If you wish to indulge in the luxuries of old Vienna, there’s nowhere finer to do so than in Hotel Sacher, a storied establishment that sits amongst the grand museums and galleries at the city’s heart. Of course, this is the birthplace of Austria’s beloved sachertorte, an oh-so-sweet chocolate cake best enjoyed masked with clouds of whipped cream. But your eyes will feast too, on Belle Époque-inspired interiors that shine like glacé fruit – a richly brocaded cherry red foyer, a lime peel green restaurant – or gleam with the snowy intricacy of an old-fashioned wedding cake.
The more restrained bedrooms and suites are a breath of fresh air after the richness and grandeur downstairs, with their pale neutral colour schemes and sizeable windows. Still, even the smaller rooms are decked out with crystal chandeliers and oil paintings (its visionary former owner Anna Sacher was a keen artist), while the suites boast impressive views over the Opera House and its glamorous clientele, as well as elaborate marble-decked bathrooms and chaise longues to swoon over.
In the hotel’s boutique spa, you can have your whole body wrapped in a chocolate mask
Things here could easily feel stiff or intimidating, with photos of famous former clientele from Sharon Stone to JFK surrounding the reception desk and immaculately uniformed staff perpetually standing to attention. Thankfully, though, this family-owned hotel has a genuinely warm and welcoming approach, full of thoughtful touches (from kettles for tea-loving English guests to special organic toiletries for babies) that mean you can make yourself at home as you get a delicious taste of the Viennese high life.
With two restaurants, two cafés and a bar on site, there’s an abundance of spaces to eat and drink like a hungry Hapsburg. You’ll see locals treating themselves to an apricot-tinged Sacher martini in the intimate Blue Bar, shoppers popping in for chocolate cake, or kids delighting in the fruit skewers and cookies at the teddy bear-themed children’s section of the breakfast buffet. The decadence continues in the hotel’s boutique spa, where you can have your whole body wrapped in a rich chocolate mask. Yum.
Neighbourhood
Hotel Sacher sits on the edge of one of Europe’s richest concentrations of museums and galleries. Poke your head out of the door and you'll immediately see Vienna State Opera and stately art gallery Albertina. Keep on wandering and you’ll find a glut of fascinating cultural institutions that’ll satisfy your curiosity, whether you’re into Ancient Egypt, street art, fashion, or just want to learn more about the city's fin-de-siecle glory days as home of Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele.
Nearby
Ringstrasse: There’s no better way to get a sense of Vienna’s rich history than strolling round this ring-shaped thoroughfare. Start at Hotel Sacher and within minutes you’ll reach the green open spaces of Volksgarten, the architectural marvels of Karlplatz, or a host of museums and galleries.
Naschmarkt: This enormous market has been feeding Vienna since the sixteenth century. Today it tempts passersby with fresh seafood, delicate pastries, and towering piles of Turkish delight in every possible flavour. Go hungry.
Albertina: this must-visit art gallery occupies an eighteenth century palace whose grand rooms now house works by Monet, Bruegel and da Vinci.
Time Out tip
With so much to see in Vienna, why not skip afternoon tea and enjoy your obligatory Sachertorte at breakfast? This hotel's extraordinarily lavish buffet has a patisserie section so you can start your day on a sugar high.
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