What it is

Tucked within four ornate palaces built between 1865 and 1871: 201 guest rooms, an indoor pool with underwater music, a Susanne Kaufmann spa, and an 8th-floor rooftop bar.

What it isn't

Minimalist. Rooms feel fresh, but the hotel’s recent revamp wisely stayed within Art Nouveau parameters, and the resulting spaces are nothing short of cinematic.

What we think

If coffered ceilings with gold-gilt details, twinkling chandeliers and gleaming parquet floors set your pulse racing, The Ritz-Carlton, Vienna, is your (literal) palace. Architecture junkies flock to this collection of four palais buildings, including one inspired by Rome’s Palazzo Farnese and another originally designed to recreate the sumptuous look of a 19th century British social club. We love that guest rooms are enormous, reportedly the largest in town (and starting at 409 square feet, in a starter “deluxe” room). Book a Deluxe Balcony Room for your own private balcony peeping out on the cityscape, or splurge on the royal-worthy 2,045-square-foot Presidential Suite, which exudes 19th century grandeur (note the frescoed, carved-wood ceilings).

You're here because

You’re a locavore, through and through, and the spa here culls its herbal ingredients from deep in Austria’s Bregenz Forest.

The Moment

There’s something extra toothsome about Austrian steak—especially when it’s cooked on a charcoal grill oven at Dstrikt, the hotel’s fire-powered steakhouse, and served with truffle and parmesan-dusted fries. It’s edible heaven.

Restaurants & Bars

- Dstrikt Steakhouse - farm-to-table steakhouse

- Melounge Lobby Lounge - lunch, dinner, and afternoon tea

- Atmosphere Rooftop Bar - summer cocktails and snacks

- D-Bar - creative cocktails with a modern twist

Location

A block away from 28-acre Wiener Stadtpark, created in 1862 and dotted with sculptures of famous Viennese artists.