Hotel Altstadt Vienna is a place where art meets hospitality in the heart of Austria’s capital. Housed in a stately 1902 townhouse in the trendy Spittelberg district, this eclectic boutique hotel feels like an elegant art gallery you can sleep in. Founded in 1991 by Otto Ernst Wiesenthal – a visionary art collector who dreamt of a hotel as a living canvas – Altstadt Vienna has grown from a 24-room experiment into a 62-room design haven that’s a member of Small Luxury Hotels. Each room and suite here is utterly unique, individually designed by renowned creatives, from contemporary fashion stars to legendary architects. As you wander the hallways, you’ll encounter over 350 original works of art from Wiesenthal’s personal collection, including pieces by Warhol, Leibovitz, and Yoko Ono, as well as notable Austrian artists like Prachensky and Hundertwasser. The hallways themselves are a delight, doubling as a curated exhibition with paintings, sculptures, and photographs at every turn – all part of the “Altstadt experience”, which invites guests to “marvel or question” the art as they please. Despite its gallery-like ambience, the Altstadt is warm and livable. Each room is a work of art in design: you might stay in a suite conceived by an Italian architect with bold colors and modernist furniture, or a “Viennese Salon” room draped in velvet and silk, evoking 1920s elegance. One suite, designed by a famous actor, even features a ceiling mirror and playful erotic art for a cheeky twist. Yet another – the “Lena Hoschek Suite” – channels a retro-chic vibe by the eponymous fashion designer. No two stays are alike, except for the common thread of high-quality comforts (plush beds, high ceilings, parquet floors) and that feeling of sleeping in an art installation. The hotel’s tagline, “the art of hospitality,” extends beyond visuals. Service is genuinely personal and heartfelt. The Altstadt team delights in crafting bespoke city experiences – whether it’s snagging last-minute opera tickets or recommending an off-beat gallery. Every afternoon, guests are treated to a complimentary tea and cake session in the bohemian Red Salon, where a samovar brews tea and Viennese pastries tempt, surrounded by lounges and books. It’s a chance to mingle with fellow travelers or simply unwind by the open fireplace like you’re in a friend’s living room. In the mornings, the hotel’s beloved organic breakfast awaits, often cited as one of Vienna’s best. The buffet brims with regional organic delicacies: free-range eggs made to order, homemade granola, local farm yogurts, sourdough breads, cold cuts from organic farms, and vegan spreads – all enjoyed with a side of art, as contemporary pieces adorn the bright breakfast room. Many ingredients come from nearby markets or the hotel’s own small production; even the coffee is fair-trade and roasted in Austria. The Altstadt’s sustainability ethos is quietly impressive, underscoring its membership in the prestigious Austrian EcoLabel. Green practices are woven into daily operations: they use 100% renewable energy, have implemented advanced heat recovery systems, and rooms feature efficient lighting and water-saving fixtures without compromising on luxury. The hotel offers a “Green Meeting” package for events – showcasing sustainable materials and organic catering. They avoid single-use plastics, provide refillable soap dispensers of high-quality natural cosmetics, and encourage guests to explore Vienna by foot, bike, or public transport (the front desk hands out city maps with walking routes and will happily rent you an electric bicycle). In a nod to biodiversity, the Altstadt’s lobby features a striking Florawall – a living vertical garden of greenery that symbolizes their commitment to climate protection and a healthy indoor climate. Social sustainability is evident too: the hotel supports local artists by purchasing art (hence the dazzling collection) and often hosts gallery openings and talks. They also engage in community initiatives, from charity auctions to collaborations with Vienna’s museums and cultural institutions. The location is ideal for culturally curious travelers. Step outside and you’re in the Boboville (Vienna’s hip 7th district), surrounded by design shops, cool cafés, and galleries. The MuseumsQuartier – one of the world’s largest contemporary art complexes – is a 5-minute stroll, and the historic city center is just a 10-minute walk. Yet Altstadt Vienna stands as a destination in itself. Guests can take the hotel’s own guided tour (“(Un)guided Tour” they call it) to learn the stories behind its art and design pieces, or listen to the Altstadt podcast featuring interviews with designers of various rooms. Throughout the property, you find fun contrasts: an opulent Baroque chandelier here, a cutting-edge video installation there; a quiet homage to Freudian Vienna in one suite, and a playful nod to pop art in another. It’s these layers that earned Altstadt Vienna a reputation as “an art gallery, museum and hotel rolled into one,” as one magazine put it. Yet for all its stylish flair, the atmosphere is never pretentious – the mix of friendly staff, personal touches, and creature comforts (like the ultra-soft sheets and indulgent Etro bath products) ensures you feel at ease. In sum, Hotel Altstadt Vienna offers an immersion into Viennese creativity and charm, wrapped in genuine hospitality and underpinned by a serious commitment to sustainability. It’s a place where you might discuss expressionist art over an organic breakfast, borrow a book of Klimt prints from the library, recharge with a solar-powered espresso, and fall asleep under an original piece of contemporary artwork. Few hotels capture the soul of a city as well as the Altstadt does – it’s Viennese to its core, reflecting the city’s blend of history, art, innovation and gemütlichkeit (coziness). And when you leave, you’ll carry a piece of that artistic inspiration and conscious ethos with you.