Hotel Imperial

Housed in an imposing eggshell-yellow palace built as a private residence in 1863, the Imperial is one of the city's most historic properties—but its décor has seen better days.

• The soaring lobby with its massive chandeliers and dramatic staircase
• The excellent concierge team
• The central location right on the Ring Boulevard

As soon as guests arrive at the Imperial, they are surrounded by turn-of-the-century elegance. The soaring lobby, complete with a mezzanine, channels the opulence of the Austro-Hungarian empire with a stucco ceiling, glittering chandeliers and a sweeping red velvet staircase adorned with large portraits of Empress Elisabeth and Emperor Franz Joseph. (It’s hard to imagine that at the end of World War II, when Vienna was divided into Allied zones, Russian soldiers used part of the hotel as a stable; miraculously, the Imperial was hardly damaged, except for a Cyrillic word etched into the colored marble wall that’s visible as you head up the stairs.)

The 138  rooms—those on the lower floors have ultrahigh ceilings—exemplify 19th-century pomp, and are due for a renovation. The multi-colored marble bathrooms are spacious, and most come with a shower and a freestanding tub. The hotel’s location, on the Ring boulevard, means that the Imperial does not have the panoramic city views that guests enjoy from the top-floor rooms of the Sacher.

The staff is professional and efficient, and the concierge team is top-notch, though overall, the atmosphere feels less personal than at the family-owned Sacher. Those staying in junior suites and higher categories are assigned a butler who takes care of everything from unpacking luggage to ironing the morning paper (this is Vienna, after all).

When the rooms at the Hotel Imperial receive a renovation, this property will no doubt be one of Vienna's best once again.

Read Upon Arrival Vienna to discover points of interest within a few blocks of the hotel.