Design Hotels in SalzburgerLand

Mavida Balance Hotel
It was interior designer Niki Szilagyi’s aim to trigger positive emotions while at the same time reducing everything to the essential. Mavida Balance Hotel was stripped of all knick-knacks to allow a new attitude towards life. The lounge’s centerpiece is an open fireplace which is surrounded by sofas and cowhide rugs. The 47 suites and rooms are characterized by the same sobriety and elegance, and are superbly appointed with king-sized beds, soft pillows and spacious bathrooms.

Information and Reservation:
5700 Zell am See
Internet: www.mavida.at

Hotel Stein
As Hotel Stein is one of Salzburg’s landmarks, a monument really, it was quite a challenge to overhaul it. The old staircase still looks worn out and guests shouldn’t mind that. The old patina is a homage to the house’s history which is closely connected to the famous Salzburg Festival. While the new dining hall pays tribute to the Stein’s heydays around 1950, the rooms are the work of a design guru. The dominating colours are chocolate, coffee and vanilla, the lampshades are kept in mauve and look delicate as violets. Some rooms boast leather upholstered window seats which serve as private box seats overlooking the lovely old town. Other rooms have heavy velvet curtains with faux fur trimmings. All rooms still boast original parquet floors which Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz and many other celebrities have walked on.

Information and Reservation:
Salzburg City
Internet: www.hotelstein.at

Auersperg. A City Hotel with Garden
Hotel & Villa Auersperg which was built in 1900 was revamped with great love of detail and offers a wonderful combination of magnificent antiques and a modern and young interior design. The hotel and the neighboring villa are in a quiet location at the end of Linzergasse, a pedestrian-only street, and blend harmoniously with the cityscape of Salzburg. With its warm colors, precious tabernacle closet and comfortable leather couches, the hotel’s lobby is a great place to relax and while away the evening. 52 tastefully renovated rooms also offer this great mix of old and new and feature all amenities for a relaxing stay. The hotel garden with lily pond and the rooftop sauna make the Auersperg a true oasis of peace and quiet in the heart of the city.

Information and Reservation:
Salzburg City
Internet: www.auersperg.at

Blaue Gans
The Blaue Gans is an art hotel that retains the charm of an old Renaissance building. The century-old stone floors in the sleek are almost spartan. Rooms are contrasted with contemporary artworks. Some rooms boast Philippe Starck bathrooms, others have small offices. The hotel’s bar, café, restaurant and breakfast room feature distinctive lighting which is used to draw attention to their use depending on the time of the day. Guests are invited to let them be inspired by this unique symbiosis of old and new and to discover space for personal development. The hotel’s maxim is to be “no design hotel but an art hotel”.

Information and Reservation:
Salzburg City
Internet: www.hotel-blaue-gans-salzburg.at

Der Seehof
This classic Seehof inn by the lake boasts a trendy, Mediterranean-style interior for which the manageress herself is responsible. Chairs à la Philippe Starck, warm reds, expensive fabrics and unique light effects create an intimate and very exclusive ambiance. The house, which was first mentioned in 1725, offers plenty of special features. The library with computer corner is open all night, the Neue Zürcher Zeitung is deposited in front of your door, and breakfast is served until late in the afternoon. The hotel is conveniently located near the golf course. Simply walk past the Seehof’s private bathing beach, pass hole 10, and continue through the forest to the club house.

Information and Reservation:
5622 Goldegg
Internet: www.seehof-goldegg.com

Haus Hirt Hotel & Spa
This hideaway is beautifully located at the end of a promenade and is designed in tune with the times. With its trendy and stylish interior, Hotel Haus Hirt differs greatly from the common alpine lodgings. The hotel, which is run by an architect and his wife, is not only a feast to the eyes but also to the soul. Crackling wood fires, soothing music, books, movies and magazines create an ambiance conducive to peaceful relaxation. The spa area uses water from the famous Gastein thermal springs. The hotel draws a mainly young, creative crowd.

Information and Reservation:
5640 Badgastein
Internet: www.haus-hirt.com

AlpenParks Resort Maria Alm
With the AlpenParks Resort Maria Alm (opened in 2006) the architects “Innerhofer und Innerhofer” shook up Salzburg’s hotel scene. The façade is purisitic despite its larch wood paneling, and stands in contrast to the town’s traditional architecture. The hotel consists of three buildings which are set off from one another and are arranged in a slight curve which follows the course of the road. The wellness area is located under the flat roof. The hotel’s 22 rooms and suite and four apartments were finished in local woods such as larch, pine and ash. The colours red and blue are dominant, and the use of glass allows daylight to enter the building and offers fantastic views of the mountains. The hotel is a great example of contemporary alpine architecture that does pander to the emblematic “lederhosen” clichés.

Information and Reservation:
5761 Maria Alm
Internet: www.alpenparks.at/resortmariaalm

Testimonial from Janet Proudfoot, UK:
"Forget the Rockies! Maria Alm is right on your doorstep and is the most charming place I have ever visited. Chocolate box houses, charming people and magnificent scenery all stored in a small area just one and a half hours from Salzburg airport. Whether winter or summer there is every activity that will get your heart rate racing and your senses invigorated. What are you waiting for???"