Hollmann Beletage Design & Boutique Hotel

Quirk is what makes this property charming, with little unexpected details at every turn. The exterior looks more like that of a private home than a hotel. Your first hint at what's in store comes in the lobby: An orange cityscape is painted on the ceiling with matching orange carpets, while long bar tables with high chairs serve as seating. A piano with headphones is on hand...just because! 

The whimsy here is refreshing, intermixed with a very modern feel. This hotel is fun precisely because it's upscale but also doesn't take itself too seriously. There are chalkboards in the hallways outside each room on which the hotel staff puts the names of the guests. (Some may think this could cause privacy or safety concerns, but most will appreciate the individualized touch.) Because the hotel has only 25 rooms and one suite, guests enjoy more personal attention during their stay. Just don't be surprised when you round a corner and find a rubber ducky floating in a fountain, a random bird figurine mounted on a wall, or a little Scottish terrier shoe shine near your door. Other thoughtful extras include a late breakfast (which guests can choose to have served in bed) and free snacks, tea, and prosecco in the lobby each afternoon. 

Tucked away on a side street slightly removed from the touristy areas, this hotel is still close to many of the area's most famous attractions, making it private yet centrally located. It's a six-minute walk from the Stephansplatz, a square at the geographical center of the city; two minutes from Rotenturm Street, home to multiple restaurants and shops; and five minutes from Saint Stephen's Cathedral. For those wishing to venture farther away, the metro is a few minutes’ walk from the property. Vienna International Airport is about 25 minutes southeast by car. 

Rooms here are simple but still make an impression. Overall the decor focuses on clean lines, minimal furnishings, and splashes of bright color (often pinks and purples or red and oranges). The configurations can be creative; some rooms have sinks and primping areas attached to headboards on the backs of beds. A few spaces also have balconies. Most of the bathrooms have showers with rain showerheads while some have tubs, so be sure to make the appropriate request if you desire a bath. There are designer toiletries and slippers/robes for guest use as well. All units have flat-screen TVs, stocked minibars, and free Wi-Fi connections. Daily fruit plates are delivered to all rooms, and there are PEZ candies for the bathroom. This hotel offers class with a touch of humor.

Unlike many hotel breakfasts, which are eaten only by the early birds, this made-to-order repast is available until 11:30 a.m. and offers a variety of hot and cold choices. (You choose your selections by marking them on a mini menu.) If you don't want to go to the breakfast room, the hotel will deliver breakfast to your bed! Free afternoon tea, Prosecco, and deli snacks are also available in the lobby from 2 p.m. until they run out, and alcoholic beverages -- rum, vodka, whiskey -- are available 24 hours a day for free in the lounge. While there’s no on-site restaurant, the hotel's culinary cousin -- Hollmann Salon -- is just around the corner and features contemporary organic Austrian cuisine in a friendly communal setting, for dinner only. The hotel's spa includes steam and sauna as well as spacious showers; the fitness center, however, is pretty much just one treadmill creatively surrounded by artificial turf with a TV mounted on the wall. (In other words, there might be a wait if more than one person is hoping to work in some cardio.) 

There’s also a small eight-seat movie theater with daily showings and freshly popped popcorn. Company travelers can rent the several modern meeting rooms with classic accoutrements like chalkboards as well as audiovisual equipment. The business center is just a computer and printer in the lobby, but guests can borrow iPads for the length of their stay.