THE EMPEROR'S (WASHED) CLOTHES
LOCATION
Vienna’s third district, Landstraße, has always been prestigious, dotted with palaces that now house embassies. Among them, an imposing palace, designed by architect Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt in the 18th century for the Harrach family, stole many curious glimpses. To cater to the needs of the Habsburg monarchy, the building was repurposed as a military equestrian school around 1850. Royal ballrooms were turned into offices and schoolrooms, while courtyards transformed into stables. The equestrian school operated until 1918, and sadly fell into decay. Most of the palace was destroyed during the wars, barring a few architectural elements. In 1990, the Imperial Riding School Renaissance Hotel Vienna opened its doors here, incorporating the historic stucco facade and parts of the former stables into its design. The architects also added a modern annexe with hotel rooms. Following a 2024 renovation, the hotel joined Marriott’s Autograph Collection, blending the grandeur of the regal past with the comfort of a modern, boutique hotel. The hotel’s location is doubtlessly among Vienna’s most prestigious – in the heart of the embassy quarter, steps away from the Belvedere Museum. Even though it is not tucked away in the strict city centre, guests should not have trouble reaching the heart of town, given the city’s superb public transport options.
ACCESSIBILITY
among the Fifteen most accessible cities in Europe
Most telling of Vienna’s accessibility is the data from the ACI Index, which ranked Vienna among the top fifteen most accessible cities in Europe. Combine that with exceptional multimodal accessibility within the city, and Vienna is an ideal prototype of a metropolis, at least in terms of accessibility. The hotel is an excellent choice for guests arriving by car. Although one night in the parking garage costs 35 EUR, you will rest assured that your vehicle is safe and sound. The hotel is a jackpot for avid walkers. Sauntering through the diplomatic district will wow you with monumental palaces, and the city centre is just a bit further afield. Belvedere, a must-visit landmark, is also near.
If you want to explore the town differently, consider renting a bicycle: Vienna is, in fact, one of the most cyclist-friendly destinations in Europe. For the easygoing guests, we recommend opting for a slew of taxis, from private ones to those powered by Uber and Bolt.
COLD STARTER - Architecture and aesthetics
The interior marries the aristocratic and regal past with bohemian charm
The complex combines the central and eastern parts from 1850, a western wing from the 1990s, and a brand-new, seven-storey southern building. BWM Designers & Architects helmed the latest renovation. After eighteen months and 45 million EUR invested, the building was completely revamped. The renovation is most evident on the façade, which has been renovated in accordance with the historic colour palette. Guests will also notice the surrounding horseshoe-shaped garden, designed by Lindle+Bukor in a sustainable style. The interior was designed by the London-based Goddard Littlefair studio, which fostered an elegant dialogue between the historic details and modern opulence. Spaciousness and exposed arches mark the central lobby, elevated by the restored glass lift that leads to the conference halls. The interior marries the aristocratic and regal past with bohemian charm: a bar with a metal ceiling, a restaurant dotted with mirrors and peepholes, and surprising chandeliers from horse tails. Even the hotel corridors with carpets displaying horse manes pay homage to the story. As an entity, the hotel resembles a scene from a movie, a setting from the making of The Grand Budapest Hotel. Simply inspiring.
WARM ENTRÉE - The staff and the culinary experience
The Elstar Restaurant and The Farrier Bar offer guests two completely different, yet equally appealing settings. The Elstar turns heads with Secession-style windows and subtle hints of the former orchard. It bears the name of an apple sort that still grows in the hotel garden today. Guests can pluck them right from the lush garden. The Farrier, on the other hand, captivates with modern metal installations that dramatically hover above the guests, imbuing the space with a dynamic character.
The offering, especially at breakfast, is on the highest five-star level – quality-made, diverse, and thoughtfully prepared. We had a remark regarding the à la carte offering: although it sounded great, there was no one at our table to collect our order. Nonetheless, the excellent coffee, rich selection of juices, and fresh produce stood out. The sweet part of the offering is somewhat disappointing, but the splendid selection of bread and spreads makes up for it. Although we did not try the dinner at the restaurant, we were amazed by the ambience in the bar. We warmly recommend that the hotel open the cute market at night. This tiny but important detail would mean a lot to guests who find an empty minibar in their room.
MAIN COURSE – The meetings offering at the hotel
Hotel rooms
The hotel’s stable (oops, room) is imbued with nostalgic memories of the building’s illustrious past. These elements include a sliding bathroom door and a one-off towel rack that we imagine would easily fit inside a real stable. Wooden decor embellished with leather and metal parts is a homage to the past. The imperial, crimson red hue was introduced in the room with the headboard and charming nightstands. Adding comfort to the room is the lounger, featuring fantastic details and warm colours. The bathroom is spacious and functional and equipped with a walk-in shower. Exquisite Saint Charles cosmetics add the finishing touch. The designers did not overdo the technology or digitalisation in the room, which we appreciated. Everything functioned flawlessly, including the air conditioning. Our only note concerns the low height of the ceilings, which requires some getting used to. In accordance with our expectations, we subconsciously expected a cavernous room with a high ceiling. We must laud the above-standard bed lining, which contributes to the feeling of staying in an ultra cosy room.
Meetings centre
The conference centre comprises 13 multipurpose event halls flooded with natural daylight. In total, the hotel offers 1271 square metres of innovative surfaces. The largest hall, the Kaisergarten, covering 417 square metres, bears the name of Kaiser Franc Joseph I, seating 425 attendees in a theatre setting. The vast panoramic windows, overlooking the historic courtyard, impress guests with plenty of daylight. The hall can be further divided into two smaller ones. Beyond the central Kaisergarten and Reitschule halls, event organisers can host events in smaller, more intimate event spaces, ideal for workshops, business meetings, or private events.
DESSERT – The extras
The wellness includes an indoor pool, fitness, sauna, and steam room. Set in the modern annexe of the eighties, which differs from the historic part of the hotel, it provides guests with a pleasant space to rest and relax, especially thanks to the lavish ground-floor pool, which is elegantly connected with the garden.
FLOP – NEGATIVE SURPRISES
The hotel does not entirely meet expectations in terms of attention to detail. Tiny details, such as the empty minibar, unresponsive and ambivalent staff in the restaurant, who disregarded guests, hoping to order from the a la carte menu, and a brief menu of sweet dishes, led us to believe the experience was not fully crafted. By channelling more effort, the hotel could seriously improve the final impression.
TOP – POSITIVE SURPRISES
The finest surprise is the fine balance between historic charm and modern renovation. The hotel rooms and halls exude the elegance of the former riding school. At the same time, they offer a modern experience tailored to guests.
SUSTAINABLE ENDEAVOURS
The Imperial Riding School aspires to manage the hotel ecologically: the roof is fitted with a photovoltaic system, spanning 1,650 square metres, which will provide all the electricity needed to power the hotel in the future. Moreover, the roof is additionally isolated, the building is energy-efficient, and all rooms are equipped with sensors to prevent excessive energy use. The hotel opted for certified ecological building materials to render the hotel even more sustainable. Also, the parking garage will soon have ten electric charging stations. They even approach daily room cleaning with a shrewd campaign dubbed “Your bonus for a sustainable stable”. The Imperial Riding School is among a handful of hotels that publicly publish their average energy and water use per room.
FINAL IMPRESSION AND CREDIBILITY
At first glance, the Imperial Riding School appears to be a classic abode, but its diverse range of halls renders it a great congress hotel. It must be the marriage between historic charm and modern event infrastructure that led Cvent to name this novel property the No. 1 Meeting Hotel in Europe in 2025. This attests to the hotel’s quality, Cvent’s questionable methodology aside.
The Imperial Riding School is a paragon of the Autograph Collection’s philosophy.
We wanted to double-check Cvent’s evaluation ourselves through the eyes of the hidden congress guest. What sets the hotel apart from the competition is the thorough renovation, which helps the hotel stand head and shoulders above similar Viennese competitors. The architects made use of every inch of the space, making the layout open and welcoming. That is why event attendees will feel relaxed and embraced. All these features are nothing short of Marriott’s Autograph Collection standards, famed for authentic, singular hotels. The Imperial Riding School is a paragon of the brand’s philosophy.
Service is consistent, without any particular disappointments or welcome surprises. The hotel’s trump card is its design and holistic offering. Yet, it lacks some finesse. It makes up for this drawback with a relatively wallet-friendly price for Vienna. We dare not exaggerate and say it is the number one event hotel in Europe, but it is undoubtedly a solid choice for events and incentive groups.
FINAL GRADE: 4.89 THREE MEETING STARS⭐⭐⭐ City Meeting Hotel
3 MEETING STARS⭐⭐⭐ final score from 4.81 to 5.00
2 MEETING STARS⭐⭐ final score from 4.61 to 4.80
1 MEETING STAR⭐ final score from 4.41 to 4.60
