{"id":57934,"date":"2022-12-09T12:30:06","date_gmt":"2022-12-09T01:30:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/?p=57934"},"modified":"2024-09-03T17:43:56","modified_gmt":"2024-09-03T07:43:56","slug":"slice-of-life-this-austrian-cafe-staffed-by-seniors-hits-the-sweet-spot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/slice-of-life-this-austrian-cafe-staffed-by-seniors-hits-the-sweet-spot\/","title":{"rendered":"Slice of life: this Austrian cafe staffed by seniors hits the sweet spot"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A very special cafe in Vienna is bridging the gap between generations, one cake at a time.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vienna’s cafe culture is so legendary, UNESCO added the city’s coffee houses to its Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2011. Popping into a cafe for a slice of strudel and an einsp\u00e4nner (Viennese coffee with whipped cream) isn’t just something locals and visitors alike have done for centuries \u2013 it’s the quintessential way to experience Austria\u2019s capital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While many tourists make a beeline for Vienna<\/a>\u2019s famous, traditional coffee houses, a growing number of savvy caffeine-seekers are heading to Vollpension<\/a>: a new-ish kid on the block that’s adding another layer to the already rich culinary (and social) fabric of the city. And Intrepid travellers will get a chance to visit on our Highlights of Central Europe trip<\/a> in 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Baking for world peace<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Three<\/a>
Frau Marianne and her Vollpension friends and colleagues \u00a9 Mark Glassner<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Vollpension (German for \u201cfull pension\u201d) has taken off in a big way since it launched in 2012, and why wouldn\u2019t it? Aiming to support seniors at risk of old-age poverty and social isolation, the cafe provides employment, community and connection for many of Vienna\u2019s older residents. That’s right \u2013 this wholesome cafe with a purpose is run by a team of sprightly seniors with supreme cake-baking skills. Stepping into Vollpension is like receiving a warm hug (and slice of cake) from your beloved granny or grandpa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team behind Vollpension believe that a cake baked with love by a granny has tremendous power. So much so that it could potentially save the world. If nothing else, sitting down for some cake and coffee is an instant cure for a day that\u2019s gone pear-shaped. Catering for those in need of comfort and connection is what Vollpension does so well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Co-Founder David Haller is delighted by the far-reaching impacts of Vollpension. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt means the world to me. We never thought that our little idea would have such an impact. From the great life stories, awesome events and breathtaking encounters to the hundreds of thousands of cakes made with love, Vollpension is a project that comes from the heart and goes right back to the heart \u2013 not only mine, but to those of everyone involved,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All the world\u2019s a stage<\/h2>\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/a>
Frau Marianne in her element \u00a9 Mark Glassner<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

What began as a pop-up concept is now a bit of a juggernaut, with multiple outlets employing a legion of cake-baking seniors who happily don their aprons in the name of baking top notch cakes that keep customers coming back time and time again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the customers are not the only ones benefiting. Vollpension also enables older Austrians to boost their income and supports seniors at risk of social isolation to form new connections with people of all ages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At 77 years old, Frau Marianne is currently living her best life serving sweet treats and hot drinks to Vollpension\u2019s customers. Having lived in Vienna all her life, she\u2019s the perfect ambassador for the city that receives millions of visitors each year. She spent most of her working life as a secretary for a law firm (\u201cUnofficially I was the head of the company, because I took care of almost everything\u201d) and now enjoys using all the social skills she\u2019s acquired throughout her lifetime to welcome customers to the cafe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m now in my seventh year at Vollpension and I still love it every day. I found out about it through an advertisement. Since I\u2019m very outgoing I immediately called, got an interview, and here I am, seven years later,\u201d says Frau Marianne, who is also an amateur actress in her free time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cVollpension is my stage, where I can perform and do what I do best: be communicative, laugh and learn new life stories,\u201d she explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Life is like a box of chocolates<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Frau Marianne and David at Vollpension \u00a9 Lichtschalter.tv<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As a place where people from all walks of life come together to share friendship, news and laughs over a slice of sachertorte, glass of organic lemonade or mug of tea, many new relationships have formed at Vollpension. Frau Marianne recalls a memorable moment with a customer:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI had a very special encounter once, which still makes me smile. A very handsome man liked my cake serving skills and asked me to marry him. I was very flattered and said yes, but he then said that he had to ask his wife if it was okay with her. We never ended up getting married of course, but everyone in the coffeehouse was laughing and cheering us on.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seasoned travellers know nothing beats a local recommendation when it comes to finding the best bites in a new city. So what should you order when you visit Vollpension? For co-founder David, it\u2019s all about the cake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEvery baking oldie has their own recipes and specialties. In a way, Vollpension is like a box of chocolates: you never know what you\u2019ll get.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Header image – Vollpension cakes \u00a9 Mark Glassner<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A very special caf\u00e9 in Vienna is bridging the gap between generations, one cake at a time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15601,"featured_media":57944,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3108],"tags":[3065,46,260,2761,3090,3066],"class_list":["post-57934","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-good-stories","tag-austria","tag-europe","tag-food-adventures","tag-promoted","tag-travel-goals","tag-vienna","ipf_theme-food","ipf_region-austria"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nSlice of life: 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