Being driven through the historic centre of Vienna is a memorable arrival to any stay, and that’s just one of dozens of experiences possible at Rosewood Vienna.
The 99-key hotel soft-opened 1st August, and already it’s talk of the town. This is heritage, a conversion of five adjacent historic buildings on Petersplatz dating back to the 15th century. In 1815 the quintet became Erste österreichische Spar-Casse, which evolved into the headquarters for mighty Erste Bank.
The hotel is owned by Erste Group Bank, which is making its first investment in the lodging space. Group Chairman Stefan Dörfler is a mathematician by training. It’s fair to assume he has thus worked out that with such an investment it’s well worth spending on style.
As you check in upstairs, on the first floor, look up, at the real gold leaf ceiling. Move a few steps to the next room, to Aurelie, a 16-seat parlour for afternoon tea, or for that Austrian pastime, any-time tea and cake, often with lashes of cream. Aurelie’s walls portray a wrap-around fantasia of flora and fauna. Somewhat in the post-Impressionist style of French artist Henri Rousseau, these were hand-painted, in situ, by local artist Marie Hartig. She was inspired by Vienna’s Palmenhaus, a large 1903-vintage conservatory that’s become a popular modern brasserie.
Go further up the hotel, to its own Neue Hoheit Brasserie. It’s on the sixth-floor rooftop, and is indoors and outdoors. This is the place to try local, say Wienerschnitzel and a big tankard of Ottakringer, from the family-owned brewery in Ottakring, a few kilometres away (if you want more bubbles, stylish MD of Rosewood Vienna, Alexander Lahmer, would suggest going upstairs for a chilled crystal coupe of Louis Roederer, Rosé probably).
To heritage add zany-today. Who would think, bearing in mind Austria’s long winters, it was worth investing in a modern eyrie, mostly outdoors? Erste Group did. So the building’s rooftop has gained a brand-new rooftop, on what is technically the eighth floor. It’s the ideal venue for intimate weddings or merely a toast, perhaps by oneself, soaking up the 360° panorama of Vienna’s skyline.
Bedroom sizes range from 31 sqm up to the 180 sqm Presidential Suite, with dining for eight. Throughout, English designer Alexander Waterworth has been well versed in Rosewood nuance. No sock-it-to-you colours here but blends of hues, backgrounds for, say, slippers covered in the same fabrics as drapes. The closet’s walk-in. You have ingredients and instructions for making a Styrian Negroni, in South Austria style. About a dozen hardbacks seem to have been perfectly chosen.
To heritage add zany-today. Who would think, bearing in mind Austria’s long winters, it was worth investing in a modern eyrie, mostly outdoors? Erste Group did. So the building’s rooftop has gained a brand-new rooftop, on what is technically the eighth floor. It’s the ideal venue for intimate weddings or merely a toast, perhaps by oneself, soaking up the 360° panorama of Vienna’s skyline.
Visit this craftsman at Scheer Masschuhe, three minutes’ walk from the hotel. You can, in fact, window-shop, and buy, whatever, in the immediate vicinity. Louis Vuitton is a neighbour and every brand under the luxury sun is within easy reach. And for more of the experiences that new luxury demands, the Spanish Riding School and, also, the Opera House are under ten minutes, by car – or by horse-drawn carriage.
Mary Gostelow publishes the daily girlahead.com and a unique weekly 15-minute industry Mary Gostelow Girlahead Podcast, both part of Almont Global.
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