Chic Mystique: The Top Unique Vienna Hotels

Photo courtesy Hotel Rathaus Wein & Design Wien 

On the lookout for a unique place to stay in the Austrian capital? Check out Contributor Rossana Wyatt’s list of the top most unique hotels in Vienna.

Updated Nov 21, 2022 / Commissions may be earned from our affiliate partner links

Vienna Austria is a popular European travel destination filled with countless cultural sights and a diverse range of experiences. Known as The City of Music, culture and art are a big part of Vienna’s unique heritage, along with stunning architecture and historical landmarks.

Visitors can choose from a delightful range of luxury accommodations, including palace, spa, and unique Vienna hotels. A charming and walkable city, Vienna also offers a vibrant epicurean scene. In elegant restaurants and opulent coffee houses, visitors can enjoy some of the best food and drink in Austria.

Whether you choose to stay in a former palace, a boutique inn, or spa retreat, make the most of your time in Wien. Here are some of our favorite most unique hotels in Vienna.

The Top Unique Hotels in Vienna

Hotel Gilbert   

The family run Hotel Gilbert is one of the most unique hotels in Vienna, Austria. This small, sophisticated boutique hotel has recently undergone a refurbishing and is ideally located in the center of the city near the Ringstrasse.

The property has been designed to keep the utmost comfort and style of the guests in mind. The open lobby is a wonderland of greenery – natural light bathes the atrium space and lends to the feeling of a green oasis.

The modern, natural decor of the guest rooms follow the clean lines and comfortable style of the hotel, where “True luxury is in the tiniest of details.” The hotel’s café, Gilbert and Flora, continues the greenery decor and atmosphere, and is a soothing place where guests can relax and enjoy their meals.

Reviews, Rates, & Reservations: To find out more, visit Hotel Gilbert.

Magdas Hotel

Easy going, open-minded, and bold – that is the Magdas Hotel. One of the most unique hotels in Vienna, it is one of Austria’s first social business hotels operated by refugees under the guidance of tourism professionals.

The Magdas Hotel was set up by the charity Caritas to provide employment and training opportunities for Vienna’s refugees. People from all over the world come together as guests, employees, and friends.

The hotel has also done an incredible job incorporating upcycled elements into their decor. Rooms feature color concepts brought in by Architect Daniel Büchel and are decorated with recycled furniture with individual design elements. These include hand-knitted lampshades, vintage armchairs, and wardrobes that have come from the compartments of the Austrian Federal Railway trains.

The hotel is located between the Green Prater and the Danube Canal in Vienna’s 2nd district and is surrounded by greenery. The KunstHausWien Museum and the Praterstern Transportation Hub are nearby.

Enjoy a beautiful breakfast in their spacious, lush garden before setting off for your day. For a special local treat, try their own honey made from the bees on their roof.

Reviews, Rates, & Reservations: For more details, visit Magdas Hotel.

Arthotel ANA Amadeus

The 30 room Arthotel ANA Amadeus is located in the 1st district of Vienna in the heart of the Austrian capital. This unique Vienna hotel is a 6-minute walk from both Saint Stephen’s Cathedral and the Hofburg Imperial Palace, with trendy boutiques and luxury shopping nearby.

The property has earned Trip Advisor’s Certificate of Excellence because of their commitment to excellence from service to décor, and the red and white color scheme adds a touch of passion and excitement to the decor of the guest rooms. In keeping with Vienna’s rich musical heritage, music-themed elements throughout the hotel add to the design of the elegant rooms and common areas.

Continental breakfast is provided daily for guests. While there is no onsite restaurant, there are several amazing cafés and restaurants within walking distance.

Reviews, Rates, & Reservations: For more details, visit Arthotel ANA Amadeus.

Hotel Jäger

Located in the Hernals district of Vienna, the Hotel Jäger is steps away from the Hernals rapid transit station and tram station and is situated perfectly for city tours and excursions into the Viennese Forest. The city center can be reached in 15 minutes via tram 43.

One of the most unique hotels in Vienna, the Hotel Jäger has been family owned and operated by the Jäger family since 1911. The 18 room, three story property offers the unique ambience of an Art Nouveau villa surrounded by an idyllic garden. Each of its rooms and suites is tastefully furnished.

In the summer, guests can enjoy a buffet breakfast of seasonal delights on the garden terrace. Vegan and gluten-free breakfast items are available, as well as lactose-free milk and soy milk for those with restricted diets.

The Bodulo restaurant is within a 5 minutes’ walk of the property, where guests can enjoy European, Mediterranean, and Croatian meals. The hotel’s bar and lounge area offers guests an opportunity to enjoy relaxing moments after a day out exploring.

Rates, & Reservations: Find more details, visit Hotel Jäger.

Altstadt Vienna

Located in a renovated, historic building in the popular Spittelberg quarter, the sleek Altstadt Vienna is one of the most popular and unique hotels in Vienna. A collection of contemporary art – all original works by famous artists – is displayed throughout the property.

The artwork adds to the cozy, eclectic, modern, and stylish feel of the boutique hotel, which is accentuated by a fireplace in the lobby. Each of the guest rooms is unique, with no two rooms or suites designed in the same way. Room design was created by different designers from all over the world – all implementing the cozy, stylish, and sunny feel carried throughout the hotel.

Between March to October, there is a rooftop terrace with a self-service coffee machine available for guests, and throughout the year there is a cool salon bar onsite with an excellent list of Viennese wines. The Altstadt Vienna has also been rumored to have the best hotel breakfast in Vienna. Enjoy simple but good, hearty food to start your day.

Reviews, Rates, & Reservations: To find out more, visit Altstadt Vienna.

Ruby Lissi Hotel & Bar

Located in the heart of Vienna just minutes by foot to the Danube Canal and the Schwedenplatz U-Bahn station, we find the Ruby Lissi Hotel & Bar. This unique Vienna hotel is housed in a NeoClassical building that was once a monastery.

The hotel is named after the well-travelled Empress Elisabeth (Lissi), and the lobby area has a travel theme inspired by the numerous travels of the hotel’s namesake. Travel design elements incorporated throughout the lobby include items taken from old railway wagons, steam ships, and hot air balloons.

The wood wall paneling throughout also reflects the elegance of an earlier era. Vintage-style suitcases, a tufted red velveteen circular sofa, and a tongue-in-cheek “Departures” board add fun to the decor.

The hotel offers what they call “Lean Luxury,” a unique, safe, and luxurious experience at an affordable price – cutting out the superfluous and focusing on the essential. Rooms have a luxurious feel with wooden floors, cherry wood paneling, and wonderful fabrics, along with  perfect lighting. Each room also comes with its own Marshall amp speaker and a tablet PC with an integrated online concierge.

The hotel bar operates 24/7, where guests can enjoy a selection of Italian antipasti and snacks, beverages, and selected wines, and the musically inclined can even borrow an electric guitar.

Reviews, Rates, & Reservations: For more information visit the Ruby Lissi Hotel & Bar.

Arthotel ANA Gala I Wien

Located in Vienna’s Alsergrund district, the 4-star Arthotel ANA Gala is only a 3-minute walk from the Nußdorfer Straße Metro Station. You can reach the city center in 25 minutes via transit, and the hotel provides seasonal free bike rentals.

The elegant and stylish guest rooms and suites are generously proportioned. Harmonious colours create a relaxing environment and an oasis to retreat to after a long day exploring all the fun things to do in Vienna.

There is a breakfast bar for guests each morning. Guests can also enjoy European, Austrian, and Central European meals at the nearby Kaffee Konditorei Monarchie.

Reviews, Rates, & Reservations: Visit Arthotel ANA Gala I Wien for more details.

Hotel Rathaus Wein & Design Wien

The Hotel Rathaus Wein & Design Wien is located just behind the Vienna City Hall, the Austrian Parliament, and the Ringstrasse. This is one of the most unique hotels in Vienna – especially for wine lovers.

Every afternoon and evening wine and snacks are served in the wine-lounge, the courtyard garden, or on the upper floor terrace. Here, individual wine tastings along with antipasto in the winter garden are a specialty, and every month a “Vintner of the Month” is featured at the wine bar.

Each of the 39 rooms at the Hotel Rathaus Wein & Design Wien is named after an Austrian winemaker, with the specific vintner’s labels silk screened on each door to identify the room. For a special touch, the mini bar inside each room carries the wines from the room’s namesake.

The decor details are Euro-Modern, with each room furnished slightly differently. Rooms are sleek with minimalist wood furnishings and large windows that let in an abundance of light. Trendy bathrooms feature wine-based cosmetics. For a little extra indulgence, reserve the large attic suite, complete with a beautiful, private rooftop terrace.

Reviews, Rates, & Reservations: For more details, visit Hotel Rathaus Wein & Design.

Theaterhotel Wien

The Theaterhotel Wien is another of the unique hotels in Vienna, located in the city centre just a few minutes from the historic district. Many of the city’s main attractions are within a 20-minute walk of the hotel.

This charming boutique hotel has 54 traditionally decorated rooms, with contemporary touches added throughout. All come with their own kitchenette. The private bathrooms have deep soaking bathtubs, perfect for soothing and relaxing after a long day out exploring.

The hotel has a close connection to the historic Theater in der Josefstadt, initially established to bring in customers to the former tavern where the Theatrehotel now stands. Guests were drawn by such illustrious personalities such as Ludwig van Beethoven or Johann Strauß.

Theaterhotel Wien has a very retro feel… the Belcanto bar is like stepping back in time, complete with red leather bar stools. Intermezzo, the hotel’s coffee bar, sits at the front of the hotel opening to a bright garden terrace. For an extra fee, guests can enjoy the large buffet breakfast available daily.

The on-site spa has a sauna, solarium, and treatments for pampering during your stay. A concierge service can help organize daily activities in the city.

Reviews, Rates, & Reservations: For more information, visit Theaterhotel Wien.

Austria Trend Hotel Astoria

The Austria Trend Hotel Astoria is centrally located and is ideally situated near Karntner Strasse, Vienna’s most popular street for shopping and strolling. It is also exactly 193 steps from the hotel to the Vienna State Opera. Built in the early 1900s, the property suffered some damage during WWII, but has been renovated several times since.

Just past the grand exterior, the elegant classic decor of the interior carries on the old-world feeling. Guest rooms exemplify Vienna’s culture of gemütlichkeit – ultimate cosiness, comfort, and relaxation.

The large, comfortable rooms include classic, turn of the century furniture and a pillow menu for ultimate pillow comfort. The elegance is carried through to the spacious marble bathrooms.

The hotel has no restaurant on-site, but there is a bar as well as a breakfast room. A daily buffet continental breakfast is served every morning.

Reviews, Rates, & Reservations: Visit Austria Trend Hotel Astoria for more details.

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Contributor Rossana Wyatt is a travel blogger specializing in family and solo travel that includes teens and the 50+, as well as specialty diets. She is also a member of the International Travel Writers’ Alliance). Visit her website at www.lifeisfullofadventures.com