Vienna, a city with a talent for good living, has no shortage of sweet delicacies. Luxury pralines from Altmann & Kühne , the legendary Sacher-Torte or Caprese Verdi gateau from Aida are all perfect mementos of a trip to Vienna — but as few people can resist their delights for long, these souvenirs are soon polished off. Fortunately, many of Vienna’s master confectioners have come up with artistically designed boxes to package their tempting wares.

Altmann & Kühne has illustrious traditions. The confectioners on the Graben have been making pralines to their original recipes since 1928. The chocolates are lovingly packed in hand-crafted boxes made from environmentally friendly cardboard. The miniature chests of drawers, sewing boxes and other traditional packs feature old-world Viennese designs and sayings. And once the sweet secrets are gone, these jewel cases can be used to guard other valuables.

The Sacher Confiserie , opposite the State Opera House, is the perfect place for lovers of classic Viennese cakes. The jewel in the crown is the original Sacher-Torte. Prepared according to a recipe that has been a well-kept secret since 1832, this must surely be the most famous chocolate cake in the world. It is available in a variety of sizes, and comes in a light coloured wooden box printed with the Sacher emblem. The Time to Chocolate® body care range from Sacher Spa is also on sale at the shop. This is a new development, as the pleasure of beauty treatment that involves giving yourself a fine chocolate coating was previously the preserve of guests of the Hotel Sacher.

The Aida café/cake shop chain has 26 branches in Vienna, and was a name to conjure with long before Starbucks. A combination of fifties, sixties and seventies decor, delicious cakes, excellent coffee and a pink colour scheme are the ingredients of its recipe for success. Anyone who buys a Caprese Verdi cake at one of the shops will not be surprised to see that the wooden box is also pink — a delightfully retro touch that has long since achieved cult status. By the way, from 2007 you can order Aida products on their new website from all over the world.

Confiserie Altmann & Kühne

1., Am Graben 30
Tel. +43–1–533 09 27
online store: www.feinspitz.com/ak
Mon–Fri 9 am – 6.30 pm
Sat 10am – 5 pm

Sacher Confiserie

1., Philharmonikerstraße
Tel. +43–1–514 56 734
www.sacher.com
daily 9 am – 11 pm

Aida

1., Stock-im-Eisen-Pl. 2
Tel. +43–1–512 79 25
online store: www.aida.at
Mon – Sat 7 am – 8pm
Sun 9 am – 8 pm
(25 bricks-and-mortar branches throughout Vienna)