Vienna has long beckoned with its historic coffeehouses, plethora of museums, and harmonious melding of Baroque palaces and modernist structures. Today, the Austrian capital is “enjoying an unprecedented level of attention and recognition as a premier travel destination,” says Norbert Kettner, CEO of the Vienna Tourist Board.

A sculptural staircase leads up to the guestrooms at Urbanauts Studios Fillgrader

Last year, he notes, was Vienna’s second-most successful year for tourism (only 2 percent below the 2019 record), garnering 17.3 million overnight stays. Notably, 82 percent of those guests were from abroad, and, after Germany, the U.S. is the highest-volume market, a position poised to become even stronger this summer with the launch of nonstop flights between Boston and Vienna on Austrian Airlines.

Interest in Vienna has risen for several reasons, including its reputation as an ever-evolving cultural hub. In October 2023, on what would have been the composer Johann Strauss’s 198th birthday, the multimedia-fueled House of Strauss museum opened at the 19th-century Casino Zögernitz in the Döbling district, a former haunt of the high-society set spruced up by local architect and designer Denis Košutić and bolstered by a restaurant and concerts. Two months later, the Wien Museum, charting the city’s journey from past to present, completed a multiyear revamp of the 1959-built, Oswald Haerdtl-designed structure.

Restaurant Doubek’s combination of smoked oak and black steel reflects the kitchen’s use of fire

The culinary scene is increasingly becoming more sophisticated, too, distinguished by recent arrivals such as the petite Restaurant Doubek, a fine dining lair in Josefstadt from chef Stefan Doubek and Nora Pein who worked with the local office of Studio Riebenbauer on the design. Reflecting the kitchen’s dedication to cooking solely with fire, the interior mingles raw black steel and smoked oak. “Fire radiates light, warmth, and sensuality. For maximum contrast, we celebrated darkness,” says Almut Becvar, partner and creative director at Studio Riebenbauer. “The absence of color is a conscious decision for a unique atmosphere.”

Among the memorable hotels that debuted in 2023 are the 111-key Almanac Palais Vienna, set in a pair of former palaces that Barcelona firm Jaime Beriestain Studio decked out in Austrian marble. Designed by Zagreb, Croatia-based OCD Architekti, the Amauris Vienna (part of the Relais & Chateaux portfolio) opened with 62 guestrooms in a former 19th-century residence. Further, 14 apartment-style accommodations, some of them duplexes, popped up in a Mariahilf theater reimagined by local practice Büro KLK as Urbanauts Studios Fillgrader.

One of the moody corridors at the Almanac Palais Vienna

According to Lodging Econometrics, eight projects comprising 1,680 guestrooms are in the city’s pipeline. Opening this year, the 152-key Palais Hansen Kempinksi Vienna will rebrand under the Anantara flag; Hotel Schani Uno City will sprout in the shadow of the Vienna International Centre with 202 rooms by local firm Archisphere; and the 157-room Arcotel AQ by local studio Destilat will be a highlight of the mixed-use Althan Quarter.

“Once known for its historical significance and classical music heritage, Vienna is now seen as a dynamic, forward-thinking city,” Kettner points out. “This shift has attracted a more diverse audience, including digital nomads drawn to Vienna’s startup scene as well as the city’s excellent quality of life.”

Imperial Riding School

A timeless equestrian aesthetic pervades the upcoming Imperial Riding School hotel, shown in a rendering

Marriott is growing its presence in the city with the 342-room Imperial Riding School, an Autograph Collection hotel. It will make a splash this spring, joining two of the city’s iconic grand dames, Hotel Bristol and Hotel Imperial, both part of the company’s Luxury Collection. “We’re seeing strong demand for our lifestyle brands in Vienna,” says Tim Zeichhardt, Marriott’s vice president of international hotel development for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. “Last year saw the opening of our second Moxy hotel in the city and the introduction of the Autograph Collection. This characterful, bohemian property will be a fantastic addition for guests looking for the perfect balance of elegance and eccentricity.”

Once the home of the 19th-century Imperial Riding School of Vienna—and subsequently Vienna’s largest cinema—the hotel is the handiwork of London studio Goddard Littlefair and “features unique and unexpected marvels including vaulted ceiling halls and stunning archways,” adds, Zeichhardt. “The design is influenced by details found in the equestrian world, from pageantry to horse tack, leathers, and studs.”

The Hoxton, Vienna

The Hoxton is another much-anticipated opening this spring. Located in the city’s former Chamber of Commerce, designed by modernist architect Carl Appel, the 196-key hotel will flaunt original green marble, a travertine façade, and terrazzo flooring.

The property “is based on a foundation of repetition and symmetry in its architectural features,” says Charlie North, global vice president of design for Ennismore’s in-house AIME Studios. “Appel’s futuristic forms echo throughout the hotel’s design, with the Hoxton’s own signature homey touches adding warmth. Using the corrugated aluminum cladding in the entrance hall as a starting point, we’ve carried a theme of precision and linearity through all the ground floor areas.”

Vienna stood out to the Ennismore team for its “great mix of rich history, amazing food and drink, and a creative culture,” adds North. “We felt there was an opportunity to be part of a new wave of cultural programming and offer a design-led space for locals and visitors alike.”

Photos and renderings by Sivan Assay, Julius Hirtzberger, Roberto Patrovicchio, and courtesy of Archisphere, Jaime Beriestain Studio, Marriott, and OCD Architekti

This article originally appeared in HD’s February/March 2024 issue.