There are at least 3 Hiltons in Vienna. I’m talking specifically about the Hilton Vienna Plaza, which is in the northern part of town on the Ring. Near the votive church in the Schottenring area. It started as a luxury hotel in 1872, burned towards the end of the Second World War and was opened in 1988 as a Hilton that was the very first design hotel in Austria (thank you Wikipedia).
The hotel tries as it says for an Art Deco vibe with a contemporary twist. I’d describe it as a hybrid of a boutique and a business hotel. It somehow packs in 10 conference rooms, 254 rooms in 10 floors, a good sized lobby and reception area, and two eating options. Also has a two-story gym stuck in the middle floors with sauna.
The neighborhood is very good, it’s upscale and quiet and seems to be mostly offices for insurance companies. Thanks to jet lag I had occasion to be awake in the middle of the night and it was dead quiet outside, no sirens or peds or even cars. So if you’re seeking nightlife, look elsewhere. The building is rock solid and very quiet and the windows open. The room we had was very good sized with good storage and a great bathroom – with a full size tub and so big that on either side of the sliding door there were separate sinks with large vanities which was a most welcome treat.
Excellent breakfast buffet each morning with countless items, and judging by the clientele the hotel does indeed attract both businessmen and tourists. The sitdown restaurant for lunch and dinner works, nothing special. There is some weird dinner theater-type presentation each night in a special room featuring the Petit Chef which takes 2 hours and costs $200.
The Ring tram is 10 steps outside the front door. Stephenplatz is an easy 15 minute walk and just up the street at Schottenring you can hop a subway and have many food options (including Mickey D’s and the Interspar market I’ve written about). I know we’re not supposed to use chain hotels but I found this to be an excellent choice, especially if you can leverage discounts and get a Hilton Honors membership. If you have kids, the other Hilton across town is a more traditional hotel and might be a better choice.