Ruby Sofie

Once a grand concert venue, Ruby Sofie Hotel began its life in the early 1800s and was originally built as a bathhouse. It was soon adopted as a popular music hall due to its excellent acoustics. After hosting hundreds of famous faces -- including big names like Johan Strauss and The Kinks -- the building was severely damaged by fire and left empty for years. It was reinvented as a hotel in 2001, but that cutting-edge legacy remains. The ground floor is occupied by a gym, with the hotel using the rest of the building. Behind the grand Neo-Classical exterior, it's a trendy, stylish place, with a contemporary feel and plenty of nods to its musical history. There are stage lights everywhere, dark backstage corridors, and endless music memorabilia -- photos of stars, instruments, posters, and other knick knacks are found almost everywhere. Guests help themselves to free hot drinks, kick back in the 24-hour bar, or borrow electric guitars from reception for their own private jam sessions. The hotel has a laid-back atmosphere and attracts an often young, hip crowd. 

Ruby Sofie Hotel is located in a pretty central spot, just outside of Vienna's historic and touristy First District. There are several restaurants along the street, and a shopping mall just around the block. The hotel is convenient for the city's main rail station, Wien Mitte, which is about a five-minute walk away. Wien Mitte has direct trains to the airport (with a journey time of around 15 minutes) and is home to Landstrasse Metro station too. It's a couple of stops on the metro into the city center from the hotel. The more active can make the trip on foot in about 20 minutes. Schonbrunn Palace is 30 minutes or so away by train.

Rooms have contemporary, minimalist decor, with light wood floorboards and on-trend colors plus white walls and vintage twists like leather club chairs and wood paneling. The emphasis here is on sleep -- there are over-sized beds, blackout curtains, and high-end sound-proofing. Tech features are nice, and all rooms feature Marshall amp sound systems that can be used with electric guitars (from reception) and as digital docking stations. Some of the entry-level rooms are a bit cramped and lack storage space, so it's worth paying for an upgrade like a Lovely or Wow Room if space is an issue. Other common amenities include tablets, flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, safes, and free Wi-Fi. Lovely and Wow Rooms have additional leather armchairs, and some Lovely Rooms have a small furnished terrace. Rooms all have large open rainfall showers that can be screened with curtains, plus toiletries and hairdryers. 

Ruby Sofie Hotel has some interesting features that fall in line with its heritage. After all, there aren't many hotels where guests can borrow electric guitars to play in their sound-proofed rooms. There's no full-service restaurant here, but an organic breakfast buffet is provided for a fee, with a selection of healthy, locally sourced food. The lobby bar is open 24/7 and has plenty of shabby-chic seating -- including a mezzanine lounge area and two small outside terraces. The mezzanine also has an iMac computer, and a selection of books and magazines. Wi-Fi is free throughout. Up on the fifth floor there are yoga mats for use on the outdoor terrace, and a dedicated darkened room for meditation. Free hot drinks, a vending machine, and ironing corner are also available. The hotel rents push bikes, and guests are given discounted rates for the gym on the ground floor. There is a car park, though fees apply.