Luxury Hotels, Vienna

With the exquisite architecture found throughout Vienna, it’s no secret that you’ll find magnificent luxury hotels sprinkled throughout the city.  Many with a history dating back to the 1800s.

Hotel Sacher

Hotel Sacher… and to think that it all began with dessert!  In 1832, Prince von Metternich asked his apprentice, Franz Sacher, to construct a special dessert.  The outcome was a masterful mix of chocolate, apricot jam, and whipped cream and is known around the world as the Original Sacher-Torte.  Forty-four years later, Franz’s son, Eduard, opens a luxury hotel in the heart of Vienna, rightfully taking on the family surname, Sacher.  Shortly after the last of the Sachers died in 1930, the Gürtler and Siller families took over and restored the beautiful hotel to its original glory.  Throughout WWII, the hotel is taken over by different countries and finally lands back in the hands of its rightful owners.  In 1962, the last Siller died which left the Gürtler family in complete control to the present day.  

“The Sacher Hotel has long been a place where artists, politicians, and personalities meet and mingle. Celebrities from all over the world have been welcomed at the Sacher from its inception until this very day.” 

Georg Gürtler, Owner

It has been a treasured meeting place for many throughout the years such as U.S. President John F. Kennedy, Anna Netrebko, Queen Elizabeth II of England, Sharon Stone, Justin Bieber or Naomi Campbell.  I felt prestigious walking along the same corridors and sipping champagne in the same bars as some of the world’s most renowned!

Hotel Bristol

Another amazing hotel filled with Viennese charm is Hotel Bristol, a Luxury Collection Hotel and party of Marriott Bonvoy.  With its prime real estate next to the Vienna State Opera on Ring Boulevard since 1892, it is a great central location for all the sights Vienna has to offer.  Additionally, its rooms offer some of the best views in Vienna and the rooms are quite the spectacle themselves with their beautiful antiques and modern amenities.  

Within Hotel Bristol is one of my favorite bars in Vienna, The Bristol Bar.  It is the first “American Bar” in Vienna and I love it for its cozy atmosphere (fireplace included) and decor.  The amazing architect, Pierre-Yvess Rochon, stylishly designed the space with chic leopard patterned carpet, friendly wood-paneled walls, and a gentle cognac-colored ceiling while incorporating the Art Deco style of the hotel.  I am not the only person to become infatuated with this watering hole; the walls bear autographed photos of Richard Strauss, Leonard Bernstein, Herbert von Karajan, Rose Kennedy, and Enrico Caruso.

Hotel Imperial

A place designed for a prince, this hotel is dazzling in decor from its immaculate marble to the dangling chandeliers dotting the royal staircase.  It was converted into a hotel in 1873 for Vienna’s World’s Fair. One must try the incredible torte that was created for Emperor Franz Josef, hence the name of the hotel, Imperial.  It’s a secret concoction of marzipan, oranges, and raspberries.  You can find beautiful oil paintings of Franz Josef throughout the hotel.

When visiting Vienna, if you don’t have the luxury to stay in one of these fabulous hotels, at least pop in to marvel at the gorgeous decor and maybe sip on a cocktail.  Cheers to your trip to Vienna!


Antiquing in Vienna

As an interior designer, I absolutely love searching for antiques when traveling!  Vienna and the surrounding countryside did not disappoint in my pursuit for uncommon treasures.  I found numerous items from antlers to chests and I am so excited to present these gems to my clients, maybe even keeping a few for myself.  

You might be thinking how do I get all of these objects back to America?  As I go on these trips for half business half pleasure, I organize for the items to be secured appropriately, packed into a storage container, and shipped to the US.  

Some of the beautiful antiques that I found during this trip were:

  • Antlers. Hundreds of them! From big to small with simple to extremely ornate mounts.  I even found a tray made of antlers.
  • Chests. My favorite was a dazzling Bierdermeier chest with an outstanding wood grain pattern, key holes, and elegantly detailed pulls. 
  • Walking sticks.  Too many to count!  Lightweight to heavy duty. Light to dark in color. Plain to exquisite engravings.

Some of my favorite finds came from an hour outside of Vienna in a town known as St. Polten.  If you love antiquing as much as I do, you will not want to miss this hidden treasure in the Austrian countryside. 

Among one of the oldest auction houses in the world is The Dorotheum Auction House in Vienna. Today, its goal is to put Vienna on the world’s stage as a top auction destination while preserving the heritage that gave it its start. I adored walking and gawking at all the displays!

The early bird catches the worm!  At the crack of dawn every Saturday in Vienna, they have the Naschmarkt.  Some consider it a cult event where the vendors sell antiques, produce, fruit, cheese, flowers, and food from all over the world.  We had a ball searching through all of the stalls locating unique treasures.

Vienna, Austria is an antique lover’s dream so make sure to designate time during your trip for a one of a kind treasure hunt!


Spring Travel to Vienna, Austria

Vienna is absolutely stunning in the spring! I’m freshly home from an amazing trip there and I want to share with you some of the cool things that I experienced.  

There are so many things to do and see in Vienna but my favorite is the music. Vienna is commonly referred to as the city of music; it is bliss for classical music and opera lovers.  I enjoyed getting dressed up and visiting the Vienna State Opera House, one of the best opera houses in the world, for a performance of Tristan und Isolde. I had a wonderful seat in the balcony and never got bored waiting for the show to start because it was so hard to stop looking at the incredible ceiling.  

When you think of Austria, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart must come to mind.  Did you know that the Vienna State Opera House was opened in 1869 with a performance of his “Don Giovanni”?  There is a magnificent statue honoring him just inside the entrance of the Burggarten.

The most noticeable landmark in Vienna is St. Stephen’s Cathedral which towers over the city with its 370 feet tall steeple.  The tower room contains 13 bells and you can walk up its 343 steps for an outstanding view of the city. Construction began in the 12th century and It was rebuilt during the 13th – 15th centuries. Parts of it were destroyed during WWII but it has been restored to its full glory!

For a kaleidoscope of colors and ornamental design, make sure to pop in the St. Perskirche.  It’s alluring on the outside but inside is an array of colors that entertains the senses, taking your breath away.  

There are so many lush green parks in Vienna that are perfect for strolling with a yummy local ice cream in hand.  Everything is so colorful, especially with the cherry blossoms in full bloom.  Vienna is very bike-friendly as there are tons of bike paths so it’s nice to rent a bike to explore the city.


Kelley Astore Interiors

Expert Interior Design & Renovation Services of Every Style.

Where We Work

Northern Virginia, Washington, DC,
and the Greater Washington Area

GET IN TOUCH
Connect

Privacy Settings
We use cookies to enhance your experience while using our website. If you are using our Services via a browser you can restrict, block or remove cookies through your web browser settings. We also use content and scripts from third parties that may use tracking technologies. You can selectively provide your consent below to allow such third party embeds. For complete information about the cookies we use, data we collect and how we process them, please check our Privacy Policy
Youtube
Consent to display content from Youtube
Vimeo
Consent to display content from Vimeo
Google Maps
Consent to display content from Google
Call Now ButtonCall Us For A Quote!