Name: Imperial Riding School, Autograph Collection
Address: Ungargasse 60, Wien, Austria, 1030, Austria

Imperial Riding School, Autograph Collection

Vienna, Austria

Imperial Riding School, Autograph Collection

Vienna, Austria

About the hotel

Loyalty programme

Style

Historic

Rooms

342

"Originally a 19th-century military equestrian school, The Imperial Riding School, Autograph Collection is now a grand hotel with chic guest rooms, inspired dining and the city’s largest private garden."

The Imperial Riding School, Autograph Collection has lived many lives. Originally constructed as a 19th-century military equestrian school, it later changed shape to become the largest cinema in Vienna. Today, the historic building has assumed the role of a grand hotel with a prime location in the vibrant Landstraße district. Many iconic attractions are within easy reach of the hotel’s front door, including Belvedere Palace (where Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss is housed), Hundertwasser House and the Vienna State Opera.

The Imperial Riding School comprises 342 guest rooms in total, and all share a similar interior design scheme that blends both contemporary and Old World inspirations. Accents of blood orange and burgundy liven a muted colour palette of olive, beige and wood, while curved mirrors and bold framed artworks add visual intrigue to the spaces. Velvet couches, circular hanging lighting fixtures and green marble countertops in the bathrooms add further texture to the rooms, and good-sized windows let in plenty of natural light. Many – but not all – of the guest rooms gaze out at the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Nicholas, which is located just steps away from the hotel.

Elstar Restaurant derives its name from the famous Dutch Elstar apples, which are grown within the property’s orchard. There, traditional Austrian dishes are reimagined with a contemporary flair and served beneath beautiful vaulted ceilings. Nearby is Elstar the Garden, a tranquil al fresco dining option set within the city’s largest private garden – small orchard included. In addition to a menu of plates both large and small, the garden hosts picnics and barbecues in the summer months alongside festive markets around Christmas time. Also paying homage to the property’s equestrian roots is The Farrier Bar: a multipurpose space that transforms from a coffee spot in the daytime to a snazzy spot for cocktails (or locally sourced natural wines) at night.

The hotel’s fitness centre remains open 24 hours a day and carries on the chic aesthetic of the hotel’s guest rooms and shared spaces: think colourful gear and oversized, curved-edge backlit mirrors. In addition to the gym spaces (which include a yoga area), guests have at their disposal an indoor pool, steam room and two saunas to boot.