STAYING AT THE HIPSTER MOM
LOCATION
Cool Mama Salzburg is located just off the Austrian A1 motorway, a stone’s throw away from the premier exhibition centre in this region of Austria. Its proximity to the Salzburg Exhibition Centre is one of its main advantages. In a way, the hotel serves as the headquarters of guests attending various events at the famed exhibition centre or its city-based neighbour, Salzburg Arena. More importantly, the location is practical for exploring and navigating the city, as everything is relatively close by, most notably Salzburg Airport, just five kilometres away. The quaint, welcoming suburban district is why numerous travellers, stopping on their way, prefer to stay in this tranquil area instead of the city centre. Location is one of the hotel’s greatest assets.
ACCESSIBILITY
Cool Mama Salzburg is ideal for all guests arriving by car. However, outdoor parking or in the hotel garage is not free of charge. That is one of its noticeable drawbacks. Yet, once you have parked, Salzburg is impressively walkable and easily accessible by public transport and taxis. In this light, Salzburg easily ranks among the best in Europe. Its air accessibility is less impressive. Luckily, one of Europe’s central air traffic crossroads is only two hours away. Even though the hotel does not offer bike rental, we warmly recommend exploring the city by cycling, considering the well-developed bicycle infrastructure.
COLD STARTER - Architecture and aesthetics
The architecture of Cool Mama Salzburg is a modern architectural take on a fifteen-storey skyscraper. It boasts a glass facade paired with black panels and a charcoal-coloured cube on the ground floor. The combination makes the hotel appear like an architectural advertisement board, easily seen from the motorway. The interior features a minimalist design in dark brown shades, typically used when the hotel was erected. We must admit that, on the whole, the hotel still appears strikingly fresh and modern. Still, several tiny details have not stood the test of time. That is most evident in the hotel restaurant and its outdated lounges. But the stunning views make up for that, particularly from the upper floors. It is the panoramic vistas that have made the hotel instantly recognisable. The views from the outlandish men’s urinals are probably the best in the region. However, as hotel fashion progresses swiftly, fads that were extraordinarily cool one decade ago quickly become cliches. The hipster story that impressed guests upon opening has become mainstream today.
WARM ENTRÉE - The staff and the culinary experience
We were not particularly impressed by the personnel. The staff proved average, perhaps drained from all guests in the hotel. The registration process via Ipads was impersonal and time-consuming. Maybe the hotel saves some expenses in the registration process, but that budget-saving results in dissatisfied guests from the start of their stay. We do not doubt the hotel can find a more elegant way for checking-in guests. Otherwise, the hotel is well-maintained inside, much like on the outside. The panoramic restaurant was already closed when we arrived, but we did enjoy a rich breakfast. With a diverse and quality offer, we only wished the presentation of dishes was slightly more innovative. Dishing out plates on a relatively small counter does not give the dishes space to shine. Although fresh and tasty, they could be accompanied by labels denoting their origin. Considering digital nomads predominantly occupy the hotel, dish labelling should improve, as they care whether their food comes from the supermarket or the local farm. The restaurant trusts its views to attract guests but should also focus on providing excellent service. The gastronomic experience is headed in the right direction, but the hotel should improve its staff and service.
MAIN COURSE – The meetings offering at the hotel
Hotel rooms
The floating bed really turns heads, making guests feel like Alladin on a magic carpet. The bed is incredibly comfortable and inviting, courtesy of the well-functioning digital lighting. The wooden flooring and excellent bathroom contribute to the general well-being. The bathroom would satisfy guests staying in a five-star. The digitally managed walk-in shower is superb, just like the ornate details, including the built-in toilet brush hidden in the wall and the well-functioning faucets. Although slightly concealed, the slick towel handle appears elegant. With its incredible views, the room is the hotel’s trump card. That is why we recommend arranging a room on the upper floors. Rooms above the sixth floor are spectacular.
Meetings centre
The hotel is home to a smaller conference centre on the ground floor. With plenty of daylight coming through the windows, the multifunctional conference centre overlooks a tranquil, zen park. The main hall can be divided into two smaller rooms that can capacitate up to 150 attendees. Event organisers can also organise their event in Sky Bar, a truly unique venue. If you seek a roomier hall, Salzburg Exhibition Centre is nearby.
DESSERT – The extras
The hotel is practically at the entrance of Salzburg Messe. That is one of its competitive advantages, especially for guests attending one of the numerous events taking place there year-round. If you book a room at Cool Mama Salzburg, you can walk to the venue on foot.
FLOP – NEGATIVE SURPRISES
In a hotel where business guests dominate, the internet must work faster. As we live in the 5G digital age, we are unaccustomed to such slow Wi-Fi.
TOP – POSITIVE SURPRISES
The phenomenal 360 Panorama is the hotel’s main marketing teaser. If you wish to experience the beauty of Salzburg and its surroundings, Cool Mama is a superb choice.
SUSTAINABLE ENDEAVOURS
During our stay, we did not come across any sustainable initiatives. The hotel did not advocate any green campaigns in particular.
FINAL IMPRESSION AND CREDIBILITY
Although the impressive urinals with cityscape views are cool, they are not enough for Cool Mama Salzburg to become the leading hipster hotel in the city. With a broad selection of similar hotels, the hotel was sure to become the coolest in Salzburg. Yet, there is a long way to the top, and the hotel lacks excellent service to edge out its competition. In that light, we are not sure the hotel service justifies the hotel name. The management has plenty of work to make their nomen an omen. Otherwise, the hotel is a decent conference hotel that complements the capacities of the neighbouring Salzburg Messe. The latter acquired a loyal neighbour with Cool Mama Salzburg, adding the final piece to their mosaic. Cool Mama Salzburg is a solid choice for another reason; when meeting someone for a quick coffee, its location is unmatched.
FINAL GRADE: 4.74 SILVER 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
