Anantara Palais Hansen Vienna Hotel
by the TopOfHotel team
Palais Hansen is a fully realised 5-star on the Ringstrasse — Michelin restaurant, complete spa and a strong location.
Palais Hansen is a fully realised 5-star on the Ringstrasse — Michelin restaurant, complete spa and a strong location.
In-Depth Review
Anantara Palais Hansen Vienna Hotel (formerly the Palais Hansen Kempinski) occupies a big cream-white stone building on Schottenring — part of the Ringstrasse boulevard that Emperor Franz Joseph ordered built in the 1860s. The building first opened in 1873 for the Vienna World Exhibition and went through a major renovation in 2013.
Rooms and decor
There are 152 rooms and suites, sized from 40 sqm up to a 400 sqm Presidential Suite. They are done in contemporary Viennese Classicism — Austrian silk, gilded furniture and marble — and the rooms facing the Ringstrasse look straight out over the grand boulevard. More than one guest has said it feels like stepping into a classic European film.
Food and amenities
The K Restaurant holds a Michelin star for contemporary Austrian cooking built around seasonal ingredients from Austrian producers. The Anantara Spa is the full version — an indoor pool, sauna and treatment rooms — and the spa staff pull particular praise, with guests calling the therapists very skilled. The fitness room is open 24 hours.
Location and getting there
Schottenring sits on the Ringstrasse ring road on the north side of the Inner City, 10 minutes from Rathaus. The U2 Schottenring station is right beside the hotel, and it is a 12-minute walk to the State Opera, or a direct ride on tram 1 or 2. From VIE airport, take the CAT train 16 minutes to Wien Mitte, then change to the U4.
Things to know before booking
The biggest catch is distance from the opera: it is a 12-minute walk to the State Opera, so you either catch the tram or move quickly on foot. The mood throughout is very formal, which may feel stiff if you are a younger traveller after something more relaxed. And while rooms start around $371, the top suites run up to roughly $2,286 a night.
Our take
Palais Hansen suits business travellers and couples who care about historic architecture and want a Michelin restaurant and a complete spa, at a price that comes in below both the Sacher and the Rosewood.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- The K Restaurant holds a Michelin star for contemporary Austrian cooking built around seasonal ingredients from Austrian producers.
- A full Anantara Spa with an indoor pool, sauna and treatment rooms — an indoor pool is genuinely rare in central Vienna hotels.
- 152 spacious, high-quality rooms and suites, ranging from 40 sqm up to a 400 sqm Presidential Suite.
- The concierge draws the most consistent praise of any hotel in this group.
- Rooms start around $371, which works out cheaper than both the Sacher and the Rosewood for a comparable level.
- It is a 12-minute walk to the State Opera, so you either ride the tram or walk briskly.
- The mood is very formal, which may not suit younger travellers looking for something relaxed.
- Top suites climb to roughly $2,286 a night, so the upper rooms are firmly luxury-priced.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
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Insider Tips
- Book The K Restaurant at least a week ahead.
- Ask for a Ringstrasse-facing room — the view over the historic boulevard is the best in the building.
- The Anantara Spa runs 7:00 to 21:00, so an early-morning swim is the quietest time in the pool.