Hotel Sacher Wien

The Hotel Sacher is one of the great traditional hotels of Europe. It opened in 1876 behind the State Opera, founded by Eduard Sacher, the son of the creator of the Sacher-Torte, and it later became famous under the management of his widow Anna Sacher, who ran it for decades and made it a meeting place for aristocrats, diplomats and artists. It remains privately owned and describes itself as a traditional five-star superior hotel.

There are 152 rooms and suites, each individually designed, in a style that mixes antique furniture, oil paintings, rich fabrics and modern bathrooms and technology. The atmosphere is classic rather than contemporary: plush, quiet and full of history, with many original details in the corridors and public rooms.

Dining is a big part of a stay. Restaurant Rote Bar serves Austrian and international classics in a red velvet room, Restaurant Grüne Bar offers a more refined menu on Thursday to Saturday evenings, and the Blaue Bar is a cosy spot for a cocktail. Café Sacher, home of the Original Sacher-Torte, and the Café Bel Étage are both in the building, and the Salon Sacher is used for events. The Sacher Boutique Spa has massages and beauty treatments, a hammam, a sauna and a fitness room.

The hotel suits couples, honeymooners and travellers who want old-world luxury and an unbeatable central location. It is also a natural choice for opera and concert lovers, with the State Opera literally across the street. Families are welcome, though the style is formal. Book early for the busy seasons around Christmas, New Year and the ball season, when rates rise and rooms sell out.

The hotel is on Philharmoniker Straße between the State Opera and the Albertina. Karlsplatz station (U1, U2, U4) is a minute's walk away, and from there the U4 runs to Wien Mitte, where trains from the airport arrive. Kärntner Straße leads straight to St. Stephen's Cathedral, about ten minutes on foot, and the Hofburg, the Burggarten and the museums of the Ring are all within walking distance.

Even if you are not staying, the hotel's public spaces are worth seeing. A slice of cake in the café or a drink in the Blaue Bar is the easiest way in, and it gives a good sense of the hotel's atmosphere. Vienna adds a local accommodation tax to hotel bills, so check whether the rate you are quoted includes it, and ask about packages that combine a room with opera or concert tickets.