Best Design Hotels in Innere Stadt

Mandarin Oriental, Vienna marks the Group’s debut in Austria, bringing its world-renowned service and refined aesthetic to the city’s prestigious First District. The hotel features 138 rooms and suites, set within a heritage-listed Art Nouveau building originally designed by Alfred Keller in 1908. The interiors blend historical grandeur with contemporary sophistication, creating a sense of timeless luxury.

Guests can dine in elegant restaurants and bars celebrating Vienna’s culinary artistry, or unwind in The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, offering holistic treatments inspired by both Eastern and European traditions. The property also houses a state-of-the-art fitness centre, tranquil wellness spaces, and meeting venues that combine classic Viennese architecture with modern comfort. Situated on Riemergasse, moments from St Stephen’s Cathedral and Vienna State Opera, this new landmark offers a serene urban retreat infused with the city’s rich cultural legacy.

Rosewood Vienna is an exquisitely designed hotel set across four interconnected 19th-century buildings on Petersplatz, in the heart of Vienna’s gilded Old Town, where Mozart once lived. The bespoke interiors thoughtfully pay homage to the design heritage of the city. The top floor Neue Hoheit Restaurant, and THE1835 rooftop bar offer panoramic views across the city’s domes and spires.

Situated in the city centre between two parks, Le Meridien Vienna is a luxury hotel with an emphasis on combining modern design with ultimate comfort. The rooms are chic, calm and welcoming. There’s a superbly designed fitness centre and spa with its own swimming pool, and you can also book a massage, wellness treatment or session with a personal trainer. There are two lounges – one with a DJ or live music in the evenings, while the other is a little more relaxed and has a champagne bar.

This 19th-century neo-baroque Palais on the Ringstrasse overlooks the Stadtpark. Recently unveiled after a huge renovation, it features interior design by Jaime Beriestain. There are now 80 suites and 31 bedrooms, with the Vienna Art Suite offering the penthouse experience in shades of beige and gold with a huge carved wooden headboard. Unwind in the Almanac’s two-floor wellness centre, with its 46-foot indoor pool and thermal waters; grab a coffee in the Viennese-style Elias Coffee Shop; and dine in the Alpine-style Donnerskarkt Restaurant & Bar, where plant-based cooking is at the fore.

Do and Co is located right in front of St. Stephen’s cathedral, a stone’s throw from the Opera and Vienna’s best shopping streets – a really superb location. One of the smaller luxury hotels in Vienna Do and Co has a restaurant on the top floor of the hotel with stunning views. The Onyx bar is very popular, and it too has amazing views of the cathedral. The restaurant covers traditional Viennese dishes but it also specialises in sushi, sashimi and fresh fish.

If a boutique hotel is more your kind of thing, the Guesthouse is a member of the Design Hotels group, with Conran-designed interiors. The design ethos is manifest in a relaxed, calm but luxurious hotel that is modern and uncluttered, yet superbly comfortable. The location is right in the middle of the city, behind the Opera. Dogs are welcome, with a free bed and dog cookies provided, and every room has its own espresso machine.