Small Luxury Hotel Altstadt Vienna

The location in the quiet, lovely Neubau neighbourhood was great, with metro and tram lines just a few minutes’ walk away. We also appreciated the hotel’s thoughtful sustainability efforts, from breakfast to room service, with measures to avoid waste that weren’t intrusive. The rooms were immaculate, each with its own design, and Sarah and the rest of the staff were kind, welcoming, and attentive to detail. We loved breakfast, especially the smoked salmon, including a vegetarian option, and the tea time, which had a different delicious cake each day. We even changed our plans to get back in time for it. It was a welcome pause from walking around Vienna and a chance to refresh before dinner. We’ll always remember our stay at the Altstadt and can’t wait to return.

The building has lovely bones, with high ceilings and beautiful doors, and the bathroom tile is really cool. But I’m confused by the positive reviews. At best, this feels like Airbnb level for a 20-something. Nobody met us with our bags, and our first room was very noisy with scaffolding outside. The replacement room is better, but the furniture is IKEA-like and the color choices are creative. The hallways are covered in nicks and scratches, with air freshener containers trying to cover the musty smell. There was dirt in all the corners. The bathroom has nowhere to put a razor, and apart from the king-size bed, the room isn’t comfortable for two adults. The cheap nightstand light got knocked over when I was trying to plug in my phone. Wildly disappointing. We’d rather cut our trip short than stay here.

The breakfast was fantastic, including a selection of gluten-free bread. Our room was great, with the heated bathroom floors a lovely surprise. The location is quiet but still really close to many sights on foot or by transit.

The front desk team really went out of their way for us, and the hotel’s location worked very well. There was construction outside that spoiled the view and atmosphere a little, though. Inside, our room was roomy, clean, and well supplied, and the shower was incredible. Breakfast in the salon was a highlight, with lots of variety and fresh, high-quality organic ingredients. The coffee was great too, and the afternoon tea pastries were amazing. I’d choose this as my first hotel to stay at again in Vienna.