Ron Con Soda – The history of Vienna’s first rum bar

Cuban flair, stylish design and the finest drinks – the Ron Con Soda is the pearl among Vienna’s cocktail bars. With its unique blend of cozy atmosphere, authentic flair and excellent rum-based cocktails, the small Havana bar in Vienna’s Bermuda Triangle district is a veritable jewel in the crown of Viennese bar culture.

From the tailor’s table to the cocktail counter!

Before the building at Seitenstettengasse 5 in Vienna’s 1st district was dedicated to gastronomy, it housed a tailor’s shop. In 1994, the premises of the handicraft business were converted into two bars – the »First Floor« bar took up residence upstairs, while the »Ron Con Soda«, the first rum bar in Vienna, was established on the ground floor.

From barman to barkeeper

The Ron Con Soda was founded in 1994 by gastronome Michael Satke. Not long after the bar opened, Mamun Yousuf Khan signed up as barman. In those days he was still a student, but his fine feel for the right mixture, his easy-going nature and his dexterity soon made him indispensable behind the bar.

When Michael Satke let go of the reins of the business in 2003, Mamun seized the opportunity by the scruff of the (bottle-)neck: he fulfilled his long-held dream and took over the running of the bar. Since then, he has been the impassioned boss of the Ron Con Soda, the master prestidigitator at the rum rack and the chief bottle juggler behind the bar.

Masterpiece by a star architect

Alongside top-class drinks, design has also always played a major role in the Ron Con Soda. The interior and the bar were designed by star architect Gregor Eichinger – the man behind the interior fittings of »Unger und Klein«, the »Österreicher im MAK« and the »Burggarten Palmenhaus«, to name but a few.

Eichinger’s vision for his designer masterpiece was to recreate as authentic a Cuban bodega bar as possible. The stairs in the bar were intentionally given a worn look. The tables, stools and bar shelves were designed using pale-colored wood, and broad wooden slats were installed to delineate the bar area behind the counter. The final result of the artistic design was a combination of style, an atmosphere of well-being and an authentic Cuba feeling.

Help us to continue writing the history of Vienna’s first rum bar! Visit us at the Ron Con Soda and enjoy one of the many »masterpieces« from our cocktail list in relaxed company! We look forward to seeing you!