Hotel Schani Wien

Hotel Shani Wien is a hotel for the startup era. The centerpiece for this tech-savvy hotel-cum-co-working space, which opened mid-2015, is its charming lobby, an expansive room with a coffee-shop feel that attracts hotel guests and locals alike. Floor-to-ceiling windows pair with concrete floors, plywood shelving (packed with books), and gray and black walls accented with chalkboard writing. An eclectic array of seating -- cushioned benches, wireframe chairs, metal stools, high-backed armchairs upholstered in pastels -- give guests nooks to hangout, relax, or work. The bar, smack-dab in the center of the lobby, serves drinks, snacks, and coffee, and also doubles as reception -- though guests may never need it thanks to e-check-in/out and smartphone keys. A loft-style area that overlooks the lobby features a dozen single workspaces, which can be rented out by the day or month. All in all, the setup is a more refined, adult take on a hostel's public spaces. But unlike hostels, a diverse crowd comes here, from single tourists to families to business travelers, though the crowd does tend to skew young.

The hotel is situated just outside the city, close to Vienna's central train station (Wien Hauptbahnhof), which can be reached in about an eight-minute walk. The neighborhood is considered up-and-coming, with new office and residential buildings emerging in recent years, though there are few restaurant and shopping areas. On the downside, this area is a few miles from the city's historical center, however with nearby subway, train, and tram connections (including a tram stop right across the street) visitors can get to many Vienna sights, like Stephansplatz and the Naschmarkt, in about 20 minutes. The Intercity Express connects directly to Vienna International Airport from the Hauptbahnhof station and takes about 30 minutes. Parking costs an extra fee. 

Continuing the lobby's hip modular style, guest rooms are simple, clean, and compact. Wood floors meet off-white walls, while lemon-yellow accents and plywood furnishings lend a modern-industrial vibe. Bench seating near the windows allow guest to enjoy the view (those of the terrace garden are better, as the street view is a little lackluster). Bathrooms are appealingly modern with white subway tiling giving a backdrop to square sinks and walk-in showers, but showers are only partitioned off from the room by a curtain. (There's a separate toilet stall.) The hotel also has 10 Smart Maisonette rooms, with sitting space and a double bed in a loft, reachable by ladder.

Storage space is limited to open wardrobes with some cubbies, but all rooms have air-conditioning, 40-inch flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, USB charging ports, hairdryers, and Pure Herbs toiletries in dispensers. Smart Maisonette rooms add Nespresso coffeemakers, but the other rooms lack any in-room coffeemakers. Also missing are in-room mini-fridges or safes.

The hotel's crowning feature is its co-working space, which includes lots of nooks in the lobby for meeting or hanging out, plus a lending library and a dozen single work spaces. (Desks are rentable by the day or at monthly rates, but other areas are free for use.) At the center of the lobby is a bar that serves snacks, coffee, and drinks, and also doubles as reception. While there's plenty of snacking options, there's little in the way of meals apart from a breakfast buffet with classic Viennese fare (for an extra fee). A full-service restaurant is notably missing, as is a gym.

As expected for a work-focused hotel, the Schani Wien has meeting and event space, including a room that can host up to 80 guests, plus a big outdoor terrace and garden with seating. Mac desktops are available for guest use. Also freely available are skateboards, longboards, and scooters, or guests can borrow E-scooters for an extra fee. On-site parking costs an extra fee, too, and Tesla- and electro-charging stations are on hand. Other tech-savvy extras include free high-speed Wi-Fi and a Bitcoin two-way ATM. Surprisingly for a hipster hotel, kid-friendly amenities are also on hand including cribs, high-chairs, and a play area in the lobby. Pets are allowed for a reasonable per-day fee as well.