The Guesthouse Vienna

Glittering palaces, opulent opera houses, spotless glass cases displaying the Austrian Crown Jewels—walking around Vienna, it feels like the whole city is gilded with delicate gold leaf. It’s a formal aesthetic that carries over to the city’s grand hotels, and a standard that makes The Guest House, a cool, pared-down new hotel with 39 contemporary rooms and suites, stand out in contrast.

As the name implies, The Guesthouse Vienna isn’t a traditional hotel: staying here is more like having the keys to a spacious designer apartment with a few extra services. There’s no swimming pool, in other words, but guest rooms feature separate living and sleeping areas, espresso machines, and complimentary bottles of wine—that’s bottles, plural.

The hotel is smartly located just where you’d want to be: on a tranquil square a few blocks away from the bustling Kärtner Strasse shopping promenade, within easy walking distance of the Vienna State Opera and the city’s museums and historic cafés.

Step through the entryway, past the popular Brasserie & Bakery, and up to your room: with sleek hardwood floors, arty black and white photographs framed over an inviting modern sofa, an adorably cozy reading nook stocked with titles in English, and huge bay windows overlooking the Opera House or St. Stephen’s Cathedral, you might not want to leave. Especially after checking out the bathroom, filled with thoughtful touches like handmade soap by Wolfgang Lederhaas and heated floors and towel racks.

A deliciously homey atmosphere and high-end amenities, and a walk-in closet with more than enough space to actually unpack your suitcase? Yes, please. Sightseeing can wait: now’s a good time to pop open one of those four bottles of wine (four bottles—of complimentary wine—this bears repeating) and crack open that Mozart biography over by the window.

Text with contribution from Tablet Hotels, modified to fit the format. 

in our opinion

Gorgeous interiors, great atmosphere, and fantastic location—we hardly need much else.

Book suite 802 if you like the sound of a “private roof-top terrace” and stunning city views.

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What we love

• The hotel's neighborhood is as attractive as it gets in Vienna, especially for art lovers—with more than 60 museums nearby, including the Albertina, famous for its massive print collection;
• If the location is for art aficionados, interiors are for design buffs. Thanks to the talent and skills of the British design studio Conran & Partners, the hotel's style is sophisticated, classy, chic—with rooms evoking the atmosphere of a home-from-home private apartment;
• Brasserie & Bakery restaurant with light, the uncomplicated menu focused on getting the classics just right—expect perfectly prepared wiener schnitzel or marinated duck breast;
• This wouldn't be Vienna if there was no specialty coffee—the roast is made exclusively for the hotel by Naber Kaffee;
• Fresh bakes from an award-winning bakery Gragger & Cie, the local artisan baker. Think wood stove, natural sourdough, no preservatives and baking process fine-tuned by generations-long practice. Yum!
• Toiletries from Molton Brown and handmade organic soaps from the soap manufactury Wolfgang Lederhaas.

What you should know

• Dogs are welcome. The staff will prepare a cozy dog bed as well as dog cookies.
• The hotel doesn't feel like a conventional city hotel—and some amenities expected at such are also missing. For example, there is no fitness center and no swimming pool;
• The rooms are equipped with an espresso machine and a wine fridge—and the wine—four bottles of it—is free (so is beer and non-alcoholic drinks).
• Additional information: this is a 100% smoking-free hotel, Wi-Fi is free. You can check-in any time between 2 PM and 5:30 AM.