The Viennese palace that has seen crowned heads and heads of state parade through since 1873, intact in its imperial pomp.
Hotel Imperial, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Vienna
From
638 €
“Honour staircase in Carrara marble where Wagner, Liszt and the imperial family climbed to the ceremonial salons, today accessible to guests.”
L'Hotel Imperial has occupied the palace of the Prince of Württemberg since 1873, converted into a palace for the Universal Exposition. We climb the monumental staircase under stuccoed ceilings seven metres high, Bohemian crystal chandeliers, Corinthian columns. The rooms keep their XIXᵉ proportions, herringbone parquet, neo-baroque furniture, beige marble bathrooms. The imperial suite (65 m²) retains the original furniture of Franz Joseph. Service remains ceremonial, breakfast served under a silver cloche, from 638 € a night. We come for the living history, not for contemporary design. The address remains the Viennese reference for state visits and wedding anniversaries ✨
Who is it for?
Who we recommend it to
We recommend the Imperial to travellers seeking Vienna in its historical pomp, not its design version. It's a hotel for couples in their fifties and over, opera outings, ceremonial dinners, family celebrations in the private salons. Fans of Austro-Hungarian architecture get their money's worth, the clientele remains mostly European and accustomed to the codes of the classic palace.
The building
Architecture and interiors
The palace of the Prince of Württemberg dates from 1863, converted into a hotel ten years later to welcome visitors to the Universal Exposition. Neo-Renaissance architecture with a facade on the Ringstrasse, 138 rooms spread over six floors. Preserved interiors: walnut panelling, coffered ceilings, original parquets, period furniture mixed with neo-baroque pieces from the 1990s. The public spaces keep their imperial proportions, reception salons with tapestries and Bohemian crystal chandeliers.
At the table
Restaurants, bar, service
The Restaurant 1873 has held a Michelin star since 2021, contemporary Austrian cuisine by Dominik Stolzer, seven-course tasting menu. The Café Imperial serves the classic Viennese breakfast (homemade pastries, local charcuterie, eggs to order) and afternoon tea in the afternoon. Cocktail bar in the former smoking room, card of Austrian whiskies and Central European spirits. 24/7 room service with a simplified restaurant menu.
Highlights
- Honour staircase listed as a historical monument, Carrara marble and gilded stuccoes
- Imperial suite with period Franz Joseph furniture, 65 m² on the Ring
- Restaurant 1873 Michelin-starred, contemporary Austrian cuisine by chef Dominik Stolzer
- Location on the Ringstrasse, State Opera 300 metres on foot
- Art collection with portraits of the imperial family and XIXᵉ-century canvases
Location & access
Where the hotel sits in Vienna
The Imperial stands on the Ringstrasse, the ring boulevard that replaced the old fortifications since 1865. State Opera three minutes on foot, Hofburg ten, Stephansplatz fifteen. Karlsplatz metro station 400 metres away, Vienna airport 25 minutes by shuttle. The quarter remains institutional, museums and official buildings, very quiet after 8pm except opera nights. Kärntner Strasse (shopping artery) two streets away, historic restaurants and cafés within five minutes.
Good to know
Before you book
- Pets
- Accepted without weight limit, basket and bowls provided on request.
- Parking
- Private garage on site, 55 € / night, valet included.
- Airport shuttle
- Service on reservation, 95 € one way, Mercedes S-Class.
- Accessibility
- Lifts in all buildings, 8 PMR-adapted rooms.
- Restaurant dress code
- Jacket recommended in the evening at 1873, not required at Café Imperial.
Facilities
Non-smoking rooms
Fitness centre
Parking
Airport shuttle
Facilities for disabled guests
Room service
Restaurant
Family rooms
Pets allowed
Location
Where Hotel Imperial, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Vienna is located
Exact address
Hotel Imperial, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Vienna
Address
Kärntner Ring 16
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