The Arrival

The ground floor lobby is set to become a coffee shop, a welcome addition that will bring the hotel further into the daily rhythm of the city. For now, the arrival space is dominated by striking, large-scale canvases by Hermann Nitsch, the legendary Austrian Actionist painter. They are bold, visceral and unapologetically confrontational. This feels like a contemporary statement that conveys Vienna is more than just imperial nostalgia.

Up one level, the elegant lobby is a series of intimate salons rather than a single reception space, with curved velvet sofas, sculptural light fixtures and shelves arranged with books and carefully chosen objets. The effect is residential, warm and quietly glamorous. Salon Aurelie, the lobby lounge, is the jewel. Hand-painted murals of palm fronds, tropical flowers and butterflies by Austrian artist Marie Hartig wrap the walls, an homage to Vienna’s magnificent Palmenhaus conservatory. Crystal chandeliers by Lobmeyr cast honeyed light onto Backhausen textiles. A ceramic vase installation offers an elegant nod to the Danube.

The Room

We stayed in a Deluxe Junior Suite on the fifth floor, a generous space up to 57 square metres with twin windows overlooking the Peterskirche. Swing them open and you hear the clip-clop of horse-drawn carriages on the lane below and the bells ringing in the belfry next door. It is one of those wonderful sensory moments that immerses you into the fabric of a very old and very beautiful city.

The room was immaculately furnished, every element bespoke. Alexander Waterworth’s interiors blend Art Deco curves with mid-century warmth, with plush velvets and gilded touches set against a soft, muted palette.  Above the bed hung contemporary art, while in the entrance, a handsome walnut-framed bar console offers a full cocktail setup with fine glassware, a cocktail recipe book and a trolley ready for serving. Even the Nespresso machine was custom-bound in leather from a Parisian atelier. On the coffee table, a Taschen volume on the Wiener Werkstätte, Vienna’s revolutionary early 20th-century design school. A plaster bust of Mozart sat under a small glass dome, beside a delicate lilac hydrangea bloom on the table.

The details kept revealing themselves. Like the art and design board games made exclusively for Rosewood Vienna, and our pillowcases embroidered with our initials. At turndown, my iPhone charger cable had been tidied with a bespoke leather cable tie, and left on the bed was a fun little nighttime story that cleverly inspired a city itinerary for the following day.

In the wardrobe thoughtful touches like wooden shoe trees, while in the bathroom there were sustainably sourced amenity items like bamboo combs and toothbrushes, a natural loofah for the shower, and Angeli di Firenze amenities in elegant porcelain dispensers.

No two rooms here are the same, and ours felt less like a hotel room and more like a beautifully curated private apartment in the grandest quarter of the city.

The Design

This is where Rosewood Vienna truly soars. The interiors are ravishing. Backhausen textiles, the firm that powered the Vienna Secession, appear throughout. The fabrics, curtains and upholstery are all bespoke, with patterns that reference the buildings’ own histories. Even the leather coasters and the grills on the air conditioning ducts are custom-made.

The art, curated by Atelier 27, is one of the hotel’s great pleasures. Historical etchings of Viennese architectural landmarks have been reimagined with bold contemporary colours, textural cross-stitch and mixed media. They are inventive, playful and unexpected.

Soft floral elements and murals reference regional Viennese history, including nods to Schönbrunn Palace. The Hoffmann House, the presidential suite, features a chandelier with hand-cut Swarovski crystals. At every turn, the design tells the story of the city, connecting you to its creative and architectural heritage while somehow also feeling contemporary and relevant.

THE1835 Bar and Neue Hoheit Restaurant

We started our evening at THE1835, the rooftop bar named after the year the building was constructed. You climb a few steps from the bar and emerge onto a terrace that stops you in your tracks. The copper-green dome of the Peterskirche fills the foreground. Beyond it, the spires, domes and gilded flourishes of Vienna’s extraordinary skyline reach to the Gothic silhouette of St. Stephen’s Cathedral spire.

Dinner was at Neue Hoheit Restaurant, which sits beneath sloping contemporary glass roof windows that frame the views beautifully. The menu takes an international approach alongside Viennese classics. We had the burrata salad, the veal schnitzel and a steak. The sommelier was knowledgeable and enthusiastic, steering us towards two Austrian wines, a Wieninger Wiener Gemischter Satz and a Nikolaihof Wachau Riesling. The signature Gugelhupf cake is the dessert to order. Service throughout was attentive. The dining was pleasant, though the menu plays it safe where a hotel of this calibre might, in my opinion, push harder.

Breakfast is served in the same room, morning light streaming through those generous angled windows. Service was à la carte and attentive, together with a small buffet of treats like handmade chocolate pralines, chia fruit bowls and a tempting spread of local cheeses and chutneys, including a delicious local spicy mustard jam.

Asaya Spa

Asaya Spa is on the hotel’s higher floors. It is said to be the first in Austria to partner with Augustinus Bader. We used the sauna and steam room rather than booking a treatment, but the spaces are beautifully composed. The relaxation room is particularly striking. Chaise longues sit beneath an emerald-hued ceiling that mirrors the colour of the Peterskirche dome across the square.

The Location

Petersplatz sits at the very centre of Vienna’s Old Town, and stepping outside the hotel puts you immediately into one of Europe’s most glamorous shopping districts. The Graben pedestrian boulevard and the Goldenes Quartier are steps away, with flagship boutiques from Louis Vuitton, Prada, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta and more. St. Stephen’s Cathedral is five minutes on foot. The Albertina, the Hofburg and the vibrant Naschmarkt are all within easy reach. Vienna Airport is 30 minutes by car or CAT train.

Final Thought

Rosewood Vienna is a masterclass in what happens when a hotel brand truly understands its city. The bespoke design, the layered art, the residential warmth of the rooms, the thoughtful details like the Wiener Werkstätte book, the leather-bound espresso machines and the embroidered pillowcases. AS a guest, you feel connected to both Vienna’s creative heritage and the city’s vibrant modern scene. The dining could be sharper, but everything else operates at the very highest level.

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The Arrival

We took a morning flight and arrived before lunch under clear blue skies. Our transfer limousine swung through the tall archway off the street into the building’s enormous courtyard, light bouncing off the white walls. Tomasz Rachwal, the head of rooms, came out to greet us. Immediately, we felt welcome.

General Manager Sebastian Naumann leads a smart, young team where senior staff get involved in operations alongside their colleagues. The lack of hierarchy creates a genuinely relaxed, welcoming atmosphere that you feel from the first minute.

The Apartment

We stayed in a Wilde Retreat, a two-bedroom apartment set in the double-height eaves of the building. The steep roof had been fitted with large, high-tech windows that followed its slope, with electric blinds for shading or blackout. Open them and you see the tops of the belle époque neighbouring buildings and blue sky. Below, original blond wooden beams supported the roof, adding real character.

The galley kitchen had everything you might need for an extended stay, with the Smeg kettle and toaster to a Nespresso machine, stove, microwave, dishwasher, fridge, and good-quality silverware and chinaware. The water tap was fitted with a filter and there was a reusable water bottle so you can enjoy Vienna’s famous Alpine water. Coffee was from Workshop, a house blend called Article with tasting notes of dark chocolate, maple and raisin, the perfect accompaniment to the Manner Neapolitan wafers, left as welcome gift.

The principal bedroom felt like a proper boutique hotel room. Good linens, well-designed lighting, a reading area with complimentary Oscar Wilde stories, a nod to the writer who lends his name to the brand. Early morning, I made coffee and took it back to bed with sunlight streaming through the roof windows.

In the evening, we enjoyed the large living area with a corner with writing desk, a sofa under one of the windows and an adjacent dining area. We sipped a glass of bubbles, relaxing on the sofa before heading out. The second bedroom worked well as additional space, useful for families.

Oscar’s

Oscar’s is the property’s lobby restaurant and bar, set beneath vaulted double-height ceilings with a bold wall mural by Vienna-based artist Max Freund. A large semicircular bar anchors one end of the room. We ate breakfast here. The chive toast was a local favourite, so much finely chopped chive on top you could barely see the bread underneath. The Alpine breakfast was a hearty sharing plate of cold cuts, local cheeses, and pickles. The signature soda bread, baked especially for Wilde, was excellent.

Rascal Wien

Rascal Wien, the destination brasserie housed in the same building, is a beautiful space designed by Stephanie Barba Mendoza. Sparkling brass along the long bar, vintage mirrors above wooden tables, warm lamps, and the young team in designer Rascal t-shirts. Throughout dinner, a light installation by Austrian media artist SHA. is projected onto the vaulted arched ceiling, a subtle, shifting visual that evolves with the seasons and adds atmosphere without demanding attention. The energy is relaxed and you cannot help but have a good night out.

We started with a Rascal Negroni, made with Franz Wermut, and a Campari Spritz. The steak tartare, prepared tableside, was excellent. So was the Rascal sausage with apple mustard, a collaboration between Head Chef Tamas Kiss and the Eder family’s Fleischerei Leopold Eder, made exclusively for the restaurant. Mains were Wiener Schnitzel with lemon and anchovies and the 500-gram ribeye with red wine and green pepper. The menu is a contemporary take on Viennese classics, and the young team are enthusiastic and genuinely fun to be around.

The Light Show

Each evening, the Museum of Change transforms the 1,500-square-metre main courtyard into a free open-air spectacle. More than 50 projectors map abstract imagery by Austrian media artist SHA onto the white Baroque walls, while overhead a laser light show plays against fog released into the air. Music plays from 120 speakers. We stepped out with other guests and locals as passers-by walked in through the archway, drawn by the music and coloured light.

The Gym

The building is also home to a 2,800-square-metre destination gym, open to Wilde guests. This is a proper city gym with a huge cardio area, group fitness, weights, sauna, and relaxation spaces.

The Location

The Stubenviertel district and Fleischmarkt area are a delight. Genuinely historic, with non-touristy coffee shops like Wiener Söhne opposite, and churches like the neighbouring Basilika Maria Rotunda. St Stephen’s Cathedral is an 8-minute walk. Sebastian, the GM, recommended lunch at Trześniewski, the legendary Viennese sandwich bar near the cathedral, open since 1902. Hand-spread open sandwiches on dark bread with toppings like carrot paste, pâté and egg, washed down with a Pfiff, a tiny eighth-of-a-litre tankard of beer. We strolled through the Ringstraße, took in the National Library, and on one day caught the train for the hour-long trip to Bratislava for lunch.

Final Thought

Wilde Aparthotels Vienna completely exceeded expectations. The atmosphere, the team, the apartments, and the way the building brings together a boutique aparthotel, a destination restaurant, and a city gym make it feel like a genuine part of Vienna’s contemporary urban culture. I loved the space and flexibility of the apartment and the feeling of being part of the city’s dining and cultural life.

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The Arrival

The ground floor makes an immediate impression. Plush pink sofas and original crystal chandeliers bought at auction from Vienna’s former Ritz, and walls hand-painted by Andrea Ferolla with playful scenes of city life. At the bottom of the magnificent staircase that flows up through the entire property is a striking art installation. There is a lot going on, but it is fun rather than fussy. The lifts continue the theatrical mood with classic bronze interiors and an old-fashioned arrow above the exterior doors that swings from floor to floor, channelling the spirit of the fictional Grand Budapest Hotel.

Check-in is streamlined if you use the online pre-arrival service, so it is simply a case of verifying ID and accepting a welcome glass of bubbles or a G&T. The team dress in bespoke uniforms designed by Styrian fashion designer Lena Hoschek, using prints lifted directly from the hotel interiors. It is a gloriously eccentric touch.

The Room

We stayed in a Deluxe room. It was compact, and with so many bold design elements, it felt just a little busy. Heavily fringed lampshades, fabric-covered walls, richly coloured velvet furniture. A cocktail trolley stocked with gin, vodka and Negroni on a vintage brass table, with fresh lemon and lime ready to mix. A Roberts vintage radio sat on the desk, all wood casing and warm sound, adding a nostalgic touch that suited the room perfectly. The bathroom opens into the main room, partitioned by curtains if you want privacy, with the WC in a separate space behind a proper door. The shower was well designed with proper doors, so no water spilt onto the floor, as is often the case in hotels.

The bedding was excellent, with the option of individual duvets or a double, a thoughtful touch. The bathroom amenities came in creative packaging, with everything from a comb to collagen eye patches.

For more space, the Suite Junior, and Art Deluxe categories offer kitchenettes and larger bathrooms better suited to longer stays.

The Design

The interiors mix Parisian 1920s romanticism with Viennese period architecture and Scandinavian touches. Floral patterns, rugs, tiles and lampshades are all made to measure by Arkan Zeytinoglu Architects. Original vintage furniture sits alongside the mural artworks by acclaimed Italian fashion illustrator Andrea Ferolla in the lobby and restaurant. His flirtatious silhouettes dance across the walls like a cast of characters from a very stylish party. The eight Art Deluxe rooms feature exclusive graffiti art by Sasha Knezevic on mirrored walls. It’s edgy, witty and entirely in keeping with the hotel’s irreverent streak. Another nice detail in the rooms is that the TVs are hidden behind a vintage-style, aged mirror, which keeps the design coherent.

The building itself has many stories to tell. It has housed hotels since 1665, when it opened as Zum goldenen Kreuz. It later became Hotel Kummer, a gathering place for artists, writers and musicians. The Strauss family lived here too. During the Allied occupation, the French requisitioned it from 1945 to 1955, which makes the Parisian design thread feel very much part of the building’s heritage.

Chez Bernard

The highlight of the stay, without question. Chez Bernard, the 7th-floor restaurant, is one of the hottest tables in Vienna, and deservedly so. It is hugely popular with residents, and the combination of food, service, atmosphere and setting is hard to beat.

The room is elegant and buzzing, with a warmth that combines classic style with a youthful, conspiratorial energy. The bar area is double height, rising into a modern white and glass dome structure that has been built above the roofline of this classic Viennese building. Lush greenery is everywhere. Step up to the next level, and you are on the open-air rooftop terrace, decorated with chic fringed parasols shading tables set in front of a stylish bar, with additional creative touches like the bold photography of Mexican artist Victoria Barmak. It’s the place for panoramic city views and a mid-century look that evokes a touch of Palm Springs over the rooftops of Vienna.

We started at the inside bar with cocktails. The aperitif list includes classics like Kir Royales and Bellinis to Negroni Sbagliatos and Lillet Spritz, alongside Crémant de Bourgogne and Champagne. The menu is French-inspired with strong Austrian influences and local ingredients. We shared the fritti misti of octopus, prawns, cod, calamari and sand smelts with wasabi mayo, and the veal liver pâté with pink pepper, cornichons and toasted Motto brioche, flavourful and uncomplicated. My companion had the gnocchi à la Parisienne with spinach, Parmesan and beurre noisette. I had the chateaubriand with wild broccoli jus. Both were excellent. The service from the team was attentive, polished and genuinely friendly.

Breakfast the next morning was equally good. We chose to eat again in Chez Bernard, enjoying excellent coffee from a classic espresso machine, the croque monsieur on Motto brioche, and freshly baked, flaky croissants from the Motto Brot bakery downstairs. The menu includes shakshuka and avocado toast to a sharing breakfast for two with scrambled eggs, salmon, camembert, honey, homemade nougat cream and Motto bread. Owner Bernd Schlacher, one of Vienna’s most respected restaurateurs and host of the Balls in the Imperial Palace. He even brews his own beer, Brewdi, from leftover bakery bread. It is that kind of creative place.

The Location

Hotel Motto Vienna sits on Mariahilfer Straße, a mainly residential and retail district with chain stores, some independent shops, and the Haus des Meeres aquarium nearby. The Neubaugasse U3 metro stop is right next door, making getting around easy. The Naschmarkt, MuseumsQuartier and Ringstraße are all within a 10-minute walk. The monumental old town is not really in walking distance, but one metro ride takes you there in minutes.

Final Thought

Hotel Motto Vienna is a hotel with serious personality and a mischievous streak. The rooms are compact but cleverly designed, and the design is bold enough to possibly divide opinion. But Chez Bernard alone, the destination restaurant on the 7th floor, makes it well worth a stay.

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This new venture is housed in a heritage-listed former courthouse building, designed by Alfred Keller and completed in 1908. The hotel has been redesigned with a contemporary twist, all while staying true to Mandarin Oriental’s philosophy of understated luxury and legendary service. 

Guests are invited to feel at home in any of the 86 deluxe guestrooms or 52 spacious suites where modern comforts and historical elegance blend to create an unforgettable luxury experience. There are three exclusive Mandarin Signature suites and a grandiose Royal Suite, reserved for the most sophisticated of stays. Throughout the hotel, original design elements have been preserved in order to showcase the timelessness of the Viennese Art Nouveau movement.

Le Sept is the hotel’s signature restaurant for intimate fine dining, expertly crafted by Chef Seifried, where seafood takes centre stage and is enhance by a combination of French techniques and Asian influences. The exceptional Atelier 7 concept has been created by Executive Chef Thomas Seifried and is spread across three distinct venues – Brasserie, The Café, and Izakaya and Bar. Atelier 7 – Brasserie serves international dishes all day while The Café offers fine speciality coffees, teas and artisan pastries. Art Nouveau is celebrated with a Japanese twist in Izakaya and Bar where you’ll find an array of curated cocktails, made with the finest Asian ingredients. 

The Spa at Mandarin Oriental invites guests to indulge in holistic treatments and wellness therapies to relax, recharge, and rejuvenate. There are 7 serene treatment rooms, including a romantic couple’s suite and a VIP area, and an indoor swimming pool. There is also a fully equipped fitness centre with state-of-the-art equipment for guests to take advantage of.

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Where We Stayed

We based ourselves at the fabulous Le Méridien Vienna which is located in the heart of the city on the Ringstraße which is the road around the old town. It’s ideal for a luxury weekend break in the city!

We stayed in one of their luxurious Terrace Suites which has the most fantastic views across the city.

You can read the full hotel review here.

What We Did

You can’t go to Vienna in winter and not have a nosy around the Christmas Markets. They are dotted all over the city, with a large one at the Natural History Museum which was a short walk from our hotel.

The winter market was packed with stalls selling the most beautiful trinkets and Christmas gifts.

The winter markets have plenty of gluhwein wine stalls and I recommend you warm yourself up with one of these delicious hot alcoholic drinks. Across the road from the Natural History Museum is the Museums Quartier and in the middle of the square we found some brilliant little pop up bars!.

Our hotel had an amazing Champagne bar which is open to the public and great for a glass of Champagne to start the night off.

We didn’t get a chance to have dinner at Albertina Passage, but look out for the big rabbit next to the Opera House. The restaurant was a former underground pedestrian walkway that has been transformed into a bar/restaurant/jazz club, which came highly recommended to us.

This is the Cathedral in the centre of Vienna. If you get lost just find your way back to the Cathedral.

The shopping in Vienna is great, there are many luxury shopping options, but I also loved the huge number of small independent shops dotted all over the city.

Mozart lived in Vienna and you can visit where he lived and learn more about the musical genius.

It’s easy to walk about Vienna in awe of the city, but I highly recommend you take a walking tour around it, to learn more about the fascinating history of the city. There are many that leave from the square next to the State Opera House.

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Background and Concept

Located right in the heart of the city on the Ringstraße (the main road around the Old Town) Le Méridien oozes style and cutting-edge design. The hotel has had a multimillion-pound refurbishment and the large lobby now connects the hotel’s restaurant You and its uber-chic Moet Champagne bar with the rest of the hotel space. Le Méridien Vienna is five-star all the way with service slick and on point without being too fussy. The basement houses a pool, spa and gym and each of the 295 rooms is contemporary in design and fitted with some cool tech, like Dyson hair dryers. Rooms also come with a free minibar which are refilled daily, making Le Méridien the ideal base for a weekend break!

Location

So when I say you are right in the heart of the city, I really mean it! The hotel is only a short stroll away from the Vienna State Opera and the Imperial Hofburg Palace. All historical attractions and the main shopping district are within easy walking distance and the property is well-connected with the city public transport network – Karlsplatz Underground Station is a 5-minute walk

Vienna International Airport is 30 minutes by taxi and if you want a door-to-door experience, the hotel will organise a luxury transfer to meet you at the arrival hall and take you directly to the hotel.

Accommodation

The hotel was originally four palaces, which were combined into one property, making it a large hotel with 295 bedrooms and suites. Le Méridien positions itself as a design hotel and this concept flows through the lobby and restaurant areas and into each of the hotel bedrooms.

Rooms are finished with blond wood furniture, aquamarine glass and turquoise walls. Beds are designed by Ligne Roset and 39 cm mattresses from Seal mean you are guaranteed a good night’s sleep! The free mini bar in rooms is a great idea and stocked with a selection of soft drinks and beer too!

Rooms come in different room types as you would expect from, Classic to Signature and Suite. In Suite class I would recommend you go for a Terrace Suite, which we had and it most definitely has the WOW factor.

Terrace Suite

The suite is split across two rooms and at 75m² space is large with plenty of space. You walk in through the lounge and the floor-to-ceiling windows let light flood into the space.

Lounge

Balcony 

The suite has a balcony which is gigantic and runs the full length of the lounge and bedroom and offers an incredible view out across Vienna.

Bedroom

Walk through the lounge into the bedroom and be greeted by the king-size bed with glass-etched headboard.

Bathroom

Bathrooms are one of my favourite spaces in a hotel bedroom and, the bathrooms Le Méridien Vienna are fabulous.  The big retro claw-foot tubs which is lit from underneath with fluorescent green lighting is fun a fab! The hotel also uses my most favourite products Malin and Goetz which I first tried in the Lone Hotel and have been an advocate ever since.

Le Méridien Vienna are one of the first hotels I have seen to include Dyson hairdryers in the bedrooms and these hairdryers are a dream to use!

Food And Drink

Breakfast

Breakfast is served each day in You and includes a large selection of cold meats, cheeses, pastries, yogurt and cereals. There is also a hot buffet with all the regular hot items you would expect. Eggs can be cooked to order at the egg station, too.

You Restaurant

You is open each day for lunch and dinner, serving a selection of well-priced Asian fusion options.

www.you-vienna.com

Le Moet

Kick the night off with a glass of Champagne in Le Moet, which serves a carefully curated selection of champagnes by the glass as well as bottle.

Spa And Pool

The basement houses the John Harris fitness centre, spa area and pool. The pool is petite in size, but I was more interested in the jacuzzi! There is also a large sauna and spa, which is ideal for relaxing in after a day exploring Vienna.

Final Thoughts

The hotel is fabulous and ideal for a weekend break in Vienna. The central location means you can walk pretty much everywhere, the service is faultless and the communal areas of the hotel have a good buzz to them at all times of the day. If you go definitely opt for a Terrace Suite, you won’t be disappointed.

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