Fairytale Weekend in Vienna: the Historic Hotel Bristol
My first night in Vienna I stayed at the Hotel Bristol. Originally it was booked using 12,000 points (a bargain with rooms starting at 400 euros +), but the Vienna Film Ball auction I won included one night accommodation there.
I arrived at around 10AM straight from my redye. They were ready for me and a manager came to greet me and also to ask if Shawna and I were willing to change our twin beds facing the Opera House for an upgrade into their recently renovated Bristol Suite on the Mezannine Level. At the Park Inn Shannon for a short stay, maybe not, but for a hotel like this, YES!
The hotel was in a historic building, so while very beautiful, like most of the buildings I saw, it was not very handicap accessible. There was marble and mirrors and gilt decor everywhere.
I fell in love with the elevator. A tiny box, also decorated with gilt and mirrors and featuring a little leather seat in two of the corners.
Our room was on the first floor (second in America) facing the street. Interestingly enough and despite the rennovations, there was only one key per room – a giant heavy cylinder attached to an electronic tag that opened the door.
It was an amazing suite, particularly for a European room.
There was a powder room off the foyer.
Directly across was a large bathroom with two sinks and separate shower.
A shower that didn’t leak all over the floor and drained well! (Half the amazing bathrooms I’ve seen have one or both of those problems). It was also funny to note that the bathroom fan turns on automatically when the toilet seat is in use.
A large bathtub with heated towel rack.
And of course large Bulgari amenities are always a plus! 🙂
The living room was elegant with great big comfy white couches.
I loved the little details like the glittering door knobs.
The bedroom was on the small side, but had lots of closet space and natural light.
And shortly after I arrived, they delivered a gorgeous bowl of fruit and a bottle of sparkling wine, completing the princess feeling!
The extra space was much appreciated that evening when we were scrambling to get dressed for the Ball after an afternoon of site-seeing. And also a good setting for pictures!
Breakfast the next morning was in the extremely ornate Restaurant Bristol. The service very European – unhurried, pleasant but not friendly. Near the center of the room there was an island loaded with bread. The rest of the buffet breakfast was in a small side room decorated in marble. It featured plenty of meats and cheeses, limited fruit options, eggs to order, hot options of sauteed veggies, limp bacon and hashbrowns that were more flavorful than they looked.
While the Radisson Blu I stayed in the next two nights was perfectly fine, the Hotel Bristol was far better and would be my top pick when I return. I guess I’ll have to split my time between here and the Park Hyatt Vienna.
I’ll be going to Vienna in July and staying at the Park Hyatt, but would you care to share other things to do in the area? Please email me, or a public post 🙂
Definitely! I’ll be starting my trip report in the next day or two!
I stayed for two nights over Thanksgiving. It was a fabulous location for exploring. It seems they’ve updated the locks – my large cylinder had a real key attached to it!
The Ritz Carlton there is very nice too. Did you get a chance to eat at Steirereck? A top 10 restaurant in the world, but very affordable, relatively speaking.
Great review! I look forward to the rest of your trip report! 🙂