Convenient location two blocks from Danube River
Luxurious rooms with high-tech amenities
Heritage-listed 19th century building
Two great restaurants, one Michelin-starred
Popular bars and cigar lounge
Exotic spa with three saunas and a hydro pool
Large 24-hour fitness center
Meeting rooms and ballroom
Free Wi-Fi throughout
High rates and expensive food
In-room iPad control system may confuse some guests
Fitness center open to outside members during the day
The five-pearl Palais Hansen Kempinski occupies a building that was originally designed for the 1873 World Exhibition in Vienna, and while some of its palatial interiors remain, it has since been given a complete modern renovation that combines glamour with high-tech amenities. Large rooms decked out in rich natural materials all have Nespresso machines and iPad controls for everything from adjusting the thermostat to booking a treatment in the hotel's well-designed spa. One of its two restaurants earned a Michelin star within a year of opening, and the other serves an incredible breakfast spread. All this luxury comes at a high price, though, and that great breakfast is not included.
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Scene
Contemporary designs with decadent historic details
Part of the Kempinski chain, Europe's oldest luxury hotel group, the hotel made a grand entrance when it opened 2013. Its light-filled lobby rises along the building's original Ionian columns, to beautiful crystal chandeliers. DJs provide musical atmosphere during the week and classical pianists take over on the weekend, with the DJs moving into the popular local bar during the evenings. The clientele tend toward well-heeled travelers who want a fabulous place to stay and don't mind being on the outer edge of the city center.
Location
At the northern end of the Innere Stadt, near the Danube
The hotel is at the northern end of the Innere Stadt (Inner City) on the Schottenring, a busy street packed with trams and cars. The Danube River is two blocks away. Nearby attractions include the old Vienna Stock Exchange, the University of Vienna, and St. Stephen's Cathedral. Kohlmarkt Street, home to brands like Tiffany, Louis Vuitton, and Chanel, is a 15-minute walk away. Most of the city center's destinations are within walking distance, but the hotel isn't the most centrally located within the Innere Stadt. Expect a 25-minute drive to the Vienna International Airport.
Rooms
Large and elegant rooms with Nespresso machines and iPad controls
All 152 rooms have a similar decor that blends traditional Viennese Classicism with a contemporary edge and high-tech toys. Earth tones dominate, with rich wood furniture, textured walls, and carpets with a decorative leaf pattern that invoke a warm ambiance. Even the smallest room is on the large side, with a sitting area and work desk. Minibars, Nespresso machines, and iPod docks come standard, along with iPad-controlled entertainment systems that can also be used to order services or book appointments. Each marble-covered bathroom has a large lighted vanity, a heated towel rack, and a walk-in shower as well as a separate soaking tub.
Features
Luxurious spa, Michelin-starred Edvard Restaurant, bar and cigar lounge
The luxurious Kempinski spa proudly styles itself after an adherence to Ottoman-style bathing culture. Its six treatment rooms, multiple saunas (mixed and women-only), steam bath, and hydro pool provide hygienic relaxation options at multiple temperatures. The attached fitness center has stair machines, treadmills, rowing machines, cardio bikes, and ellipticals and is open 24-hours a day (it's also open to local members during regular business hours).The food here is top-notch, beginning with the fine-dining restaurant, Edvard, which earned a Michelin star for its sophisticated use of seasonal ingredients and unusual combinations such as deer loin with strawberries and brown butter pike with hazelnuts and smoked eel. Die Kuche serves simpler traditional Austrian, German, and Bohemian food in three distinct spaces with open cooking stations. The daily breakfast is done with an open farmer's market atmosphere, with a huge spread of freshly squeezed juices, Austrian baked goods, and eggs cooked to order, although the buffet is not included in room rates. For bars, guests have their choice between a mellow cigar lounge with top-shelf whiskey or a more lively lobby bar with DJs. A traditional afternoon tea is also served, but it's pricey.
