Record heat wave strains Austrian restaurants and cafés

A record-breaking heat wave across Austria is forcing restaurants and cafés to confront empty outdoor seating areas and sharply reduced lunchtime traffic. The Culinarius Group reports that many guests now prefer to order food to work or home during the hottest periods, leading to lower average revenue per guest and shorter dining times.

Operating costs are rising as establishments invest in additional cooling, ventilation and ice production. Managing Director Franz Bernthaler warns that the combined pressure of staff shortages, higher energy bills and changing consumer habits could trigger a structural shift in the Austrian gastronomy sector.

The industry sees the heat not merely as a weather issue but as an emerging economic risk factor that may reshape business models and guest expectations in the coming years.