Europe’s newest luxury landmark: A review of the Rosewood Vienna

I ended up booking through Cranky Concierge, which participates in the Rosewood Elite program for travel specialists. It was able to secure the same nightly rate of 800 euros ($864) as I found directly through Rosewood, but with the added benefits of early check-in and late checkout subject to availability, a guaranteed room upgrade at the time of booking from a deluxe to a premier room that would have cost 100 euros ($108) more per night, a welcome amenity, complimentary daily breakfast for two at the hotel’s restaurant plus a 150-euro ($162) credit toward food and beverage or the spa during my stay.

Standout features

In a city brimming with excellent, unique luxury lodgings, the Rosewood Vienna still manages to stand out in several ways.

Drawbacks

There aren’t many caveats beyond the kinks of a still-new hotel.

• It should clear up soon, but Petersplatz and some of the surrounding streets are a warren of construction, which means some unwanted ambient noise as well as difficulty guiding taxis and Ubers to the entrance.
• Although grand, the entry atrium feels empty and sterile, and could benefit from an on-hand representative greeting and guiding guests as they enter or exit the hotel.
• Breakfast service at Neue Hoheit Brasserie can be uneven; attentive and efficient one day then lackadaisical and lagging another.
• The small size of the Asaya Spa and shared men’s and women’s facilities might put off some spagoers.
• The price point: Everything from room rates to dinner entrees to spa services will need its own line item in your budget. That’s to be expected, but also to be aware of, at this level of luxury.

The spacious bathroom has regal black and white marble tiling and a stand-alone, glaze-topped vanity with custom lighting as well as a deep soaking tub, separate water closet and walk-in shower provisioned with citrusy Maison Caulieres products. (Don’t worry, the shades and curtains here, as out in the main room, can be lowered with the touch of a button.)

An almost theatrical minibar with a walnut frame, gray marble counter and scalloped shelves (plus cut-crystal glassware) conceals local goodies such as hazelnut Manner Wien wafer cookies, Mozart-Wurfel chocolates and a selection of cocktails inspired by various Viennese attractions, like the Red Carpet, which is a take on the mai tai and alludes to the Vienna State Opera.

Food and drink

Not quite open for my visit, the hotel has a reception-level cafe and bar that is a tribute to Vienna’s famous coffeehouses called Salon Aurelie, where the garden-like decor is a reference to the Palmenhaus conservatory.

Breakfast is an unhurried affair with both international and classic Austrian items that range from avocado toast ($14) to soft-boiled “eggs in a glass” with chives and toasted brioche, ham with freshly grated horseradish and a variety of cheeses, plus coffee, and a variety of fresh fruits and pastries ($21).

Come back at sunset and take the staircase up one level to the bolt-hole cocktail bar, which has a cozy, wood-paneled interior. Folks can gather around the bar and watch the mixologists in action twirling and shaking various bottles and decanters as well as low-set tables and a communal counter. There’s an alfresco terrace with high-tops for visitors who prefer fresh air as they imbibe imaginative libations. The Burgenland is an earthy concoction of Americano, peach, walnut bitters and a dehydrated beet topper served on the rocks in a highball ($19).

After your aperitif, saunter back down to the dining room for a lavish dinner that might include oysters on the half-shell ($43 for six); caviar with all the fixings ($96); Asian-fusion fare like a poached lobster salad with spicy slaw, papaya and tangy Japanese vinaigrette ($23); and a juicy Austrian dry-aged beef filet ($43) seared on the Josper charcoal grill accompanied by a glass of fruit-forward Zagersdorf Sankt Laurent ($22).

Amenities and service

A hotel this high-end means high-touch service, so don’t be surprised if, a week before your stay, one of the hotel’s friendly concierges reaches out via email to ask if you need any help with restaurant reservations, tours or museum and concert tickets. And don’t hesitate to put them to work.

An offhanded comment about my potential late arrival led to them making me a proactive booking for dinner at cheery nearby Oswald & Kalb for traditional Wiener schnitzel … just in case I felt peckish when I got in (and after a welcome glass of Louis Roederer Champagne while checking in, I did).

A mention of a visit to the Belvedere Museum prompted them to secure me a ticket for a timed entry in advance to save me both time and money, and a casual question about the gorgeous light fixtures in the reception area resulted in a hand-delivered, handwritten note explaining their provenance and a nearby store where I could peruse other examples.

The hotel is also home to a spacious and well-equipped gym that can be a puzzle to find thanks to the building’s idiosyncratic layout, but that has plenty of Technogym machines and weights.