Goldener Spiegel

Ah, those were the days – an institution in the late 80s. Alfi, the owner, was usually in a good mood, either chatting with the guests or serving them himself. Wolfgang was the fastest waiter in Vienna at the time. Emma (Emmerich) at the bar kept guests and the guys in high spirits with her witty banter. And then there was the indispensable Reli in the kitchen. An unbeatable quartet. And the guys – Austrians, Yugoslavs, Turks, Hungarians, Slovaks, Czechs, and Poles – a great, diverse mix – were almost all willing to work hard. The result – the place was packed to the rafters every day between 8 and 11 pm. It was great fun – I was there almost every day back then. Today – the staff is constantly changing, the food isn't worth mentioning, and the guys – well, let's not even go there. You won't find anyone who actually delivers at Alfi's anymore. After Alfi's death, Wolfgang's departure, and then Reli's, Alfi's lost its purpose. The internet and Gayromeo did the rest. The place is usually practically empty these days. To be fair, it's not entirely the owner's fault. The Savoy and the sauna are doing well. But the era of this type of establishment is definitely over.