Music journalist Emma Harrison offers a guide to Europe’s erstwhile cultural capital…
Vienna had been on my hit list for a city break for a long time. Its rich history coupled with its elegant architecture made it an absolute must-visit. Having previously stayed at the Almanac in Barcelona, the relatively new Almanac Palais Vienna offered an ideal base for me to explore the vibrant sights of Vienna.
Just within a 10-minute walk of the Vienna State Opera and Stephansplatz, the hotel is situated in the heart of Vienna’s most famous boulevard, the Ringstrasse, and is one of the best centrally-located hotels in the city. The Ringstrasse is just over 5.3km long and is, conveniently, home to many of the city’s most famous museums and attractions, its sumptuous palaces and spacious parks. In fact, the hotel is located across the street from the Stadtpark, one of Austria’s oldest and most famous.
As one of Europe’s most elegant cities, Vienna is renowned for its fascinating history, notably as Europe’s cultural epicentre for over centuries, and its architectural beauty and, as you might expect, the Almanac Palais Vienna reflects the splendour of the city.
The palatial grandeur is evident from the second you set eyes on the pristine white exterior of this former palace (that dates back to the 19th century) and the marble-adorned entrance hall. It effortlessly fuses contemporary cool thanks to the stark decor of the atrium that is similar to an art gallery. The lobby is the epitome of minimalistic chic – think pristine white walls, sculptures, and abstract art.
Fusing together a sophisticated blend of classic elegance and modern luxury, the hotels decor is a refined mix of traditional Austrian heritage and contemporary design. There are 111 rooms in total of which the majority are suites, all of which are furnished in a decadent palette of gold and beige hues, ornate mirrored ceilings and brass accents.
The decor is the brainchild of Chilean designer Jaime Beriestain who had the vision of imbuing the modern with a traditional Austrian style. Whilst the sleek and eye-catching circular lobby is impressive, the hotel still reflects its Austrian roots with the opulent mouldings and the inlaid wooden floors.
Our suite in the higher echelon of the hotel had one of the biggest hotels I have ever slept in and is a fine example of a splendid Viennese bolt hole. It had two wardrobes in dark wood which when opened reveal a striking red interior, a bronze-toned mirror-finished ceilings and soft furnishing in shades of coffee and cocoa.
The hotel’s spa facilities dominate the basement of the hotel and there’s an expansive swimming pool as well as a steam room and sauna which are ideal for a relaxing experience either before you head out to explore the city or to ease away a busy day’s sightseeing.
In terms of the culinary offering, you can eat at either Elias, a white-tiled café that’s become an influencer haunt or the main restaurant of the hotel – the Donnersmarkt. The menu offering for dinner was a little bit limiting and the culinary style didn’t reflect the 5 stars awarded to this hotel. The dishes on offer were a little bit basic – think sandwiches, burgers and salads. Whilst the dinner offerings didn’t necessarily impress, the breakfast more than made up for it with an excellent choice of dishes to choose from.
Make sure you carve out time to pay a visit to the hotel’s bar – it’s a stylish and lively place to enjoy a cocktail or two and you can even sit outside and watch the world go by if you so desire.
Whilst you are in Vienna make sure you…..
Get yourself the Vienna City Card which you can purchase for 24, 48, 72 hours or even 7 days if you are there for a longer period of time. It will give you access to public transport as well as discounts in a variety of different museums and other tourist attractions.
Take a walking tour or as some might call it an ‘architecture safari’ where you will be allocated a local guide who will elaborate on Vienna’s illustrious past and see some of the city’s best examples of neoclassical and baroque architecture – of course walking is the best way to explore this compact city.
Get arty at the museum wonderland that is the Museumsquartier and check out some of Vienna’s fantastic museums. The Austrian capital is home to more than 100 museums in the city and around 15,000 concerts per year, the sheer wealth of cultural offerings
We loved the Kunsthistorisches Museum which is housed in one of the most beautifully ornate buildings in Vienna. It is an invariable treasure trove of architectural splendor, old master paintings and aged antiquities. Prepare to be enchanted by this impressive collection that spans Ancient Egypt through to the modern day.
If it’s more of a contemporary vibe that you are after, then head on over to the mumok which is located in Vienna’s renowned cultural hub that is the Museums Quarter. It’s one of the largest museums dedicated to modern and contemporary art in Central Europe and has a truly intriguing and thought-provoking exhibitions that has a strong focus on immersive and multi-media art.
Without a doubt, the ornate Belvedere Palace is an unmissable attraction when visiting Vienna. Encompassing the upper and lower palaces, one of the highlights is seeing the world-famous and iconic painting ‘The Kiss’ by Gustav Klimt which forms part of the permanent exhibition at the Upper Belvedere.
Photo by Johannes Stoll, courtesy of Belvedere Palace
It’s also home to a world-famous collection of Austrian art, including works by Oskar Kokoschka and Schiele. Why not take a walk from the Upper Belvedere through the landscaped baroque gardens down to the Lower Belvedere palace. It’s beautiful to visit at any time of the year, but in December, it’s home to the most incredible Christmas market.
Take a sip from Vienna’s coffee house culture – Vienna is renowned not only for its impressive architecture and storied history, but also its intriguing coffee scene that includes traditional coffee houses and third-wave, new-generation coffee shops.
Embrace Vienna’s musical past – Vienna is synonymous with music and whilst all genres of music are embraced in this inspiring Austrian city, it is best known for its association with classical music. For over 250 years, the city has richly attained a reputation as ‘the City of Music’ and illustrious composers from Mozart to Strauss lived and worked in Vienna. Be sure to add the ‘House of Music’ (Vienna’s Museum of Sound) and a live recital at the Musikverein to your Vienna to-do list.
The Almanac Palais Vienna opened in March 2023 and has 111 rooms (80 of which are suites), starting from €350/night including breakfast. For more information, please visit almanachotels.com/vienna.
The Vienna City card costs between €17 and €35 and includes public transport in Vienna, over 200 discounts in museums and tourist attractions, etc. for the duration of your stay (valid from date of issue, max. 7 days).
