t was in 1786 across the now former Royal & Imperial Hofburgtheatre that confectioner Ludwig Dehne opened his confiserie, which almost instantly flourished into a success story. By the time the confectionery became the Demel that we know and love today in 1856, it had already become a hotspot among aristocrats and Vienna’s bourgeoisie.
Whether it was young Emperor Franz Joseph I., who would write love-letters about the large variety of treats or his Elizabeth, who could not get enough of the famous violet-sorbet – Demel became a pilgrimage site for those with a sweet tooth and kept its status even after the fall of the monarchy. Anna Demel, the first woman to ever receive the title of ‚Councillor of Commerce‘ in 1957, strictly guarded and assured that the old standards and traditions were kept, and so Demel continues to be a portal to monarchic times until today.
After Anna’s death, it was her son-in-law Baron Federico of Berzevicsy-Pallavicini who, with his fascinating window displays and playful designs, shaped Demel’s visual appearance, which – along with numerous ‚Wiener Wekstätten‘-motives, are still preserved and visible on some of Demel's packagings.
As of 2002, the internationally renowned DO & CO group is proud owner of the historical establishment and continues its operations traditionally according to Anna Demel’s wishes.
