Aida (café)

Aida (sometimes spelled Aïda, with a diaeresis) is a chain of 26 espresso bar and pastry shops ("Café-Konditorei") in Vienna, Austria. They have a devoted clientele, for whom "Aida" has achieved near-cult status. Business hours are from early in the morning until the early evening; the shops are open every day of the year with the exception of Christmas Day.

Ten "Aida" shops had been established before the Second World War, but they were all destroyed during the air raids on Vienna. After the war, Felix Prousek (1918-2003)Fact|date=July 2008 took over the management and started rebuilding and expanding. His innovative approach to coffeehouse culture resulted in an alternative to the sheer "Gemütlichkeit" of the traditional Viennese café. Prousek was also one of the first to introduce Italian-style espresso machines in Austria.

However, for decades now, "Aida" has been resistant to change of any kind. This is first and foremost true of their interior design, very similar for all shops and reminiscent of the 1950s-1970s. Their trademark colours are pink and dark brown. Most of the furniture is made of plastic, and there is mostly seating without upholstery.

"Aida" has also been reluctant to adapt to changing tastes and to compete with new arrivals in Vienna such as Starbucks, for example by refusing to add flavoured coffee to their list of beverages. When the opening of a smoke-free "Aida" shop led to a sharp decline in regular customers the idea was quickly shelved again. In each shop there are a few tables near the counter where the pastries are on display where smoking is prohibited.

In most shops a quick coffee while standing up at the bar is possible. However, the majority of customers prefer to sit down and be served at their table. "Aida" is staffed exclusively by women (in pink uniforms).

Felix Prousek's son Michael, who had collaborated with his father since the 1980s, is now "Aida"'s managing director. Their headquarters and central bakery are located in Floridsdorf. World-wide shipping is available.

Misconceptions

The Internet has seen a proliferation of tourist guides describing Viennese coffeehouse culture. Some of these reports also comment on "Aida", for example in the following way (which is debatable):

Coffee houses basically fall into two types, though the distinction is rather blurred nowadays. A "Kaffeehaus", which is traditionally preferred by men but enjoyed by everyone, offers games such as chess and billiards and serves wine, beer, spirits and light meals. A "Cafe Konditorei" attracts more women and typically has a salon look with rococo mouldings and painted glass. "Aida" is a particularly popular chain of "Konditorei", a totally pink affair where you can discuss your latest operation or the neighbour's new driveway with the old ladies at the next table. A wide variety of cakes and pastries is usually on offer. [http://www.thingstodo-vienna.com/brochure/content.jsp?FIELD=Eating_Out&GROUP=10&LEVEL=1&ITEM=13]

And in a similar vein:

The "Aida" chain is the McDonald's of the "konditorei" (coffee and cake shops) world—ubiquitous, uniform and garish. Instead, seek out more independent "konditoreis", where you won't be surrounded by squabbling children. Or sink into the sanctuary of a true Viennese coffee house [...] [http://www.bradmans.com/europe/vienna/]

References

* Anna Peyrer-Heimstätt: "Aida—Café-Konditorei. Erscheinungsbild und Image", unpublished thesis (Vienna: University of Applied Arts, 1989).
* Clarissa Stadler: "Aida: Mit reiner Butter" (Vienna: Verlag Christian Brandstätter, 1995) (ISBN 385447623X). The title of the book, which means " [Made] With Pure Butter", refers to an old advertising slogan of Aida's, dating back to the days when customers were less health-conscious than they are today.
* Christopher Wurmdobler: "Kaffeehäuser in Wien. Ein Führer durch eine Wiener Institution. Klassiker, moderne Cafés, Konditoreien, Coffeeshops" (Vienna: Falter Verlag, 2005) (ISBN 3854393326).

External links

* http://www.aida.at/