On our eight-minute walk from the metro stop to the Park Hyatt Vienna, we passed the display windows of internationally recognized brands such as Prada, Chanel and Louis Vuitton. Located in the Golden Quarter, Hyatt’s first Austrian property is housed in a former bank. The 100-year-old building sits in the city’s oldest and largest square, Am Hof. A bellman, dressed in a top hat and coat, escorted us into the posh hotel. We checked into one of the hotel’s 35 suites. Each floorplan in the historic building is unique and suites measure 592–807 square feet. Our wheelchair-accessible suite’s foyer contained an abundance of wood closets and drawers, fluffy robes, shoe polishing kits and a safe. The bathroom’s roll-in shower was enclosed with a trifold glass door and a well-designed drainage system preventing the splashy mess that frequently happens. Guests must request a shower chair from housekeeping. A separate whirlpool tub, with a stunning granite wall, served as the focal point of the room. The large vanity provided ample space for toiletries. A television, embedded into the mirror, allowed my husband to watch the morning news while simultaneously shaving. To enter the bedroom, guests walk through two oversized doors adorned with gold squares. A large, round rug visually divides the bedroom area from the living room while softening the wood floor. The flat-screen television, discretely hidden behind a mirror, was best viewed from the comfy king-sized bed. Guests can open and close the curtains and manage the lighting using the remote control panel located on the bedside table. A fainting couch, work desk, marble coffee table and a cabinet hide the minibar and an espresso machine with complimentary coffee. A desk is tucked into a corner. The generously sized guestroom easily accommodates a rollaway bed for those traveling with a child or a companion. The hotel lies within walking distance of some of Vienna’s most spectacular sites: St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Hofburg Palace, Albertina Museum and the State Opera House. Strolling along Vienna’s Ringstrasse, we admired monumental buildings erected between the 1860s and 1890s. When we spotted Freud’s favorite haunt, Café Landtmann, we stopped and ordered hot chocolates with rum and whipped cream. After a restful night in our quiet suite, we ate breakfast at The Bank Brasserie & Bar, where the culinary staff prepares the dishes in a display kitchen. Guests serve themselves from an abundant buffet of eggs, sausage, bacon, fish, yogurt, fruits, grilled vegetables, cheeses and wild boar meatloaf. We read our newspapers at tables inside the former cashier’s hall. The grandiose space with a 25-foot ceiling, marble walls, stained glass windows and soaring columns makes a luxurious start to a day in Vienna.

Park Hyatt Vienna

Am Hof 2 Vienna, Austria 1010 tel 43 1 22740 1234