Hotel Sacher

In the heart of the historic city within the Ring, next to the Astoria hotel in busy Philharmonikerstrasse, a few feet from the busy Kärntner Strasse, between St Stephen's Cathedral and the Opera, and between Stephensplatz and Karlsplatz subway stations. Vienna airport is 15.5 miles away, count 25 minutes for transfers. By taxi, the fare is approximately 31 pounds sterling.

A member of the prestigious "Leading Hotels of the World" label, the Sacher hotel is open year-round and can accommodate up to 300 guests. Open in 1876 by Eduard Sacher, son of the creator of the famous Original Sacher-Torte, the Sacher is a Vienna staple. The entire building has Wifi Internet access. You can enjoy the delicious Sacher-Torte at the Sacher Cafe. Room service is offered free of charge 24 hours a day. Three computers are at your disposal from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM in the business centre located on the 5th storey, where you can surf the Internet free of charge. Pets are allowed for 20 pounds sterling per day. You can relax at the 3,228 feet² spa (built in 2005) which uses the famous Swiss cosmetics brand La Prairie, and offers chocolate treatments. In addition, the spa offers sauna, hammam, and upscale fitness room.

Built in 1876 and entirely renovated (for the last time in 2005), the Sacher hotel has 152 rooms in a majestic Viennese-style classic building with 7 storeys, accessed through gorgeous elevators ornated with pretty paintings. Magnificent sitting rooms, gildings, wooden floors, immense gold-framed paintings, fireplaces, chandeliers, statues, sculptures: you don't know where to look in this abundance of luxurious objects, sumptuous hallways, and wooden furniture where every detail is carefully considered! One focal point is the blue lounge, a jewel of a room with blue decor from floor to ceiling. It is good to relax in the Blue bar where various drinks are served from 10:00 AM to 2:00 AM. Other sitting rooms with different colours welcome you here and there in a typical imperial Vienna atmosphere. One would expect to see Mozart playing on one of the pianos of these rooms.

Needless to say, the rooms of the Sacher are sublime, marvellously decorated, and well-equipped. The standard rooms have an area of 322 feet². Although they are all different, you will, each time, have the impression to stay at an imperial palace with an elegant sitting room, rich antique furniture (chests, desk) from the 18th and 19th centuries, wooden refrigerator ornate with gildings and various motifs, fireplace, clock and other original objects. This does not mean the rooms aren't very modern as well! Printer, telephone with Internet access, very quiet individual air conditioning, minibar, electronic safe with code, large enough to contain a laptop, and flat-screen television with 60 channels, DVD player, will provide the modern comfort you need. When you are ready to sink into Morpheus' arms, a large, royal canopy bed welcomes you for a dream night. From the windows, you can admire the Opera located across from the hotel. Decorated with pretty paintings, the bathroom is reminiscent of the sumptuous Roman thermae: it is immense, with columns and arches. It has a large free-standing bathtub, separate toilets, bidet, separate shower, scale, slippers, robes, double sink, hair dryer, make-up mirror, telephone, handkerchiefs, and numerous welcome toiletries. You will bath under the kindly look of a statue of an angel. If you take a bath, beware, the tub fills in 3 minutes. The rooms located on the 6th and 7th storeys (added during the 2005 renovation) have, in addition to other amenities, a plasma screen in the bathroom, and chocolate soap. Additionally, 7 rooms have a 1,291 feet² terrace. 24 hour room service. Certain suites are offered butler service upon request.

There are 2 à la carte restaurants at the Sacher hotel, both with two Gault Millau toques: the Rote bar, with a superb panorama over the Opera, and the Anna Sacher, both with magnificent decor and with a capacity of 45 guests. Delicious specialities are served from noon to 11:30 PM. Breakfast, from 6:30 to 10:30 AM, is served in a dedicated room, with magnificent decor, and a chandelier. You cannot miss, of course, a taste of the famous Original Sacher-Torte at the Sacher Cafe, with tea, coffee, or a savoury Viennese chocolate. International newspapers are at your disposal.