The Amauris Vienna

The regal corner building that houses the Amauris Vienna, with its scrubbed white facade, cheerful red roof, and perfectly symmetrical rows of windows, looks more than a little bit like a Wes Anderson production. This impeccable exterior is well-suited to a city where appearances matter, especially at an address as prominent as this one, just around the corner from the opera on the busy Ringstrasse.

The refined interiors live up to the exterior impression. Once a noble residence, this 19th-century building retains much of its historical grandeur — high ceilings and hardwood flooring, coffered walls and glittering chandeliers — but recent updates have given the place a breath of fresh air, stripping back heavier materials and colors in favor of sleek marble, jewel-toned velvet, and a modern, mostly monochromatic palette of slate gray and bright white. Even the simplest room, an attic-like single overlooking the quiet courtyard, features heated floors, high-end Italian linens, a marble bathroom, and an Illy espresso machine. On the upper end of the spectrum, ultra-spacious suites are more like luxury apartments, sumptuously outfitted in Viennese style, with marble busts and artwork in gilded frames, chic lounge space, and extras like walk-in closets and well-stocked bars.

A ride down the quaint original elevator leads to a serene spa with a glass-roofed swimming pool. Also on the ground level is a sophisticated but whimsical bar and bistro with emerald-green banquettes and Austrian sparkling wines served in delicate glassware. A more formal restaurant provides another dining option, but on a sunny day — including in winter, when outdoor heaters warm up the space — it’s hard to beat the people-watching from the bistro’s sidewalk tables.