Kärntnerhof Vienna

Our recommendations

“A 3-star hotel at a 5-star location”, is how the Kärntnerhof describes itself on its website. And indeed, there is scarcely another hotel in Vienna that offers such a central but quiet location. If you don’t believe it, just climb up to this venerable establishment’s rooftop terrace and enjoy the views of the Baroque towers of the Heiligenkreuzerhof and the surrounding maze of narrow streets: here you are in the middle of the busy city while still floating above it all. And speaking of floating: when you do descend to the hubbub of the city, riding the hotel’s mahogany-panelled, brass-plated, turn-of-the-century elevator is an experience not to be missed! Alternatively, one can take the stairs, enjoying the many art-nouveau details on the windows, doors, and ceilings of each of the five levels. Similarly stylish are the hotel’s forty-one rooms and three suites, which provide impressive proof that old must not mean shabby; on the contrary, it means lovingly maintained and preserved.

Another impressive quality: the staff at the reception desk will treat you like a guest at a luxury hotel. Whether it is obtaining theatre tickets, reserving a table at a restaurant, or simply drawing a map of the most romantic route from A to B: the employees at Kärntnerhof are service experts. And should there be something that the friendly staff does not know, there is always the Internet, which guests can access via the hotel’s laptop in the library or wireless and free of charge in each room.

www.karntnerhof.com