PRESENTATION OF THE NEW CAFÉ LEOPOLD
12.06.2017
Gyoza Brothers Group opens the Leopold Museum´s café/restaurant on 15th June 2017
In April, the Leopold Museum Private Foundation announced that it has signed a ten-year contract with the renowned Viennese gastronomy group Gyoza Brothers. Some two months later, on Thursday, 8th June 2017, the Directors of the Leopold Museum Hans-Peter Wipplinger and Gabriele Langer unveiled the completely refurbished location together with MQ Director Christian Strasser and the Gyoza Brothers Tie Yang, Jun Yang, Dong Ngo and Adam Gortvai.
The innovative operators of the new Café Leopold, who have been fixtures of Vienna’s gastronomy scene for many years, have carefully adapted and modernized the venue. From Thursday, 15th June, the Café Leopold will once again be open to guests from all over the world.
Leopold Museum Director Hans-Peter Wipplinger: “The Leopold Museum is home to one of the most eminent collections of Classical Modernism, with an emphasis on ‘Vienna around 1900’ and the largest Schiele collection in the world. 80 % of visitors to this internationally renowned museum are tourists. This cosmopolitan character of the museum will now be reflected in the range of culinary delights offered at the Café Leopold.”
Gabriele Langer, the Leopold Museum’s Managing Director: “The renovations of the seating area, of the kitchen and the toilet facilities have now been completed according to schedule. The Leopold Museum Private Foundation has invested some 400,000 Euros into the café. In the future, the Café Leopold will be providing special offers developed in conjunction with the museum.”
After more than 15 years of operating the café, the renovations were necessary not least due to legal obligations. The quality of the structure was enhanced, while the kitchen, ventilation and lighting were brought up to date. In the foreseeable future, the former pavilion will be put up once more in front of the Café Leopold, but with improved statics and air-conditioning.
The bar belonging to the Café Leopold leased by the MQ and situated next to the water basin was opened by the Gyoza Brothers already on 18th May, in time for the MuseumsQuartier’s summer opening. The new Café Leopold will also feature in the MQ’s winter program.
Christian Strasser, the Director of the MuseumsQuartier: “The MuseumsQuartier is not only a driving force of contemporary art and culture in Vienna but also a living space where visitors from Vienna and from all over the world come to spend their spare time. We have fitted the area with 10 different restaurants to make sure that people feel comfortable here and that all tastes are catered for. The renovated Café Leopold is a real highlight, offering new culinary treats both at the Leopold Museum and at the bar situated in the MQ’s main square, thus further adding to the area’s gastronomical diversity.”
Despite extensive refurbishments, the original character of the café has been preserved. Individual elements, such as the light fixtures designed using the basic geometrical shapes of circles, squares and tetragons, the now light glass bar, as well as the booth with “Viennese Chinoiserie” at the back of the restaurant, were given a new look. The newly upholstered furniture has a sophisticated gray color. The previous seating furniture has been added to with new tables and Vitra design chairs. Pink and blue tinted glass panes provide an elegant link to the completely overhauled toilet facilities.
Gyoza Brothers: “We relish the opportunity to be able to provide new culinary highlights in the MuseumsQuartier. Alongside classical dishes and Asian fusion cuisine, we will focus on regional products from local suppliers. We look forward to welcoming our guests to this special location!”
The café, which will operate as a non-smoking facility, will cater to museum visitors from all over the world as well as to regular guests of the MuseumsQuartier from Vienna and its environs. The international and cosmopolitan restaurant concept is a perfect fit for the Leopold Museum which, attracting more than 350,000 visitors a year, represents a real tourist hotspot in the center of Vienna.
The group surrounding Tie Yang, which has been operating restaurants for over 15 years, is known for providing culinary diversity and sumptuous surprises with an emphasis on South-Asian and Chinese delicacies. The new Café Leopold will be characterized by an exciting mix of Asian and international cuisine, along with Austrian classics served in the area adjacent to the museum. The group stands for individual service and high quality.
Among the group’s established restaurants are “ra’mien”, “Shanghai Tan” as well as various “ra’mien go” outlets in Vienna. Innovative architecture and contemporary art have played an important role in all of the new tenants’ restaurant ventures. The restaurant’s visual concept was designed by the international artist Jun Yang in cooperation with local architectural offices. The design team for the Café Leopold further included Klaus Schwarzenegger as executive planner.
Further information:
Homepage of the new Café Leopold: http://www.cafeleopold.wien/(preview, complete version coming soon)
Leopold Museum / Café at the Leopold Museum / The new Café Leopold:
http://www.leopoldmuseum.org/de/information/cafe-leopold
MuseumsQuartier /Gastronomy: http://www.mqw.at/essentrinken/
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