HIDDEN GUEST: Hotel Daniel Vienna

Vienna Central Station was this year named the second-best station in Europe. The ultra-modern train station Hauptbahnhof Vienna stunned the evaluators with its uncompromised quality. Hotel Daniel is a part of this intriguing third district of Vienna, called Landstrasse and is historically defined by the castle and park Belvedere. After a long congress day at Hotel Daniel, both the park and the imposing castle are a feast for the eyes and a great place to stretch your legs. You will be able to go to the heart of the city on foot, taking you approximately 15 minutes. Moreover, the entrance to the cool museum named Belevedere 21 is free of charge for hotel guests.

Every day, the streets of Vienna are bustling with 2,6 million passengers who drive to work and around town without a glitch. The Viennese transport system, including the city’s airport, is undoubtedly a good practice case; as simple and elegantly as travelling to and around Vienna is almost impossible anywhere else. Furthermore, the entire transportation is becoming more sustainable with each year. All Viennese taxis will be electric from 2025 onwards. To top it off, the hotel itself offers electric bicycles, e-Vespas and a spacious garage where you can park your car for a fair price of 17 EUR a day. Excellent.

The old building, constructed in 1962, was the maiden building in Vienna to boast a glass facade without construction elements. It had been designed by the distinguished architect Goerg Lipper. The hotel’s design makes it one of the pioneers of design hotels. Albeit the rooms are minimalistic, even after a decade, they appear timeless. The soul of the hotel is the eclectic lobby. A mix of vintage furniture, greenery and industrial design is quite frankly flabbergasting. The general feel while staying at the hotel is thus super pleasant, partly due to the interior design, concept and attention to detail. Blending architectural styles still works in 2021 and follows the needs of guests. The hotel’s promise of boasting modern smart luxury is from the aspect of architecture utterly justified.

Upon our visit, the hotel was well-booked. Nonetheless, we did not come across an unpleasant staff. On the contrary, our experience was exclusively positive from start to finish. The hotel’s heart is the hybrid restaurant Bakery, a mix between a living room and an event venue. Breakfast is still among the best in Vienna and fuses Viennese culinary heritage with modern healthy gastronomy. As the breakfast area turns into the restaurant, guests will be welcomed by a concise but innovative menu with an eclectic offer that features outstanding burgers and steaks. Yummy!

Hotel rooms

We tried two out of five hotel room types. Even the most basic smart room is a solid choice for a solo traveller or a pair. The bed and bed lining accompanied by great lighting was above standard. Moreover, the flawlessly working rain dance shower topped it off. The panorama room, on the other hand, offers a much more exclusive experience. It astonishes guests with a hammock in the middle of the room that can be purchased in the lobby, a retro leather minibar and splendid views. In all rooms, elegant green ceramics are prominent in the bathroom, whilst the wooden floor appears pleasant to the eye and feet. All in all, appealing and user-friendly minimalism.

Meetings centre

Even though the hotel does not offer a conference centre as such, it still plays host to boutique events. The Bakery is a spectacularly attractive space that can be, according to employees, transformed into a room for press conferences, product launches or a space to meet with business partners. Hence, the hotel’s open space enables a simple transformation into a breakfast area, restaurant or congress hall. Isn’t that precisely the future of congress halls?

DESSERT – The extras

Hotel Daniel was among the first hotels to place a bee house on its rooftop, as the nearby botanical garden and Belevedere park offer an abundance of food for bees. What was then a revolution is now a trend around the world. We must admit that their honey is delicious.

FLOP – NEGATIVE SURPRISES

When merry guests are enjoying themselves on the outdoor terrace of the hotel in the evening hours, the noise coming to the rooms can be disturbing, particularly on the lower floors of the hotel.

TOP – POSITIVE SURPRISES

Urban gardening amid a metropolis is another one of modern trends followed by Hotel Daniel. Everything planted and produced in the hotel garden is, of course, used in the kitchen. They are particularly successful in growing tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchinis and an array of herbs. Hotel Daniel even has an apple orchard comprising exclusively antique apple varieties – sorts that have mostly disappeared from shelves of supermarkets due to their “unfitting” sizes.

The hotel’s story and concept place Hotel Daniel among designer hotels. Having been featured in established designer and travellers magazines and media such as Wallpaper, Monocle, Geo Saison and Condé Nast Traveler, it seems that Hotel Daniel is on the right path. Proof that their philosophy works are numerous copies among the most distinguished hotel chains. However, hotelier and businessman from Graz, Florian Weitzer, is undoubtedly the pioneer of the concept that has quickly spread worldwide.

Simplicity, environmental responsibility and a relaxed atmosphere seem the ultimate formula for successful hotels after the corona crisis. A new hotel industry where the hotel is once again the centre of social life and the trendsetter. Hotel Daniel in Vienna offers all that for a super fair price and has hitherto gained loyal guests. The father of all trendy hotels worldwide is in mint condition, and we sincerely recommend staying here. In the same breath, all hoteliers looking for ideas for the future are welcome to visit.

FINAL GRADE: 4.85 GOLD City Meeting Hotel 

GOLD final score from 4.81 to 5.00
SILVER final score from 4.61 to 4.80
BRONZE final score from 4.41 to 4.60