Hotel Motto Vienna occupies an imposing corner building on Mariahilfer Straße, Vienna’s main shopping street. The building has been welcoming guests since 1665, when it opened as Zum goldenen Kreuz, and later became the Hotel Kummer. The Strauss family lived here. Revitalised in 2021, it is now a 91-room boutique hotel with one Michelin Key that mixes Parisian 1920s flair with Viennese architecture and a little punk-rock attitude. The owner is one of Vienna’s most respected caterers, and that hospitality instinct runs through the whole property.
The Arrival
The ground floor makes an immediate impression. Plush pink sofas and original crystal chandeliers bought at auction from Vienna’s former Ritz, and walls hand-painted by Andrea Ferolla with playful scenes of city life. At the bottom of the magnificent staircase that flows up through the entire property is a striking art installation. There is a lot going on, but it is fun rather than fussy. The lifts continue the theatrical mood with classic bronze interiors and an old-fashioned arrow above the exterior doors that swings from floor to floor, channelling the spirit of the fictional Grand Budapest Hotel.
Check-in is streamlined if you use the online pre-arrival service, so it is simply a case of verifying ID and accepting a welcome glass of bubbles or a G&T. The team dress in bespoke uniforms designed by Styrian fashion designer Lena Hoschek, using prints lifted directly from the hotel interiors. It is a gloriously eccentric touch.
The Room
We stayed in a Deluxe room. It was compact, and with so many bold design elements, it felt just a little busy. Heavily fringed lampshades, fabric-covered walls, richly coloured velvet furniture. A cocktail trolley stocked with gin, vodka and Negroni on a vintage brass table, with fresh lemon and lime ready to mix. A Roberts vintage radio sat on the desk, all wood casing and warm sound, adding a nostalgic touch that suited the room perfectly. The bathroom opens into the main room, partitioned by curtains if you want privacy, with the WC in a separate space behind a proper door. The shower was well designed with proper doors, so no water spilt onto the floor, as is often the case in hotels.
The bedding was excellent, with the option of individual duvets or a double, a thoughtful touch. The bathroom amenities came in creative packaging, with everything from a comb to collagen eye patches.
For more space, the Suite Junior, and Art Deluxe categories offer kitchenettes and larger bathrooms better suited to longer stays.
The Design
The interiors mix Parisian 1920s romanticism with Viennese period architecture and Scandinavian touches. Floral patterns, rugs, tiles and lampshades are all made to measure by Arkan Zeytinoglu Architects. Original vintage furniture sits alongside the mural artworks by acclaimed Italian fashion illustrator Andrea Ferolla in the lobby and restaurant. His flirtatious silhouettes dance across the walls like a cast of characters from a very stylish party. The eight Art Deluxe rooms feature exclusive graffiti art by Sasha Knezevic on mirrored walls. It’s edgy, witty and entirely in keeping with the hotel’s irreverent streak. Another nice detail in the rooms is that the TVs are hidden behind a vintage-style, aged mirror, which keeps the design coherent.
The building itself has many stories to tell. It has housed hotels since 1665, when it opened as Zum goldenen Kreuz. It later became Hotel Kummer, a gathering place for artists, writers and musicians. The Strauss family lived here too. During the Allied occupation, the French requisitioned it from 1945 to 1955, which makes the Parisian design thread feel very much part of the building’s heritage.
Chez Bernard
The highlight of the stay, without question. Chez Bernard, the 7th-floor restaurant, is one of the hottest tables in Vienna, and deservedly so. It is hugely popular with residents, and the combination of food, service, atmosphere and setting is hard to beat.
The room is elegant and buzzing, with a warmth that combines classic style with a youthful, conspiratorial energy. The bar area is double height, rising into a modern white and glass dome structure that has been built above the roofline of this classic Viennese building. Lush greenery is everywhere. Step up to the next level, and you are on the open-air rooftop terrace, decorated with chic fringed parasols shading tables set in front of a stylish bar, with additional creative touches like the bold photography of Mexican artist Victoria Barmak. It’s the place for panoramic city views and a mid-century look that evokes a touch of Palm Springs over the rooftops of Vienna.
We started at the inside bar with cocktails. The aperitif list includes classics like Kir Royales and Bellinis to Negroni Sbagliatos and Lillet Spritz, alongside Crémant de Bourgogne and Champagne. The menu is French-inspired with strong Austrian influences and local ingredients. We shared the fritti misti of octopus, prawns, cod, calamari and sand smelts with wasabi mayo, and the veal liver pâté with pink pepper, cornichons and toasted Motto brioche, flavourful and uncomplicated. My companion had the gnocchi à la Parisienne with spinach, Parmesan and beurre noisette. I had the chateaubriand with wild broccoli jus. Both were excellent. The service from the team was attentive, polished and genuinely friendly.
Breakfast the next morning was equally good. We chose to eat again in Chez Bernard, enjoying excellent coffee from a classic espresso machine, the croque monsieur on Motto brioche, and freshly baked, flaky croissants from the Motto Brot bakery downstairs. The menu includes shakshuka and avocado toast to a sharing breakfast for two with scrambled eggs, salmon, camembert, honey, homemade nougat cream and Motto bread. Owner Bernd Schlacher, one of Vienna’s most respected restaurateurs and host of the Balls in the Imperial Palace. He even brews his own beer, Brewdi, from leftover bakery bread. It is that kind of creative place.
The Location
Hotel Motto Vienna sits on Mariahilfer Straße, a mainly residential and retail district with chain stores, some independent shops, and the Haus des Meeres aquarium nearby. The Neubaugasse U3 metro stop is right next door, making getting around easy. The Naschmarkt, MuseumsQuartier and Ringstraße are all within a 10-minute walk. The monumental old town is not really in walking distance, but one metro ride takes you there in minutes.
Final Thought
Hotel Motto Vienna is a hotel with serious personality and a mischievous streak. The rooms are compact but cleverly designed, and the design is bold enough to possibly divide opinion. But Chez Bernard alone, the destination restaurant on the 7th floor, makes it well worth a stay.
