Mercure Hotel Raphael Wien

The staff were nice, and the location is handy for the shopping street, restaurants, the subway and grocery stores. Walking to Schonbrunn took about 40 minutes and was really pleasant. Still, I wouldn’t come back. My room was a little shabby, and I wanted better hair products. I usually expect Mercures to feel distinctive, with a design that’s a bit refined but still homey. This one felt like an ordinary hotel without much Mercure personality, so I’d pick an Ibis for less money and a similar setup. The sauna was small, with just two chairs in the rest area, and the steam room could only fit two people. I have mixed feelings, though I didn’t want to rate it poorly because I love Accor and they’ve always treated me well. The hotel should do more to justify its value.

Breakfast was genuinely good, with plenty of choice. The hotel’s location is especially handy for visiting the theater. The building could use renovation: the decor and furniture look dated and need repairs. There’s no bar, and shared spaces are very limited. Parking was difficult too, with a very narrow spiral entrance that we hadn’t been warned about. It would be hard to manage in a large car.

Mark at reception was the standout for me. He helped several times with the sauna, getting around Vienna and other questions, and was always approachable and friendly. It felt like he really cared about helping guests. The hotel was clean, had a nice atmosphere and was in a good location. We did wake up to someone laughing very loudly, either next door or in the hallway, and the rooms don’t block sound very well.

Reception service was excellent, especially from the gentleman on the night shift, and the location was great. The rooms weren’t dated, but they did look tired. Breakfast was awful and a complete waste of money: little choice, some items missing, low quality hot food arranged inconveniently one behind another, and an unfriendly breakfast team. For this price, there are definitely better hotels.