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Viennese Coffee Shop was one of the first restaurants at Marina City. It opened in 1964 as part of a restaurant and catering facility owned by Hilton Hotels Corporation. Hilton leased space on the south side of the commercial platform above the marina.
With its red and white striped ice cream parlor chairs, Viennese was designed to look like a European sidewalk café. The specialty was Viennese pastries, which patrons could enjoy while watching skaters at Marina City’s ice rink. The coffee shop was open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Located toward the center of the building, it was part of space taken over in October 1968 by Johnny Lattner. After Johnny Lattner’s Marina City closed in October 1973, Viennese continued with other owners. It was still there in 1981, appearing in a Chicago Tribune illustration. Eventually, Viennese Coffee Shop was converted to office space. Today, the area is part of the commercial property manager’s office.
(Left) The cover of its menu shows what Viennese Coffee Shop aspired to look like.
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(Above) Dinner suggestions. (Click on images to view larger versions.)
(Left) A third-pound cheeseburger cost $2.20 in 1978. Or for $3.25, diners could splurge and get the steak sandwich. “Marina City’s Pride” was steak and eggs for $3.75 and French toast for $1.75. Coffee was 40 cents. Sanka (coffee without caffeine) was a dime extra.
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The telephone number, 321-0786, has been reassigned. In Chicago’s 312 area code, it now belongs to a law firm on North Dearborn Street.
(Right) The most expensive entrée in the specials for January 21, 1978 was a “roast prime ribs of beef sandwich” with French fries for $4.25. Adjusted for inflation, that would be $15.71 in 2016.
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