a&o Wien Stadthalle

A&O Wien Stadthalle has a relaxed atmosphere that attracts single travelers, friends, and families. It opened in January 2009 and is part of A&O, a privately run hostel chain that began in Germany. This property features bright decor: the sunny, inviting lobby has yellow walls, blue rugs on tiled floors, and a silver reflective desk lit by a row of hanging orange lights. World clocks, tea, snacks, and postcards fill the front desk area, though it’s all well-kept and presentable. It’s apparent from the get-go that the hotel is family-friendly as there’s a small children’s play area in the corner of the lobby. The breakfast room is quite spacious with a similar style of yellow and green walls, basic blond wood chairs and tables, and photographs of city streets. The bar area is filled with black leather couches and chairs, and has a bar with the same reflective metal surface as seen on the reception desk. Though the hostel is welcoming of youthful travelers, it has a laid-back vibe and is not suited for those looking to party.

This property is located off a busy road outside of Vienna's city center. There are a few restaurants and cafes in the surrounding area, but not much. Though the Wiener Stadthalle, a concert venue, is only a seven-minute walk away, most major attractions require a drive or trip on public transportation. The nearest metro station is a three-minute walk away, and there's a tram stop that takes five minutes on foot to reach. The Schonbrunn Palace is a 12 minute drive or 34 minutes on public transportation. But many other sites like St. Stephen's Cathedral lack a direct route on public transportation and are best reached by car in 16 minutes (versus the hour-long trek on public transport). The Museumsquartier is about a 20- to 25-minute walk away (or a five-minute drive). Vienna's Central Station is about a 15-minute drive away, while Vienna International Airport can be reached in about 25 minutes by car.

Rooms at A&O Wien Stadthall range from single and double private rooms to shared dormitory rooms for up to six people. The decor is neutral and fairly basic, with wooden floors, navy curtains, gray walls, and blond wood furniture. Amenities include free Wi-Fi and air-conditioning. Private rooms offer a bit more perks, including more space and flat-screen TVs. Family rooms have double beds and bunk beds to accommodate multiple people. The dorms are clean and tidy with cabinets for storage (guests must bring they're own locks) and blue metal bunk beds with outlets next to each one. All rooms have en-suite bathrooms, which include sinks with little storage space, small showers, toiletries in wall dispensers, and hairdryers. Bed linens and towels cost a fee. Note that some complaints have been made of bothersome noise from the busy road outside. 

A&O Wien Stadthalle provides a number of amenities to keep all types of guests entertained. Not only is there a game room with pool and foosball, but the property offers a small children’s play area in the lobby. There’s also a meeting room, though it’s not very private (it opens to the lounge) and doesn’t offer much besides a table and chairs. A small library is placed in the meeting room. There’s a few options for eating such as a breakfast buffet served in the mornings for a fee and a snack bar in the lobby that includes ice cream and candy -- but there's no kitchen available for guest use. A bar provides a selection of drinks for guests. The hostel offers a few rentable items like bikes and lockers. Wi-Fi is free throughout, though there's a fee to use the public computer. Parking is available on-site for a daily fee.