Palais Hansen Kempinski

Also known as Palais Hansen Kempinski Wien

Built for the 1873 Vienna World Exhibition and converted to a luxury hotel in 2013, the Palais Hansen Kempinski sits on the Ringstrasse at Schottenring, which puts it slightly north of the main opera and museum cluster but directly on the grand boulevard that Emperor Franz Joseph built to showcase Habsburg (the dynasty that ruled Austria for six centuries)

The Palais Hansen Kempinski occupies a Ringstrasse building designed by Theophil Hansen, one of the architects behind Vienna’s grand 19th-century boulevard, originally for the 1873 World Exhibition. Converted to a luxury hotel in 2013, it sits at Schottenring, slightly north of the opera and museum cluster but on the boulevard itself. The building’s historical credentials are genuine rather than cosmetic, which makes it interesting beyond the standard luxury hotel proposition. The rooftop terrace and Cigar Lounge are draws even if you’re not staying. A quieter position than the Imperial or Sacher, with similar architectural weight.