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1985 to 2025

40 years of Café Stein

On Thursday, 12 June 2025, Café Stein at Schottentor celebrated its fortieth birthday: more than 250 invited guests, hosted by Eva Pölzl, live music and a DJ, a buffet from the house kitchen and an after-party at Stein's Diners into the early hours. Founder Ossi Schellmann and proprietor Marcel Gega stood together in front of the photo wall.

The evening

The party took place where the house has stood since 1985: on the terrace with its view of the Votivkirche and on all three floors. Eva Pölzl, a regular since the early years, hosted the evening. Guests included Christian Ludwig Attersee, Adi Hirschal, Conny Kreuter, Zoë Straub, Gerald Votava, Lucia Sisic and Gunkl, who once worked at the Stein as a waiter. After music and buffet, everyone went downstairs to Stein's Diners.

The Wiener Bezirksblatt wrote the next day that "Shall we go to the Stein?" is almost a daily question for many Viennese students. And Ossi Schellmann recalled the opening in 1985: the Stein was the first café in Vienna to serve two different coffee brands, an Italian and a Viennese blend, and the first to serve breakfast until 10 pm.

Forty years in brief

  • 1985: opened by Ossi Schellmann in a former launderette, interior by architect Gregor Eichinger.
  • 1987: Stein's Diner, in the same corner building.
  • 1995: Austria's first internet bar.
  • 2003: handed over to Marcel Gega, who runs the house to this day.
  • 2025: forty years, celebrated on 12 June.

The full story is on the About us page, pictures of the house in the gallery.

Anniversary graphic: 40 years of Café Stein, 1985 to 2025

Guests at the photo wall

Press photos of the party by photographer Moni Fellner. Names are below each picture.

  • Gunkl, Ossi Schellmann and Roman Gregory on the Café Stein terrace

    Gunkl, Ossi Schellmann, Roman Gregory

    Comedian Gunkl worked at the Stein as a waiter before taking to the stage — here with founder Ossi Schellmann and musician Roman Gregory.

  • Ossi Schellmann with Zoë Straub and Christof Straub at the anniversary party

    Ossi Schellmann, Zoë Straub, Christof Straub

    The founder with singer Zoë Straub and musician Christof Straub.

  • Adi Hirschal and Eva Pölzl on the Café Stein terrace

    Adi Hirschal, Eva Pölzl

    Actor Adi Hirschal and presenter Eva Pölzl, who hosted the evening.

  • Ossi Schellmann and Eva Pölzl at the 40th anniversary

    Ossi Schellmann, Eva Pölzl

    Founder Ossi Schellmann, who opened Café Stein in 1985, with presenter Eva Pölzl.

  • Conny Kreuter and Kathi Steininger in front of the Café Stein photo wall

    Conny Kreuter, Kathi Steininger

    Dancing Star Conny Kreuter and presenter Kathi Steininger.

  • Niki Osl, Marcel Gega and Lucia Sisic in front of the Café Stein photo wall

    Niki Osl, Marcel Gega, Lucia Sisic

    Designer Niki Osl, proprietor Marcel Gega and Miss Austria Lucia Sisic.

  • Roman Gregory and Martina Kaiser in front of the Café Stein photo wall

    Roman Gregory, Martina Kaiser

    Musician Roman Gregory with Martina Kaiser.

Press coverage of the anniversary

What was written about the evening, all from June 2025: