Grand Ferdinand Vienna

If you’re opening a brand-new hotel in an old city — indeed, in the very center of the oldest neighborhood of a city celebrated for its rich cultural history — you have two choices. You can either try to recreate the grandeur of the past, or you can embrace the future. The proprietors of the Grand Ferdinand Vienna opted for the latter. And we’re glad they did. Vienna already has its fair share of glittering palaces; trying to rival their splendor through imitation is a futile task. A better idea, in this case, to try a different approach, to take a stab at redefining Viennese glamour and refinement for contemporary travelers.

The Grand Ferdinand Vienna is prominently located on the Ringstrasse in a building constructed in the 1950s — very recent history, by local standards — with wide picture windows revealing a panorama of a dazzling architectural landscape. The hotel’s ground level is open and airy, lined with polished wood and marble. There’s a gilded chandelier here and there, but the sleek interior design features more elements that evoke the building’s mid-century era: note the chesterfield sofas, retro liquor cabinets, chrome fixtures, and frosted glass partitions. Guest rooms and suites, in particular, have a mod feel, with parquet floors and leather chairs, quirky vanities, and vintage-inspired metal lamps suspended from the ceiling. Flat-screen TVs and free wi-fi come standard; suites have private terraces and mini champagne bars.

If the Grand Ferdinand puts you in the mood for a classic cocktail instead, head up to the rooftop for drinks by the swimming pool. It’s the hotel’s crowning glory, especially at sunset, when the late afternoon rays bathe Vienna’s pearly palaces in a particularly flattering glow. The Grand Ferdinand's three dining venues make for excellent pre-theatre stopovers or post-concert feasts, each tied in its way to the city's elegant, shimmering heritage. That said, we wouldn't fault you for venturing out in search of a slice of Sachertorte at one of Vienna’s famous cafés, all located just a few minutes’ walk away from the hotel.