Hotel Astoria Vienna

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Not top luxury, but with a central location in the heart of Vienna, it has a great history.

Built in 1912 by the hotelier Anton Hanl in „fin du siècle“- style, the HOTEL ASTORIA opened its doors as the most modern hotel in the whole city. 125 rooms equipped with hot and cold running water, telephone and central heating were “state of the art” back then.

Electric clocks were spread throughout the hotel – and most of the rooms as well as the elegant lounges offered an ozone based air conditioning system. 27 rooms already had their own bathroom – a sensation for 1912!

When Mr. Hanl died in 1929, his wife took over the hotel’s management. Mrs. Hanl was a very well-known figure in Vienna’s society and played hostess to many local and foreign aristocrats, distinguished diplomats, famous scientists and politicians, international stars of screen and stage such as Clemens Krauss, Maria Jeritza, Orson Wells, Sonja Ziemann and many others.

Needless to say that the 2nd World War also had its impact on the hotel. Having been occupied for 6 months by the Russians after World War II, the hotel was then taken by the Royal Air Force for 3 more years. In 1948 a sustained process of renovation began.

Mrs. Hanl died in 1957, her heirs carried on the Astoria tradition. All rooms were refurbished, the number of bathrooms increased to 81, 2 modern express lifts added and the facade completely redone.

The Österreichische Verkehrsbüro AG assumed control of the hotel in March of 1978 and started an ongoing renovation program. To assure full satisfaction of our guests a major part of hotel rooms appear in a brand new shine since March 2005, fitted to the very traditional style of the hotel.

Today the Hotel Astoria combines tradition, historical charm, Austrian hospitality and Viennese coziness to a very unique atmosphere. The lavish renovation mark the transition to an up-to-date and modern hotel.

The Astoria is one of the leading hotels of the Austria Trend Hotels, a local chain which does not claim to be part of the top notch luxury sector. Thanks to its central location and its vicinity to the Vienna State Opera it has constantly been a meeting place to artists, politicians and well-known personalities such as Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, James King, Leonhard Bernstein e.a.

By Adrian Mourby, Contributing Editor, Famous Hotels