Best Western Premier Hotel Kaiserhof Wien
Over 110 years old and not a wrinkle to show...
The Viennese are famous for their unique character, often described as a joyful devotion to the good life. Difficult to understand from afar, its meaning immediately comes when you walk through the doors of the Best Western Premier Kaiserhof Vienna.
Built in 1896, during the city's great construction boom of the late 19th century, the hotel was one of the most modern of its time, featuring such "avant garde" amenities as hot running water, electricity and lifts. Examples of the hotel's glorious past still abound: the turn-of-the century façade, the sublime stucco work found throughout the building (you are sure to love the sculptures on certain ceilings or pillars), the gilded mirrors and the majestically high ceilings.
The hotel lounge proposes an authentic bookcase, inherited from an age when time and voyage had perhaps other dimensions. Speaking of precious witnesses of past time, the reception presents a marvellous piece of furniture with mechanical clocks giving the right time in other cities of the world. Hotels which use mechanical clocks today are getting quite rare. That sort of "savoir faire" does make sense at the Best Western Premier Kaiserhof Vienna though just as it does in a Rolls Royce (an advertising campaign in the 60s used to explain that the sole noise which could be heard when driving a Rolls Royce was the ticking of the mechanical clock…).
Another feature of the hotel that goes back to its inception is the tradition of quality and hospitality. This is perhaps because of the hotel's roots. Its builder, Robert Mayerhof, and his family were close friends of the Archduchess Marie Therese. She played an instrumental role in convincing her brother-in-law, none other than the Emperor Franz Joseph, to let the hotel use the name Kaiserhof. The Emperor himself even sojourned at the hotel, commenting with regal understatement upon departure: "It was very nice. I had a pleasant time."
The hotel's close ties to nobility, its architecture and its state-of-the art amenities, made it a favourite destination for the prosperous classes. It was even mentioned in the 1913 edition of the famous Baedeker handbook, the bible for early 20th century European travellers. Today, the Best Western Premier Kaiserhof Vienna continues to extend a regal welcome to all its guests. The current owners' family have been in the hospitality business for over eight generations.
The well appointed and spacious rooms let you experience imperial Vienna to its fullest. The cheerful colours and rich fabrics recall the summertime ambiance and Rococo romanticism of the Schönbrunn Palace. The attention to comfort extends right down to the beds which can be lengthened to accommodate taller guests. They are called Kaiserhof beds, in reference to the very tall Emperor Franz Joseph.
The hotel staff prides itself on making you feel at home the moment you enter the hotel. Do not be surprised if they remember what you drink at breakfast. Treat yourself to local specialities such as Kipferl at the magnificent imperial breakfast buffet, served in the stately main dining room that runs the length of the front of the hotel. The decorations mix crystal and glass, brass and fine paintings. Savour the true flavour of Vienna by indulging in the late afternoon coffee and pastry ritual in the hotel's cozy lounge. It is also the perfect place to plan the next day's activities over a glass of Austrian wine.
The hotel is located in the heart of Vienna, on a quiet side street near the Karlsplatz with its famous Otto Wagner Pavilions, which were originally designed as a station for the city's subway system. A little further away is the Secession. With its cubic lines, Assyrian towers and gilded dome it caused great controversy when it was built (in the same year as the hotel). Fittingly it today houses the city's Exhibition Hall of Modern Art.
A stay at the Best Western Premier Kaiserhof Vienna is a quintessentially Viennese experience: dedication to the good life, delivered with an effortless mix of courteous formality and friendly exuberance.
| Best Western Premier Hotel Kaiserhof Wien |
| Frankenberggasse 10, Vienna, Austria - A-1040 |
| Phone: +43 (0) 1 5051701 Fax: +43 (0) 1 505887588 |