Austria’s capital offers many stately, historic hotels, but if you prefer something more modern and personal, consider a luxury themed apartment from Chez Cliché. The company manages five properties in Vienna’s first and ninth districts, each decorated around a fictional persona. Options range from an ex-jockey’s equestrian-inspired suite to an apartment filled with souvenirs and mementos from a globe-trotting flight attendant.
Another inventive option is Not a Hotel, located near the Danube Canal. Housed in a former commercial building, it has been converted into three independent suites. Guests receive breakfasts that highlight local and regional ingredients, creating a welcoming, neighborhood feel.
In Vienna’s fourth district, close to the new train station, a group of local architects called Urbanauts has repurposed vacant shops and commercial spaces into a collection of boutique guest rooms and lofts. These hip urban accommodations celebrate their past lives with names that reference former uses—Der Galerist (The Gallery Owner), Der Künstler (The Artist) and Die Schneiderin (The Seamstress)—and they retain distinctive design touches that reflect those histories.
These alternatives offer a different side of Vienna lodging: more intimate, design-driven stays that reflect character and story rather than traditional hotel formality. Whether you choose a themed apartment, a converted commercial suite, or an architect-designed loft, you’ll find accommodations that feel like part of the city, often with local flavors and thoughtful details that make for a memorable visit.