Hotel Stefanie

Entering the Hotel Stefanie is like stepping back in time. Mottled black-and-white marble floors, thick runners, and heavy wood furniture bring to mind an 18th-century palace. A small computer station tucked discreetly into the corner is a rare concession to the present, and international dailies hang from a brass rack. Decorative art is everywhere: the Schick family, owners of the hotel for more than a century, proudly displays its antique collection in the lobby. Cases of clocks and silver, the complete 19th-century uniform of a first lieutenant of the Imperial and Royal Hussars, and the emperor’s room key add to the historical atmosphere. But some travelers are bound to find the property outdated and overdone. Heavy brass keys are another nod to tradition, and guests leave them at the desk when they go out -- the Hotel Stefanie likes to know who’s coming and going. Given the ambiance, it’s no surprise that most guests are adults, and leisure travelers at that.

The Hotel Stefanie is located in Leopoldstadt, Vienna’s second district, just beyond the Danube Canal and the historical core in the first district. It’s on Taborstrasse, a busy street with shops, banks, a theater, and a direct line to the Swedish Bridge over the canal. Leopoldstadt was historically Vienna’s Jewish Quarter, and a revival of Jewish culture here can be seen in nearby kosher shops and restaurants. Good public transit connections are close by. It’s a five-minute walk to the Schwedenplatz subway station, a two-minute walk to the Gredlerstrasse tram stop, and a 15-minute drive or 24-minute public transit ride to the main train station. Many sights are within walking distance. It’s five minutes to the beginning of the historical center and 12 minutes to St. Stephen’s Cathedral. It’s a 20-minute walk or a nine-minute drive to both the Hofburg Imperial Palace and the Vienna State Opera, and Schönbrunn Palace is a 20-minute drive away. It’s an 18-minute drive to Vienna International Airport.

After the impressive display of antiques, brass, and dark wood in the lobby, guest rooms can seem plain and even a touch frumpy, but they are comfortable. Decor includes the judicious use of wood paneling, lots of cream, crisp white linens, and traditional oil paintings. Some newly renovated rooms and suites have imperial purple carpet and white leather seating. Singles and lower-end doubles are quite small, with little room to maneuver around the beds and no desks, but surprisingly large white-tile bathrooms. Other rooms are quite spacious, and the quietest overlook the courtyard garden. Rooms and suites accommodate a maximum of three guests, with a pull-out sofa bed for the third person. In all rooms, armoires have storage room, small programmable safes, and well stocked minibars, but rooms lack coffeemakers. Flat-screen TVs with some cable channels hang in each room. Some bathrooms have shower/tub combos, some just showers; all come with hairdryers and soap and shower gel dispensers. A choice of pillows and duvets is a nice touch. All rooms have individual air-conditioning controls and free Wi-Fi.

Hotel Stefanie has ambience in spades, but for a hotel advertised as upscale, it lacks high-end features, such as a spa, pool, and fitness center. Its Restaurant Stefanie is exactly what one would expect in a hotel whose currency is history: traditional decor, understated but attentive service, and old-school Austrian cuisine like Wiener schnitzel. Room service is available. The small lobby bar/lounge is elegant but can get crowded. An excellent free breakfast includes sausage, bacon, scrambled eggs, cheese, cereal, organic fruit, coffee, tea, fresh juice, and prosecco; kosher food is available on request. Meeting spaces -- including the hotel’s impressive library -- can accommodate 200, and catering is available. The hotel also has a business center with internet access. On-site parking, laundry, and dry-cleaning service are available for a fee, and Wi-Fi is free throughout.