Tried & Tested

Hotel Check: Hotel Imperial

1 Jan 2009 by intern22

WHAT’S IT LIKE? Formerly a royal palace built in 1863 for the Prince of Württemberg’s Viennese stays, it became a hotel a decade later for visitors to the Vienna World Fair. Today, it is the regular choice of visiting royalty and celebrities.

WHERE IS IT? In the historic Ring Boulevard of Vienna, surrounded by some of Central Europe’s most stunning urban architecture and cultural gems, such as the Vienna State Opera.

HOW MANY ROOMS? 76 rooms and 62 suites.

ROOM FACILITIES: All rooms have a colour TV, IDD phone, Wi-Fi and a personal sound system, with a small selection of Viennese classics, of course. The bathrooms are marble, the beds expansive and sleep-inducing, and the furnishings plush and opulent. Unlike many of today’s ultra-standardised new-builds, the Imperial’s guestrooms have a unique character, reflecting the hotel’s origin as a palatial home.

RESTAURANTS: The Café Imperial is sometimes credited as the birthplace of the Viennese coffee-house culture. The Imperial Restaurant, previously the Restaurant zur Majestät (where portraits of Austro-Hungarian emperor Franz Joseph gaze down on the diners), is a sophisticated gourmet restaurant, with a strong emphasis on its Viennese culinary heritage. No visit to the Hotel Imperial would be complete without a taste of Imperial Torte, a milk-chocolate glaze, marzipan and cocoa-cream cake, which was invented the year the hotel opened.

BAR: Bar Maria Theresia is a favourite of the pre-opera and dinner crowds. Friendly bartenders will suggest some premium schnapps to stimulate your palate.

BUSINESS FACILITIES: A modest business centre provides fax and photocopy services, two PC terminals, Wi-Fi and high-speed internet access.

LEISURE FACILITIES: The gym opens from 6am until 11pm.

PRICE: A Classic Room with a king-sized bed is available online at E349 (US$440) per night in February.

VERDICT: A hotel that evokes bygone glories but still manages to deliver the convenience of modern amenities. Its corridors echo with Hapsburg elegance and the butler and concierge service is as impeccable as the building itself.

CONTACT: Kaerntner Ring 16, Vienna 1015, Austria, tel 43 1 501 100, www.starwoodhotels.com

Kenny Coyle


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