Rosewood Vienna opened this August, making its debut as the fifth European property in the Rosewood Hotels & Resorts® portfolio. Located on Petersplatz, one of the city’s most famous squares, the hotel is within walking distance of the famous Graben, Kohlmarkt and Tuchlauben pedestrian streets, famous for luxury shops and restaurants, and close to many of Vienna’s cultural and historical sites. The property joins an esteemed collection of European Rosewood properties, which includes Rosewood London, Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco in Tuscany, Hôtel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel in Paris and Rosewood Villa Magna in Madrid.
Rosewood Vienna occupies the former headquarters of the eminent financial institution Erste Group Bank AG. The 19th-century landmark comprised buildings of historic pedigree, including the apartment in which Mozart lived and wrote The Rapture of the Seraglio. Today, the bank has been transformed into a unique luxury hotel with 71 spacious rooms and 28 suites. A sixth-floor brasserie and a rooftop bar offer stunning views of Vienna’s Old Town.
The property is home to the Asaya Spa for integrated wellness, which will incorporate therapies and spa treatments inspired by the wellness traditions of Austria from September 2022. Rosewood’s distinctive style of service and A Sense of Place® philosophy characterize the property with the timeless grace, elegance and imperial élan that define Vienna as a destination of choice for both new and established Rosewood guests.
“The opening of Rosewood Vienna offers today’s ultra-luxury travelers a new kind of Viennese lifestyle, steeped in the destination’s rich history but with a modern, cosmopolitan vision befitting this dynamic European capital,” says Alexander Lahmer, Managing Director of Rosewood Vienna. “We are thrilled to open our doors to a distinguished hospitality experience in one of the greatest cities in the world.”
The Glamorous Culture of Vienna
Vienna conveys the rich heritage of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, is a cosmopolitan gateway to Eastern Europe and represents a modern world capital. Steps away from the hotel, in the historic center of the city, is St Stephen’s Gothic Cathedral, the Hofburg Imperial Palace complex, the seat of the Habsburgs, with valuable collections of silver, porcelain, tapestries, furniture and art, including Old Masters. at the nearby Kunsthistorisches Museum. More than a million engravings and drawings, from the late Gothic to the present day, are part of an unprecedented – and unmissable – treasure of the Albertina museum. The Upper Belvedere Palace is a showcase of Viennese modernism, with masterpieces by Egon Schiele, Oskar Kokoschka and Gustav Klimt, including the painter’s stunning painting, The Kiss.
Influenced by Vienna’s rich artistic heritage, visual art is a hallmark of Rosewood Vienna, with work by contemporary artists in its rooms and throughout the property. Evocative murals painted by Austrian artist Marie Hartig grace Salon Aurelie, the hotel’s luminous lobby lounge. Amidst the decorative palm trees, flora and butterflies, inspired by Vienna’s splendid Art Nouveau Conservatory Palmenhaus (Palm House), guests enjoy the ambience of an elegant Viennese café.
Vienna is a city of music, with churches and palaces, concert halls and theaters. Two of the world’s leading performing arts organizations, the Vienna Philharmonic and the Vienna State Opera, perform in spectacular venues, the Musikverein and Wiener Staatsoper, respectively, along Vienna’s famous Ringstrasse boulevard. The Staatsoper is also home to a uniquely Viennese tradition, the Vienna Opera Ball, held every February, the most magnificent of the more than 400 balls that take place during the ball season.
Modern yet timeless design
The reinterpretation of the large neoclassical bank building, designed in 1835 by the Austrian architect Alois Pichl, into a 21st century luxury hotel, was carried out by two architectural firms in Vienna, A2K and BEHF, with decor by the interior design studio Londoner Alexander Waterworth. Kroenland, a Viennese company, created the brasserie and bar on the roof of the property, spaces that take advantage of incomparable environments. Architects, designers and artisans have created spaces – restaurants, bar, wellness center and meeting rooms – with a contemporary appreciation for Vienna’s uniqueness. The Neue Hoheit restaurant embodies classic Austrian woodworking inspired by the legendary cafes and cafes of Vienna. The Asaya spa, has a tranquil palette of light blue, gray, ecru and gray beige (grill), with contemporary lighting by acclaimed Viennese manufacturer Bakalowits and views across Vienna’s rooftops.
A New Gastronomic Destination
Vienna has long been a cultural crossroads and culinary influences come together in a totally unique way at Rosewood Vienna’s Neue Hoheit (New Highness) restaurant, located on the hotel’s sixth floor. The brasserie serves European dishes alongside Austrian classics, based on seasonal market ingredients. In addition, a josper grill of meat, fish and vegetables complements the charcuterie and seafood. The Neue Hoheit’s dining room and show kitchen offer diners distinct, interrelated spaces and an outdoor terrace.
The Garden Room and Secret Garden offer private indoor and outdoor dining. Neue Hoheit offers impressive views of the Old Town’s rooftops, St. Peter’s Church and St. Stephen’s Cathedral. The rooftop cocktail bar on the seventh floor is inspired by a classic speakeasy. The intimate nightclub, designed by interior designer Kroenland, features handcrafted cabinetry, storage for a collection of rare vintages and international spirits and a menu of classic and innovative cocktails ensuring friendly and memorable evenings.
The entrance to the Neue Hoheit Brasserie and Bar is located in Tuchlauben, where elevators take guests directly to the restaurant, Garden Room and Secret Garden on the sixth floor and the rooftop bar on the seventh floor. With its unique setting, Neue Hoheit Brasserie and Bar is poised to become an epicenter of food and nightlife for Vienna residents and hotel guests alike. Meanwhile, Salon Aurelie will offer an elegant and modern Viennese café experience in the hotel’s residential-style lobby, serving light snacks and drinks ranging from sandwiches, pastries and cakes to tea and aperitifs.
Wellness and Tranquility Opportunities
The Asaya Spa, the first at a Rosewood property outside of Asia, spans floors five and six of the Rosewood Vienna and offers four treatment rooms and a social suite, relaxation area, sauna, steam room and experience shower. The Asaya Spa at Rosewood Vienna has unusual views of the dome and bell towers of St. Peter’s Church and offers a variety of Viennese-influenced therapies, spa treatments and wellness programs.
New Meeting Places
The Rosewood Vienna Pavilion, located on the first floor, is a collection of elegant spaces for social events and business meetings. Designed to accommodate up to 110 people in four rooms, its configurations can be adjusted to the purpose, from board meetings to receptions. State-of-the-art technology meets all audiovisual requirements. For outdoor meetings, the Garden Room and Secret Garden on the sixth floor offer indoor and outdoor space for up to 60 guests.
Unique Experiences and Exclusive Access
Vienna is full of enriching experiences open to all visitors, including museums, palaces, historic sites, concert halls and theaters. Additionally, through the hotel’s “Discover My Vienna” program, guests can explore the city through carefully selected cultural activities, personally curated and guided by local experts. These enchanting excursions include shopping for Augarten china, designing bespoke shoes at the Scheer boutique and authentic culinary experiences at Zur Herknerin, a traditional Austrian tavern.