Anantara Palais Hansen Vienna Hotel is one of Anantara’s newest additions in Europe, and it is already creating quite the buzz for its redesigned lobby and happening evening entertainment. Its location along the Ringstrasse puts it close to most major tourist attractions, and like other hotels in Vienna, its meeting facilities are a big draw for groups. These are the top five reasons to book a stay at Anantara Palais Hansen Vienna Hotel to experience this new five-star hotel for yourself.
The dining
The lobby lounge has become a big draw for locals who are curious to see what Anantara has done with this important building. During the day, the lounge is a place for coffee or afternoon tea. Its menu has light bites that include Austrian specialties like wiener schnitzel as well as international favorites like chicken Caesar salad wraps.
A pianist swoons guests when the sun sets as they tipple over craft cocktails from two master bartenders. While all the classics are on the menu, experiment with some of the more creative cocktails that take inspiration from different parts of the city. Expect surprises like blow torches and bursting bubbles to entertain you.
When the mood changes by evening, a DJ arrives and creates a clubby vibe that draws in locals for pre-dinner drinks or post-dinner revelry. While the cigar bar has closed, its former curtained-off lounge space offers an intimate spot for guests.
Wintergarten serves three meals a day starting with a lavish breakfast buffet with cooked-to-order specialties and local Austrian produce. There are cheeses, pastries, meats and fruit all from around the region. Later in the day, the menu is international with, of course, some Austrian dishes.
But, the real culinary star here is Edvard, and it even has a star from Michelin. Chef Paul Gamauf impresses with multi-course tasting menus using fresh local ingredients and ample creativity. A zero-waste policy is yet another impressive way for the chef to showcase his skill. The golden trout from Oberwasser in Lower Austria comes with Swiss chard and elderflower beurre blanc and is a particular favorite. This is a highly sought-after reservation to get.
The rooms
Undergoing a full remodel since the hotel’s days as a Kempinski, the rooms look bright with lighter colors and exceptional light through enormous windows. They open for fresh air. The beds are oases of comfort with thick duvets and pillows the size of people. Power and USB ports have been carefully added to all the right spots.
Flat-screen TVs swivel out from in front of the bed so that they are visible from different parts of the room. Soft carpeting and curvaceous sofas add a residential touch. In the corner, a desk also features a fold-up makeup vanity mirror.
Enormous closets hold all the extras you might imagine of a five-star hotel from bath scales and umbrellas to plush robes and slippers. Suites add spacious living areas, second bathrooms and extras like wine fridges and dining tables.
Bathrooms have stage-worthy lighting, marble surfaces, heated floors and drenching shower pressure. Many have rainfall showers that pour down like a waterfall and come with toiletries from a Viennese purveyor. Eventually, these will be swapped out for Acqua di Parma products to be in line with other Anantaras in Europe. Drawers hold every possible amenity you could need like hair brushes, shaving kits and hair bands.
The experiences
All Anantara properties lean heavily into the local destination by providing guests with bespoke tours they can book. Top-tier DISCOVERY members, the loyalty program for the Global Hotel Alliance within which Anantara belongs, often get to choose one for free.
They include numerous local experiences like an architectural walking tour of the landmark buildings also designed by Hansen. It is led by an expert who also takes guests to go behind the scenes at Lobmeyr’s studio. Another option is a picnic to the city’s vineyards to enjoy regional cuisine and the city’s famous wine from the Gemischter Satz grape.
A lovely spa offers massage and beauty services, and the gym here is well-equipped with the latest machines. Reception can quickly point out the best jogging routes along the Danube’s canals or the Ringstrasse. And like other fine touches here, they will offer a bottle of water for the run.
The history
Built by renowned architect Theophil Hansen in 1873, the building was constructed to serve as a grand hotel for the growing number of visitors to Vienna. It is actually eight buildings connected together and has been seen various uses since World War I. Its neo-Renaissance design makes it one of the neighborhood’s design masterpieces in a city known for architecture.
The Viennese glassware brand Lobmeyr is famous for its glamorous chandeliers and glassware, many designed by Hansen himself. The chandeliers at the New York Metropolitan Opera were also made by Lobmeyr. They were a gift from Austria to the United States as a gesture of gratitude for the ERP program after World War II.
The details
The moment you arrive, doormen escort you to the check-in area, which was recently moved to a corner off the main lobby. This has given the lobby lounge a more open and bright feeling. A welcome glass of non-alcoholic wine is a special treat and highlights the fact that Vienna is the only city in the world that is also designated as its own wine-growing region.
Turndown service brings Viennese specialties like Manner wafers (an Austrian staple) and bars of locally made soap. These take-home gifts are a nice extra that reminds you of the stay experience long after you have returned home.
Like other Anantaras, the details are the magic sauce of the brand. For example, VIP guests and frequent-stay loyalty members may receive special amenities like welcome snacks or even monogrammed slippers. It seems that the management team is focused on the kind of “surprise and delight” mentality that you only find in the world’s finest properties.
