Palais Coburg

There’s more to Vienna than the centuries-old splendor of the city center, the living museum that’s roughly bounded by the Ringstrasse. But what more, exactly, is a question for another time — at the moment that centuries-old splendor is precisely what we’re concerned with, in the form of the Palais Coburg, a 19th-century neoclassical palace that’s currently doing business as an old-school top-of-the-market grand hotel.

The Coburg isn’t shy about its opulence: the entry is calculated to impress, and makes good on the promises made by the building’s ornate facade. No expense is spared in the accommodations either; the palace is divided into just thirty-four suites, all individually designed, outfitted in styles ranging from the absolutely authentic (albeit with flat-screen televisions and modern kitchens) to the quietly contemporary — the Imperial Suites are named for aristocrats of centuries past, and are decorated to match, while the Modern Suites are essentially contemporary loft apartments.

One restaurant, helmed by Christian Petz, delivers an absolutely traditional Continental cuisine, while the Wine Bistro serves lighter fare, either in the bar or under the glass roof of the garden pavilion. The Coburg has its own pool, spa and fitness center, rarity enough in this town, especially for such a small hotel. And beyond the four walls of the Palais is Vienna’s scenic and walkable city center — you’re just minutes from the Stephansplatz, and surrounded by as much opera (and shopping) as you can take.