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Created by iconic British designer Sir Terence Conran, Das Triest was considered Vienna’s first design hotel when it opened in 1996, offering a modern alternative to 19th-century pomp. Housed in the former stable for the horse-drawn postal service from Vienna to Trieste (used some 300 years ago), the hotel centers around a pretty courtyard that’s open during the warmer months for drinks and dinner. The seventy-two rooms are minimalist, with a beige-on-beige palette, a generous use of pine and white tiled bathrooms with Molton Brown products. The location isn’t great—on a busy street south of the Karlsplatz, a hike from most of the major sights—but the sleek design has held up well, and the rooms are spacious. The popular Silver Bar is a nice place for an aperitif before going out for dinner. Rooms from $415.

WHO SHOULD STAY: Couples and friends traveling together who appreciate a contemporary aesthetic and who won’t miss five-star amenities like turndown service.

WHAT TO KNOW: The city center is about a fifteen-minute walk from the Triest. During the warm months, the courtyard is open until 11 P.M. and can get busy with guests and locals, so if you’re an early or a light sleeper, be sure to request a room on one of the top floors.

WHAT’S NEARBY: Das Triest is close to the Belvedere and the Secession, as well as the Naschmarkt and shops and cafés along the Gumpendorferstrasse.

SEE ALSO: Living Like a Local: Altstadt Boutique: Rathaus Wein & Design.