From the editors of Condé Nast Traveler:

This majestic 68-room hotel on the Ringstrasse offers a more casual air than neighboring grande dames. There's no pseudo-Hapsburg decadence, gold faucets, or red velvet behind the nineteenth-century facade: The decor throughout is uncluttered, with easy-on-the-eyes browns and creams, while color-coordinated prints hang instead of oil paintings, toning down the opulence. Rooms come with original moldings and a Nespresso machine. The seasonal food at At Eight, the restaurant, is inventive and mouthwatering, diminished only by a dining room with somewhat bland furnishings. Impeccable service adds the finishing touch of personal luxury, and the less formal look doesn't take away from the five-star quality of the residence, which is a welcome, less expensive alternative to the usual Imperial- or Art Deco–style hotel.

When to go: May through September for coffeehouse culture and walks through Vienna's many parks, November through January for punch stands and romance.

Which room to book: An X-Ordinary room on the fifth floor with a view of the Ringstrasse and the Staatsoper, or the exclusive Ring Suite, which can be reached only by paternoster lift.