At Theo’s Lounge and Bar in Anantara Palais Hansen Vienna, I close my eyes and time travel — if just for a moment. The buzzy lobby bar, though utterly contemporary, manages to recall the soul of turn-of-the-century Vienna with scintillating precision. Enveloped in the former courtyard of a Neo-Renaissance palace where horse drawn carriages once took a whirl, it deftly weaves a new chapter of Vienna cafe culture.
Free of dreary period accoutrements, the airy hotspot is our first glimpse of Asian-based Anantara’s most recent foray into Europe. The rest of the newly launched hotel follows suit as a brilliant tour de force. Beneath Theo’s impossibly high ceilings, everything feels capacious, blindingly bright, impossibly new.
Unique cocktails (some topped with cotton candy lids; others blow torched before your eyes by zealous waiters) land at tables, accompanied by festive snacks, such as schnitzel sliders, layered with unexpected ingredients. A roving apple strudel cart, with bowls mounded with whipped cream (schlagobers) makes its rounds. A pianist tinkles tunes. Champagne corks pop.
Furnishings suggest works by the Wiener Werkstätte designers (like Josef Hoffman), but with modern appeal. It’s as if all the engaging things we love about Franz Josef’s era (that is: old-school Vienna) have been distilled, honored and re-proffered with contemporary elan. As a cunning bridge between past and present, Anantara Palais Hansen Vienna gives us everything we want — and more — on a visit to the city of Mozart, Klimt and Cinderella balls.
[See also: Timeless Elegance: Inside Rosewood Vienna]
Stay
Related
Conveniently entrenched near most of Vienna’s landmark sites on the Ringstrasse, Palais Hansen was designed to make a statement for the 1873 World Exhibition. Theophil Edvard Hansen, Franz Josef’s era’s version of a ‘star-chitect,’ brought re-imagined classicism to the forefront in his myriad Renaissance Revival buildings — and Palais Hansen embodies the best elements of his work.
Marked by columns, enhanced with stone archways and soaring ceilings, the hotel served as municipal offices for decades, before becoming a Kempinski a decade ago. Stylishly renovated by Anantara, the just-launched Palais Hansen now holds 152 rooms, including 60 suites. With huge windows, lavish furnishings, decadent marble bathrooms and first-in-class amenities, even entry level rooms pamper.
Opt for the nearly 3,000-sq-ft Presidential Suite, purportedly Vienna’s largest and most sublime luxury outpost. Envisioned to be as ideal for entertaining as for long term stays, the suite has a grand piano, several French balconies, dining area, kitchenette and stand alone tub. VIP guests are likely to receive such coveted amenities as monogrammed slippers.
Content from our partners
[See also: The Most Anticipated Hotel Openings of 2025]
Dine
While Theo’s Lounge & Bar — named for architect Hansen — delights with all day snacks, bites, afternoon tea and creative cocktails, one-Michelin-starred Edvard dazzles as the hotel’s jewel in its gastronomic crown. Each offers a disparate, but coveted mood.
At Theo’s you’ll nibble on truffle fried chicken lollipops or aforementioned schnitzel sliders, while you sip original libations such the festive Crown Jewel (with champagne, lemon and bitters). At night, a DJ might replace the afternoon piano player.
Snag an exclusive reservation at Edvard for more elegant dining. Here, Viennese chef Paul Gamauf cleverly concocts whimsical, surprising, melt-in-your-mouth seasonal dishes using a low waste philosophy. He’s known for his penchant to hand gather, ferment, preserve and pickle many of his ingredients. Choose from five-, seven- or nine-course meals, with dishes such as duck with beetroot flan or egg yolks with truffles and wild mushrooms.
The hotel’s all-day restaurant, Brasserie Sophie rolls out a mind-bogglingly huge spread that feels like an opulent picnic at breakfast. Austrian products from cheeses to meats to pastries take center stage.
Relax
A fully equipped gym, as well as concierges who have maps for the best running routes, keep guests fit. The Anantara Spa stretches some 8,500 sq ft, encompassing six treatment rooms and a hydrotherapy pool. Replenish with exclusive Swiss Valmont treatments, as well as medi-spa options.
Explore
Anantara has a passion for immersing guests deeply into the local culture and its well-researched and flawlessly implemented experiences deeply forge memories and brand loyalty. At Palais Hansen, guests intrigued with architecture and the arts can join a Hansen expert for a tour of Hansen-designed buildings, complete with anecdotes. You’ll visit stunning architecture, as well as Hansen-designed shops such as AE Köchert, the jeweler who designed Empress Sisi’s glittering, star-shaped hair ornaments and glamorous Lobmeyer, purveyors of crystal and glassware to the Imperial court.
Wine lovers can take a jaunt to the vineyards and wineries that comprise Vienna’s own wine region, the only city in the world rife with both wineries and vineyards within its metropolis. Gourmands should take Spice Spoons, a cooking class under the tutelage of chef Gamauf to learn learn the secrets of traditional Austrian fare.
Vienna’s rich history and culture can be experienced just a short walk from the hotel. From the Museum Quarter with its wealth of art and history collections to the exquisite Opera House to the city’s most characteristic coffeehouses, the city unfolds nearby. Don’t miss an Einspänner-style coffee at Cafe Central, Sachertorte at Cafe Demel and goulash at Café Landtmann.
For the best wiener schnitzel, find Figlmüller, where the schnitzel brims over the edge of your plate. Though the Bruegels at the jaw dropping Kunsthistorisches Museum are the world’s best, we never miss a chance to roam the galleries of the nearby Leopold Museum for its focus on Egon Schiele.
[See also: Singer Palace Hotel: A Contemporary Riff on Dolce Vita]
