When the sun beckons you onto the terrace – Café Philu, in the middle of Eben village square

Can you feel it too? The first warm days are here. You can go outside wearing what feels like three layers less of clothing. The birds are chirping. Suddenly, you get a craving to sit on the terrace of your favourite café in the sunshine. For me, that place is Café Philu, which Melanie and Hans-Christian have been running since 2023. With their café in the middle of the village square in Eben im Pongau, the two have created a place of enjoyment, cosiness and conviviality. Melanie tells us how it all came about and what makes Café Philu so special.

Melanie has been involved in the restaurant business since childhood. After school, she completed an apprenticeship as a cook and waitress. "During my apprenticeship, I met Hans-Christian. He soon moved to Eben and opened Kohler's Pub, which he ran for over 20 years. Three years after completing my apprenticeship, I worked with him in the pub. Later, we ran the restaurant at the bathing lake for five years,‘ recalls the Altenmarkt native, thinking back on her first steps in the restaurant business in Eben. Today, the two are married and parents to two boys. The new chapter of ’family" brought about some changes in the restaurateurs' lives. ‘We thought about opening a café, or rather a restaurant with a focus on daytime business,’ explains Melanie. It was almost fate that one day this would actually happen. When the owners of Café Ideal retired, the couple seized their chance and, with the help of the owner, who conveniently is also a carpenter, they conjured up a modern, cosy restaurant that also invites guests to linger indoors. ‘I used to go to Café Ideal quite often – back then, I never would have expected to open my own restaurant here one day,’ she says with a laugh.

The fact that family plays a very important role in Melanie and Hans-Christian's lives is evident from the name of the café, which is derived from the names of their sons, Philipp and Lukas. ‘If we ever open a restaurant, we could call it Philu,’ Melanie suggested to her husband during a holiday, long before there was any talk of a café. Despite the café, there is no shortage of family time – on the contrary: ‘We can divide up the work really well and therefore have a lot of time for our boys.’ But that requires a lot of organisation – which is clearly one of Melanie's talents. Both at home with ‘her men’ and in the café with her team, she is the calming influence, the anchor. ‘No matter what happens, you can't let yourself get rattled,’ Melanie reveals. This calmness, mutual appreciation and individuality are the foundation on which Café Philu is built. The café currently employs five people, each of whom brings their own qualities to the table: ‘Some are louder and more sociable, others are quieter and very conscientious. So they complement each other perfectly.’

But what's so good about Café Philu? ‘We knew right away that we definitely wanted to specialise in breakfast,’ says Melanie. She and Hans-Christian visited a few cafés to gather inspiration. In addition to classic savoury and sweet breakfast options, there is also avocado toast, the ‘Philu Special’ – a crispy potato bread ring with various fillings – and a ‘Strammer Max’ (a type of fried egg sandwich). The café also serves snacks and hot meals to hungry guests throughout the day. What is important to Melanie and her team is quality, regionality and seasonality. ‘We get our eggs from local farms, for example, and we also take great care to source from producers in the region,’ Melanie reveals. This is certainly one reason why the homemade pastries are so delicious. Here, too, you'll find everything your heart desires, from cinnamon apple strudel to Sachertorte to Philu slices. The drinks menu is also impressive: espresso to latte macchiato, pumpkin spice latte in autumn, mulled wine in winter, a separate tea menu, refreshing homemade iced teas, lemonades and alcoholic beverages. So, regulars at Café Philu are spoilt for choice.

Melanie's organisational talent is also evident in the events and celebrations that take place at Café Philu. These include lovingly organised birthday parties, fun children's carnivals and catering for events such as the Salzburg Street Theatre or the village evening with live music. The large terrace is not only suitable for events, but also invites passing bikers, cyclists, hikers and walkers to stop by. ‘We welcome many holiday guests, but of course we are just as happy to see our loyal local guests,’ says the restaurateur. The many regulars' tables are the best proof of this. The café also scores points with its youngest guests, which may be due to the sweets and colourful toppings for ice cream in summer. Located right next to the primary school, the café is often visited by schoolchildren, their parents and grandparents. In short, Café Philu is a real meeting place.

photo credits: TVB Eben - Pfuner, TVB Eben - Kraxner