Andaz Vienna Am Belvedere

The Andaz hotels were among the first incursions by the big hospitality chains into boutique-hotel territory, and they’re the strongest examples of a hotel that offers the best of both worlds: the consistent standards and hard-won expertise of a chain with the stylistic freedom and aesthetic personality of an independent. Andaz Vienna Am Belvedere is the group’s first in Austria, its fourth in Europe, and it’s a surprisingly forward-looking hotel, given its history-laden setting.

It’s outside the city center, in the newly developed Quartier Belvedere, overlooking the park and the palace that gave it its name. The hotel itself is anything but Baroque, though, opting instead for sober, modernist-influenced contemporary look that feels both stylish and eminently respectable. The same goes for its interiors; parquet floors and historically inspired artworks lend the rooms and suites a sense of place, but the look as a whole is contemporary, somewhat minimalist, with a soft, regal blue the predominant accent. And in terms of comfort, there’s no question Hyatt’s luxury-hotel expertise shows its value.

Eugen21, named for the prince for whom Belvedere Palace was constructed, is the fine-dining restaurant, and Aurora is the 16th-floor rooftop bar. Downstairs, the Cyclist café provides fuel for your day’s travels, while a spa and 24-hour fitness center await.