The Habsburgs are known for many things, like inbreeding and burying their hearts in separate crypts from their bodies. (You know, normal stuff.) But you can’t throw a stone in Vienna without hitting a relic of their legacy. The recently opened Imperial Riding School hotel, part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, is one of those historical markers.
Built in the Baroque style in the 18th century and once known as the Palais Harrach, this building has long been a cultural hub for the city. It was a military riding school from 1867 until the fall of the Habsburg Empire in 1918, after which it became, of all things, a movie theater playing silent films with their accompanying orchestras. Damage during World War II left it partially destroyed, though its portico and staircases were saved. It first opened as a hotel in 1988. Now, after a year and a half of renovations, it has been reborn in spectacular fashion.
Autograph Collection Hotels
Location, Location, Location
The hotel is in the Landstraße district, surrounded by Vienna’s architectural history, historical landmarks, and museums. It’s a 15-minute walk to the inner city, giving visitors easy access to the tourism hub while providing a calm place to rest at night. When you visit, we recommend downloading Vienna’s City Card app and buying a 24- or 72-hour pass. The buses, trolleys, and subway are easy to navigate with Google Maps.
Autograph Collection Hotels
Small Nods to History
The design team behind the hotel clearly put a lot of care into honoring its history as a riding school in the design, with in-room light fixtures that look like riding flasks and lobby lights that incorporate horse hair. When you walk through, keep an eye out for these thoughtfully curated details.
Food and Drink
The hotel’s restaurant, Elstar, named after a local apple variety, offers modern takes on classic Viennese cuisine, with an evolving seasonal and locally sourced menu. I had their Prime Rib with Pumpkin, a satisfying “Dry age ribeye cut” accompanied by mashed potatoes, green beans, apple, herbs, and roasted onions. “The space connects to a garden that was once an orchard planted by Emperor Franz I, and at the heart of the garden is a 150-year old plane tree known as “Old Lady.” The garden also features a bar.
The Farrier bar, named after a craftsman that shoes horses, has a creative cocktail menu and could easily become a buzzy local hangout. Their version of Kings Breakfast is bright and perfect, featuring a blend of gin, peach liqueur, Passoa, Cointreau, orange, lemon, and pineapple.
The Rooms
The hotel has 342 rooms, including a handful of king rooms with stunning views of an historical Russian Orthodox cathedral. Their superior rooms have additional square footage, while suites are even more spacious with separate living space. These are the kind of rooms you can kick back in if you need a break from the bustle of the city for a few hours.
Pampering Options
The hotel has an indoor swimming pool, fitness center, steam rooms, saunas, and a yoga area. They feel secluded and quiet, perfect for unwinding and chilling like aristocracy after a long day walking the city.
The Bottom Line
From the moment I stepped into The Imperial Riding School, I found a beautiful place to relax, with amazing architectural details and a design symmetry that feels almost Accidentally Wes Anderson. The hotel is newly opened and still finding its legs, but doing an amazing job of getting there quickly. Its location is convenient, but the space itself is also wholly unique and memorable.
