The Austrian capital’s latest ultra-luxe lodgings will soon be home to the first Asaya Spa outside Asia.
A Deluxe room at Rosewood Vienna. (All photos courtesy of the property)
Rosewood has opened a new European outpost just this week in the heart of Vienna’s Old Town. Bound by Petersplatz on one side and the pedestrian shopping street of Tuchlauben on the other, Rosewood Vienna occupies the former headquarters of Erste Group Bank AG. Commissioned works by contemporary artists are scattered throughout the seven-story structure, which was originally built from 1835–38 to a design by Austrian architect Alois Pichl.
Viennese studios A2K and BEHF were tasked with transforming the historic office building into a classic-contemporary luxe retreat, while London-based interior designer Alexander Waterworth was responsible for the decor. Waterworth has given the 71 spacious guest rooms and 28 suites a residential style: the neutral color palette is balanced with details such as handmade brass wall light fixtures inspired by alpine edelweiss flowers, alongside custom-made furnishings like a minibar made of walnut, leather, and local gray marble. Fabrics by Backhausen, the 170-year-old company known for its Wiener Jugendstil patterns, are used in everything from curtains and chairs to tissue boxes and bedside notepads.
Equipped with its own separate entrance from street level, the third-floor presidential suite, Hoffmann House, is named after the visionary Viennese modernist architect Josef Hoffmann, who was a co-founder of the avant-garde design collective Wiener Werkstätte. The 178-square-meter suite includes a master bedroom, a living room with a French balcony overlooking Petersplatz, an entertainment area, a dining room with seating for eight, and a dedicated kitchen. Hoffmann House can be connected to up to seven guest rooms if required.
The restored 19th-century facade of the hotel.
Inside a Deluxe Junior suite at Rosewood Vienna.
Left to right: The bathroom of a Premier room; the sitting area inside a Deluxe room.
Views of nearby landmarks like St. Peter’s Church and St. Stephen’s Cathedral can be enjoyed from the Neue Hoheit (literally “New Highness”) brasserie and rooftop cocktail bar on the property’s sixth and seventh floors, both designed by Viennese studio Kroenland. Neue Hoheit serves up European fare including local classics prepared with seasonal market ingredients. Patrons can choose to sit in the main dining room with a show kitchen, an outdoor terrace, or private indoor and outdoor spaces named The Garden Room and Secret Garden, respectively. Downstairs, the lobby lounge Salon Aurelie offers a modern Viennese coffeehouse experience, with murals painted by Austrian artist Marie Hartig providing an elegant backdrop for tucking into finger sandwiches, artisanal pastries, and cakes.
On the wellness front, Rosewood Vienna’s Asaya Spa will become the first one outside of Asia when it debuts in September. The facility encompasses four treatment rooms and a social lounge, a relaxation area, as well as a sauna, steam bath, and experience shower. Therapies and wellness programs here will take a leaf out of Austria’s own healing traditions.
The opening offer is valid for stays until November 24, 2022; benefits include complimentary breakfast, early check-in and late checkout, and a dining credit of at least 150 euros. Suite guests will receive a credit of 200 euros and a one-way airport transfer.
rosewoodhotels.com; doubles from US$764
Hearty Austrian fare awaits at the Neue Hoheit brasserie.
Salon Aurelie is the hotel’s lobby lounge.
Mansard Premier rooms at Rosewood Vienna measure in at 36–57 square meters.
