Steigenberger Hotel Herrenhof Wien

Located on a street corner, the neoclassical building housing the Steigenberger Hotel Herrenhof dates back to 1913. In its early days, it was known as Cafe Herrenhof, one of the city’s most popular cafes and the stomping grounds for the city’s intelligentsia -- until it closed in 1961. The hotel has an elegant atmosphere, and some aspects of the original turn-of-the-century building have been preserved, like the beautiful wrought-iron staircase. The reception area however, disappoints and does not provide the sense of arrival expected of a luxury hotel: The shiny tile floors, empty spaces, and minimalist reception counter give it a sparse, uninviting look. The lobby bar, however is a posh venue with stylish armchairs, an illuminated flock-patterned wall behind the bar, and large mirrors. This is a popular place to stay for leisure travelers, especially couples, and is also frequented by business travelers.

The Steigenberger Hotel Herrenhof is located in Vienna’s historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Many of the city’s tourist sights are in walking distance, or accessible by subway. The nearest subway station is Herrengasse, just a one-minute walk away.

• One-minute walk to Herrengasse metro stop
• Three-minute walk to Hofburg Palace
• Three-minute walk to the Spanish Riding School
• Six-minute walk to Burg Theater
• Nine-minute walk to St Stephen’s Cathedral
• Nine-minute walk to Kärntner Strasse pedestrian shopping street
• Nine-minute walk to the State Opera House
• 11-minute walk to the Museum of Art History
• 20-minute drive to Vienna International Airport
• 32-minute tram ride to Belvedere Palace
• 80-minute subway and bus ride to Schoenbrunn Palace

The guest rooms at the Steigenberger Hotel Herrenhof are spacious, and pleasantly decorated in tones of gray, violet, and lime green, with a few eccentric details, like richly patterned carpet, striped armchairs, motif accent walls, and rectangular lamps sporting fringe. The bathrooms are elegant, with oval-shaped vessel sinks, large mirrors, and walk-in showers, or shower/tub combos, along with hairdryers. Rooms on the upper floors have scenic views from the windows of the city rooftops. Each room has adjustable air-conditioning, a flat-screen TV, an electric kettle for coffee- and tea-making, a minibar, a safe, a robe and slippers, and free Wi-Fi. The Deluxe Rooms offer more space than the Superior Rooms, with up to 377 square feet of floor space. The Suites have separate living areas, covering an area ranging from 624 to 969 square feet, and offer a few additional amenities, like Nespresso coffee machines, MP3 radios, and additional toiletries. As an added perk, Superior Rooms minibars are refilled once with soft drinks; Deluxe Room minibars are refilled daily with beer and soft drinks; and Suite minibars are refilled with beer, wine, and soft drinks daily.

A buffet breakfast is served each morning in the Restaurant Herrlich, adjacent to the lobby, for an extra fee, and gets good reviews from guests. The Restaurant Herrlich is also open for lunch and dinner, serving gourmet Austrian cuisine, and the Herrenhof Bar is popular for traditional Viennese coffee and pastries during the day, and is a stylish piano bar in the evenings. The huge 2,690-square-foot spa area includes a sauna, steam bath, relaxation area, and massage area. This also includes a somewhat small fitness room, with cross-training equipment, exercise bikes, and weights. There are also seven conference rooms available, seating up to 160 guests. There’s a business corner offering a computer, fax, and printer for guests’ use. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel, and on-site parking is charged an extra fee.