a height of 12 metres. The cafe, which opened on Friday, has 45 seats and an outdoor terrace.
Shops are also gradually opening across Nordbahnviertel, particularly along Bruno-Marek-Allee, Taborstrasse, Nordbahnstrasse and Innstrasse. About 70 commercial units are available for retail, food and drink businesses and services, though some are still vacant.