- Star-studded guests: Wagner, Brahms, Emperor Franz Joseph I, Queen Elizabeth II, and Charlie Chaplin among many others.
- Palatial grandeur: Built in 1866 as Palais Württemberg, later transformed into Vienna’s finest hotel.
- Belle Époque luxury: Marble halls, chandeliers, statues, and timeless Austro-Hungarian elegance blended with modern comforts.
- Royal treatment: Suites come with personal butlers; service remains famously formal, polished, and discreet.
- Fine dining: Michelin-starred OPUS restaurant, Imperial Café with Viennese classics, and the refined 1873-Halle-Nsalon Bar.
- Prime location: Right on the Ringstrasse, next to the Musikverein, and walking distance to Vienna’s best-known landmarks.
- Check dates & prices here
“Stay at the Imperial and feel like an Emperor,” said Charlie Chaplin during his visit, and that just about sums Hotel Imperial up.
Completed in 1866 as a residence for Duke Philipp of Württemberg the neo-classical Palais Württemberg, as it was known, was within 10 years transformed into the Imperial, a hotel that quickly became known as Vienna’s finest and grandest.
Not much has changed – Hotel Imperial has still such a reputation and has managed to retain the ambiance of the grand old days of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
It’s all ornate marble, hand-carved statues and crystal chandeliers, but has also subtly added modern facilities and comforts along the way.
The service here is consistently impeccable and its Michelin-star restaurant, the OPUS, is considered one of the very best in Vienna, be sure to try at least one evening meal.
What are the rooms like?
- Spacious layout: Even standard rooms are generously sized (30m²+), with large beds and ample seating areas.
- Classic-meets-modern: Gilded mirrors, chandeliers, and silk wallpapers paired with discreet modern comforts.
- Suites for royalty: Options range up to the 150m² Royal Suites with butler service and grand salons.
- Marble bathrooms: Luxurious fittings with soaking tubs, walk-in showers, and high-end toiletries.
- See all the rooms in detail here
There are 138 double/twin rooms in total, 62 of which are suites, a much higher proportion than usually found in even the most luxurious hotels, and thus are relatively good value compared to rooms.
The suites are really a cut above, and if you need extra convincing, a stay at a suite includes your own personal butler.
The place was originally a palace residence rather than a built-for-purpose hotel and so almost every room and suite is different.
What they all have in common though is a generous amount of space; even the cheapest of rooms will be at least 30 m², with the most grandiose of suites, the Royal Suites, coming in at a whopping 150m².
The general ambiance and style are old-fashioned, Belle Epoque-era luxury with the odd bit of mid-20th century thrown in.
There are contemporary touches too of course, and contemporary facilities and comforts; air conditioning, sound systems, and extra-large cable TVs for example.
Despite this though, the place never strays far into modernity and has an infectious air of elegance that no modern hotel can ever match.
In some similarly historic hotels, the bathrooms can be more distinctly contemporary but not here.
The grand old marble bathrooms, though now with heated floors and rainforest showers (plus bathtubs), continue the Belle Epoque theme.
The service is outstanding and has an air of civility and formality that also belongs to another era.
Every guest is treated with respect and courtesy that, for anyone more used to contemporary hotels, can almost take a bit of getting used to.
And the staff are impeccably turned out too; The porters wear smart uniforms and caps, the maids wear traditional aprons, and when the butler turns up at your door there will be no confusion as to who he is either.
What are prices like?
Check dates & prices on the booking page here.
And what about food, facilities….things to do?
- Michelin-starred dining: OPUS serves fine cuisine with seasonal Austrian and international flavors.
- Café Imperial: Famous for its Imperial Torte, afternoon tea, and Viennese coffeehouse traditions.
- Elegant bar: 1873-Halle-Nsalon Bar features cocktails, fine whiskies, and live piano music.
- Event spaces: Ornate ballrooms and salons host galas, concerts, and private functions.
In-hotel dining and drinking options include the old Imperial Café which serves up classic Viennese cuisine all day and some delicious cakes, teas, and coffees.
It also serves as the breakfast room for the hotel and throughout the day it sees a busy passing trade, having long been the place to see and be seen by some of Vienna’s most wealthy residents.
It is particularly lively before performances at the, right next door, Wiener Musikverein, home of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.
The OPUS restaurant too has been making waves in the city in its re-interpretation of Austrian classics for the modern age.
In 2016 it won its first Michelin Star and though a relatively new addition to the hotel it too has a classic dining ambience.
The very elegant 1873-Halle-Nsalon Bar serves high-class cocktails as well as a range of beers, wines, and other drinks.
It regularly hosts small jazz and classical music performances and the atmosphere is thoroughly refined, though also somehow relaxed and intimate.
If you tire of such indulgences the fitness and health studio awaits you on the rooftop.
It is open 24 hours, has a state-of-the-art gym & sauna, and also offers fitness classes and massage services.
How is the location? And how do I get there?
- Prestigious setting: Right on the Ringstrasse, Vienna’s grand boulevard of palaces and landmarks.
- Next door to music: The Musikverein concert hall is just steps away.
- Walk to icons: Close to the State Opera, St. Charles Church, and Kärntner Straße shopping street.
- Easy connections: Central trams and U-Bahn nearby for exploring wider Vienna.
The Hotel Imperial has an expectedly choice location; right at the heart of the city, the Ring Boulevard, and is a great base for exploring this amazing city.
As previously mentioned the hotel is next door to the Wiener Musikverein, home of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.
It’s also near the Wiener Konzerthaus, the State Opera, the Church of St. Charles, and the Kärntner Straße shopping street to name but a few more.
There is an excellent concierge service at the hotel and you can arrange tickets for all sorts of performances and events during your stay.
Vienna International Airport is less than half an hour from the hotel and limousine transfers can be arranged via the concierge from there or from Vienna’s Central Railway Station.
There you have direct trains, along some very scenic routes, from Salzburg and other cities in Austria as well as Bratislava, Budapest, Munich and many other European cities.
You can also of course come on your own accord via taxi or your own car, there are parking facilities available or, if you’d prefer the Metro, the nearest station is Karlsplatz less than 300 meters away.
Any interesting history I should know about?
- Aristocratic origins: Built in 1866 as Palais Württemberg for Duke Philipp of Württemberg.
- Grand hotel debut: Transformed for the 1873 World Fair into Vienna’s showpiece luxury hotel.
- Survived wartime: Escaped WWII damage and briefly served as Soviet HQ during the occupation.
- Illustrious guests: Hosted emperors, kings, composers, and world leaders across generations.
Work started on the building in 1863 and after three years Duke Philipp of Württemberg had a magnificent Neo-Classical/Neo-Renaissance style palace to call home, right in the imperial centre of Vienna.
The building was designed by architect Arnold Zenetti and was named Palais Württemberg after the Duke.
For some reason, the Duke sold it on after just five years, and two years later it would be opened by a new consortium of owners, as a grand hotel, just in time for the 1873 Vienna World Fair.
And what about the reviews? What did other guests like about it?
“The best hotel I have ever stayed in. The staff treat the guests with the utmost respect and the whole experience was unique and wonderful. It made our holiday in Vienna perfect…”
“From the incredible baroque architecture to the chandeliers everywhere, an amazing large room, marble bathroom – literally everything was outstanding! I love heritage properties, and this was amongst the best I stayed in, compared with Alvear Palace in Buenos Aires and Oberoi Amarvilas in Agra!..”
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