Boutique Hotel am Stephansplatz

While the seven-story facade of this 1950s hotel is decidedly bland, lacking historic flourishes, it makes for an ideal perch to drink in the Gothic beauty across the street -- Vienna's stunning St. Stephen’s Cathedral. And interiors are not without their charm: Warm colors like lemony yellows and pomegranate reds give a subtle nod to the city's past and the Habsburgs' flag, while simultaneously adding some 21st-century pizzazz. The reception and seating areas, as with the whole building, deliver a dose of mid-century flair with oak paneling and leather seating in squat armchairs and couches. Paintings and sculptures by contemporary artists, displayed in both the lobby and attractive cafe-bar, further enhance the cheery atmosphere, which the owners consciously strive to create. They even give the property a regular ceremonial cleansing with sagebrush smoke to maintain a positive vibe.

For tourists, it’s hard to imagine a better location than the privileged one this hotel occupies in Vienna’s historic core. Set on Stephansplatz, opposite gorgeous St. Stephen's Cathedral, it is within walking distance of top sightseeing attractions. Hofburg Palace (home to the Sisi Museum and Spanish Riding School) can be reached on foot in eight minutes. Luxe shopping opportunities also abound because the pedestrianized "Golden U" (formed by Kohlmarkt, Graben and Kärntner Strasse) is a mere five-minute stroll from Stephansplatz. The square’s eponymous metro station also offers easy access to other parts of the Austrian capital.

• One-minute walk to the St. Stephen's Cathedral
• Two-minute walk to Stephansplatz U-Bahn station
• Two-minute walk to St. Peter's Church
• Four-minute walk to the Mozarthaus Museum
• Five-minute walk to the Golden U
• Eight-minute walk to Hofburg Palace
• Eight-minute walk to the Albertina Museum
• 10-minute walk to the Vienna State Opera
• 13-minute walk to the Austrian National Library
• 15-minute walk to the Kunsthistorisches Museum
• 15-minute walk to the Natural History Museum
• 25-minute drive to Vienna International Airport (30 minutes via public transport)

While there's nothing fashion-forward about the guest rooms, they have cheery decor throughout and crisp white linens top the quality foam mattresses, adding to the rooms tidy appearance. Units range from 161 to 592 square feet, and all have air-conditioning, minibars, coffee/tea-making facilities with Julius Meinl products, flat-screen satellite TVs, Tivoli audio systems, and free Wi-Fi. Across the board, the tiled bathrooms -- most with a shower and separate tub -- have heated floors and towel racks, plus fair-trade toiletries. Robes, slippers, and hairdryers come standard, too. Note that both family and handicapped-enabled rooms are available. If you’re coming for the view, Cathedral Rooms have sound-proof triple-glazed windows that frame the cathedral; better yet, Cathedral Suites and the Top Tobias Suite have sigh-inducing furnished terraces that look right out on it.

A commitment to ethical, eco-friendly practices -- evident in everything from the biological wall paint to the hypo-allergenic bedding and fair-trade toiletries -- sets this hotel apart. But most of the features you'd expect from an upper-middle-range hotel are present as well. While there’s no restaurant per se, the hotel does have a popular cafe-bar on the second level. Named for famed Spanish tenor Giacomo Aragall, who is a frequent guest, it’s a fine place to sip a Viennese coffee (or something stronger) while drinking in the views. The Aragall also doubles as a breakfast room where guests can enjoy an impressive free morning buffet complete with made-to-order eggs, organic baked goods and fresh-pressed juices.

There’s a pleasant little health center on-site, too, which includes workout equipment, a sauna with light therapy, and a dedicated relaxation zone; plus the hotel has a small business center and two meeting rooms for corporate travelers. Other features include babysitting, laundry, valet parking, and airport shuttle services (all at extra cost); free daily newspapers in the lobby, and free Wi-Fi throughout.