One of my favorite hotel stays is Hotel Altstadt Vienna, a boutique hotel and member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World. Many of my wow moments in Vienna included my stay at Hotel Altstadt Vienna.
I have been fortunate to stay at so many amazing hotels. Some stand out for their over-the-top luxury, others for their hospitality, and others for how welcome they make me feel. Each is different. One of my favorite hotel stays is Hotel Altstadt Vienna. Altstadt is a boutique hotel and a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World. I adored exploring Vienna, Austria, and a big part of my wow moments in Vienna included my stay at Hotel Altstadt Vienna.
Why Hotel Altstadt Vienna is Special
Hotel Altstadt is in Vienna’s 7th district, known as the Neubau district. The hotel is in the Spittelberg quarter of the Neubau, tucked behind the Museumquartier. Spittelberg, like most of the Neubau, is a colorful art district. It was once almost abandoned and has been rebuilt over the past century.
Hotel Altstadt is within walking distance of the Museumquartier in Vienna. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham
The Spittelberg has narrow streets filled with art galleries, boutiques, and small restaurants. We felt as if we were living in a neighborhood during the few days we stayed. We wandered the streets, walked to the museums, sat in local cafés, and ate dinner in tiny restaurants opening onto quiet streets. Be sure to check out my article on some of my favorite coffee shops in Vienna.
I really enjoyed this creative hotel, which seamlessly blends contemporary boutique design with an art gallery, while delivering top-notch hospitality. Hotel Altstadt Vienna is filled with wow moments for so many reasons.
Rooms at Hotel Altstadt Vienna
Every room and suite at Hotel Altstadt Vienna is different. The hotel brought in top designers to style the rooms. You get a sense of the blending of old and new in the hotel. I felt the same juxtaposition as I wandered Vienna, so it felt especially appropriate at the hotel.
The hotel is small, with 45 rooms over four floors. It has a beautiful staircase that took me back to another era. Yes, there is an elevator, so you can easily transport your luggage, but I so enjoyed walking down that staircase and taking in all of the artwork.
The beautiful staircase at Hotel Altstadt Vienna. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham
We entered on the ground level and took the elevator up one floor to the reception desk. The salon and breakfast rooms are also off that first floor. I loved all the mix of tiles, textures, and color throughout the hotel.
Reception area and entrance to the salons at Hotel Altstadt Vienna. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham
I had no idea what to expect from our room, but I was delighted. The hotel offers single rooms, double rooms, and suites ranging from Medium (M) to Extra-Extra Large (XXL). They ushered us to #78, the Josef Frank Suite.
We stayed in Suite 78, the Josef Frank Suite, at Hotel Altstadt Vienna. Photo courtesy of Hotel Altstadt Vienna
Josef Frank was an Austrian-born architect and designer who fled to Sweden in 1933. In Sweden, he worked designing for Svenskt Tenn. Jennie Pineus, Director of Svenskt Tenn’s Interior Designstudio, designed our suite.
Our suite brought me joy. I honestly could have stayed for weeks and felt at home. I loved the textiles in the room. They were fun and quirky. The fabric-clad 522 cabinet was a classic Frank design.
Fabric-clad 522 cabinet designed by Josef Frank in Suite 78 at Hotel Altstadt in Vienna. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham
My favorite piece was the desk chair. I sat down at the desk each day and journaled about my Viennese explorations.
Desk chair in the Josef Frank Suite. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham
If I return to stay at Hotel Altstadt, I’d love a chance to check out the suite that was across the hall from us. Suite #77, the Bösendorfer Suite, houses a classic Bösendorfer concert piano. I’ve been playing the piano since I was seven years old. That would be a dream fulfilled—playing a classic concert piano in Vienna—but I’m not all that great, so having the privacy of my hotel room would be great.
Across the hall from us was the Bösendorfer Suite. Photo courtesy of Hotel Altstadt Vienna
Also important: if you visit during the summer months, all rooms and suites at Altstadt are air-conditioned. You also have a minibar, hairdryer, bathrobe, television, and safe.
Dining at Hotel Altstadt Vienna
Vienna has so many great places to eat, but I really enjoyed our breakfast and afternoon tea at Hotel Altstadt. Yes, I said breakfast. It was simply divine.
You don’t want to miss breakfast—and there’s no reason not to. Hotel Altstadt serves up breakfast until 11 AM during the week and until 11:30 AM on the weekends. I can’t say enough good about the breakfast. They serve it up in the salon, and you can select anything you like from the massive buffet and order made-to-order items. They have a beautiful granola bar. They also have homemade croissants with locally made marmalade. The bread, cheese, and fruit are divine. On our first morning, I had simple, tasty champagne-poached eggs. And the best part? Breakfast is included for hotel guests. Non-hotel guests can also enjoy breakfast for a charge.
The breakfast salon at Hotel Altstadt in Vienna. Photo courtesy of Hotel Altstadt Vienna
Hotel Altstadt has more than one salon. Several are on the reception floor, and each offers plenty to do, whether you want to relax, play games, have a glass of wine, or enjoy a cup of coffee or tea.
We enjoyed reading the newspaper in the salon, and I loved browsing the fun items on the shelves.
We enjoyed checking out the books and artwork in the salon at Hotel Altstadt Vienna. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham
My favorite was the Red Salon. We spent some time there using the Wi-Fi and just soaking up the atmosphere.
My husband Bill relaxing in the Red Salon at Hotel Altstadt Vienna. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham
We also enjoyed afternoon tea in the Red Salon. Every afternoon from noon until 6 PM, you can order tea or coffee. I suggest going between 4 and 6 PM, when you can get a piece of homemade cake made fresh at nearby Bernadette’s Bakery. I can still taste that cake and coffee I had. One day I enjoyed coffee; the next, I ordered tea. It really was exquisite. One evening, we stopped in for a glass of wine before dinner and had a great time tasting Austrian wines from the nearby Wachau Valley.
We enjoyed afternoon tea and coffee with cake in the Red Salon at Hotel Altstadt Vienna. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham
Wow Moments Near Hotel Altstadt Vienna
We loved being able to walk to the nearby shops, boutiques, restaurants, and museums. I recommend purchasing a Vienna City Card during your stay. You can purchase one for 24, 48, or 72 hours. It covers public transportation and offers discounts at dozens of museums. You can add the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus and even an airport transfer. The best part is that you can purchase this before you leave home or at the train station or airport in Vienna. It’s definitely a bargain for your visit to Vienna.
There’s a lot to see and do during your visit to Vienna.
I loved that you could wind down in the cobbled side streets in the Spittelberg district. One night, we opted for a traditional Viennese dinner with schnitzel and red cabbage. It was good, but I also wanted a chance to try something new. We asked the concierge at Hotel Altstadt, and they recommended nearby Durchhaus. It was a fairytale setting, complete with a hidden guest garden. You can sit indoors in the restaurant, which feels a bit like a modern Austrian farmhouse, or outside on the trellis-covered patio. It was cool and rainy the night we were there, so we sat indoors. The food was fabulous and fresh, modern takes on traditional Viennese cuisine.
Definitely walk to the Museumquartier and explore there. I also recommend visiting the nearby Austrian National Library.
Susan in the Austrian National Library. Photo by Bill Graham
The library began in 1368 and is extraordinary, housing more than 12 million volumes, some dating back to the 14th century. We toured the State Hall, which normally costs €8. However, with the Vienna City Card, admission is €7.
Austrian National Library in the Hofburg in Vienna. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham
We also discovered a nice little coffee shop down the street. Café Eiles is at the corner of Josefstädterstrasse and Landesgerichtsstrasse at Josefstädterstrasse 2. The café dates back to the mid-1800s. Originally, it was famous among artists. Then the Imperial Assembly Hall opened across the street in 1883, making the café popular with politicians.
I loved the local crowd at Café Eiles. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham
Café Eiles was remodeled and refurnished in 1933 and retains that same feel even today. A beautiful remodel in 2016 restored it to that feel it had in its heyday. I loved the coffee and found the food to be typical Austrian fare, fresh, and priced much lower than the tourist spots.
If You Stay at Hotel Altstadt Vienna
I really enjoyed my stay at Hotel Altstadt Vienna. It is an easy addition to my list of Best Hotel Stays. I encourage you to check it out and book a stay during your visit to Vienna.
I had a great time picking out my 50 best hotel stays. Hotel Altstadt Vienna made my bucket-list trip to the city even more magical. I loved the warmth and hospitality combined with a fresh take on a beautiful historic building. Be sure to check out more on Wander about visiting Austria. No matter where your travels take you, we also have great hotel suggestions.
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