I recently returned from a 3 might stay. Here are my thoughts: I initially chose this hotel based on the overwhelmingly positive reviews on this forum, its central location and the contemporary, upgraded styling of the hotel. (A lot of hotels in Vienna are more “old world” with a dated look and feel). Ahead of my visit, a local friend warned me in advance that the hotel’s setting, adjacent to the cathedral, can be a bit overwhelming, with an “endless mass of humanity.” I would say that description is accurate for the most part, as there are thousands of wide-eyed tourists everywhere within a multi block radius of the hotel, especially on a busy Friday or Saturday night. If you’re looking for a quiet, sedate neighborhood, this is not the place for you. If, however, you are good with the pulse of the people, and thrusting yourself into sort of the Times Square of Vienna, this is your spot. The Front Desk was quiet upon arrival and the hotel dispatched a Bellman to accompany us to our guest room on the 7th floor. The hotel has an interesting, high-tech elevator, whereby a guest can wave their room card past a card reader outside the elevator and the elevator then travels directly to your specific floor. (There are NO floor buttons on the interior of the elevator. This is the first time I’ve seen this). The guest room itself was modern and well appointed, as expected. The bathroom was the largest of any hotel on our European trip. It had a high-quality floor to ceiling ceramic tile, ample floor space, dual sink, separate tub and shower enclosure, etc. The guest room overall included all the key elements one would expect of a hotel of this quality. I appreciated the room’s varied assortment of direct and indirect in-room lighting options, including a dimmable cloud canopy over the bed, USB desk outlets, etc. There was even a retro clock radio at bedside. We generally enjoyed the hotel’s complimentary breakfast offering daily, although admittedly there are multiple selections that are altogether unidentifiable and/or unusual for the more mainstream American palate. Yogurts and cereal choices are a bit strange and substandard from this American’s viewpoint. Juices are excellent, however, and there are usually scrambled eggs available. Austrian bacon seems to be served shockingly rare, (inedible from my viewpoint). The breakfast offerings overall will perhaps greater please the cravings of health-conscious eaters to some extent. “Beetroot hummus anyone?” No thank you. While the hotel is generally deserving of my 5* review, there were a few minor blips noted. The clothes iron provided to guests was simply terrible. It was like a small play iron one would give a 5-year-old child to practice. It’s not a steam iron and it functioned poorly. I would urge management to replace these. While mattress firmness is a subjective thing, I personally found the mattress a bit hard. Not terrible, but firmer than my preference. Also, another hotel review on this forum stated that the hotel’s AC system follows the “European Model” or some language to that effect. I would concur. Our stay coincided with a warm spell of weather outdoors. While our room temperature was not uncomfortable during our stay, it was not pleasantly cool either. The thermostat on the wall, even when set on the lowest temperature setting and highest fan speed, was smoke and mirrors only. The cool air flow from the vent was modest at best. As such, I sensed that the hotel ultimately dictates the cooling level within the hotel’s interior. Again, it was not uncomfortable, but not as cool as I would have preferred to contribute to an enhanced room comfort level. My humble opinion of course. Lastly, a quick observation regarding the service employees encountered at the hotel, either at the Front Desk or at the hotel’s breakfast area. I found staff members to be professional and polite, but not outwardly friendly or hospitable. I will attribute some of this on Austrian cultural norm, or to the English as a second language issue. Still, though, staff members seemed a little stiff and formal. There were no smiles, no laughter noted, even when I observed them interacting with German speaking guests. I was never greeted when I entered the hotel from the outside. I noted this customer service style was prevalent throughout much of Austria, prioritizing professionalism over pleasantries. All things considered I do recommend the hotel. It’s a quality establishment and a good choice when visiting Vienna. …