Park Hyatt Vienna

"Best for: the glamour of old Vienna Address: Am Hof 2, 1010 Vienna, Austria Nearby: Am Hof, one of most famous squares in Vienna Price: Doubles from $696 In a city where almost everything seems like a monument, the Park Hyatt, grand and magnificent, fits right in. That is not to say the smart hotel, flanked by churches and palaces on Vienna's central Am Hof square, does not stand out. If anything, its columned façade, where men in top hats are at the ready to open the doors, carry bags in, or wish guests a good day, is the most eye-catching on this regal street. Inside is equally as magnificent. Rooms are fine—large and clean, although the color scheme feels a little dated. But the public spaces are what makes us want to book this hotel for every trip. Off the entrance, a humidor and cigar bar channel Vienna's old-world glamour with its wood paneling, Scotch-heavy drinks trolley, and comfortable club chairs. The hotel bar is one of the hottest we have seen in years, with a back-lit liquor display that climbs higher than the potted trees that dot the space. But heads up for guests: Having a room does not guarantee a seat. This place is so popular with Vienna's sharply dressed business set that pretty much every banquette is booked out on a Friday or Saturday night, though the bar staff will do anything they can to accommodate as much as possible. The Martinis made with Austrian Hidden Gem gin are so good you won't mind standing. Definitely order the Parmesan fries and aubergine flatbread. The serenely beautiful underground pool, with Roman-style carvings and underwater classical music, is the perfect place to work it all off in the morning. —Erin Florio"

"There’s a reason why this gilded palace feels so, well, rich: Evoking an updated spin on Hapsburg-era grandeur, the Golden Quarter hotel occupies the reimagined 1915 Austrian Monarchy Bank, an imposing sandstone structure with columns and carved embellishments. Throughout its 146 opulent rooms and suites, the space is dripping with sumptuous materials, like leather, mother-of-pearl, and Italian marble, with maximalist wall decorations inspired by blown-up brooches originally designed by Art Nouveau artist Carl Otto Czeschka. The central cashier hall now houses the Bank Brasserie & Bar, where you can order wiener schnitzel with mountain cranberries and goose-liver-topped burgers, while the former vault has been transformed into the Arany Spa, where gold-bar-shaped tiles line the nearly 50-foot-long swimming pool." - Nicholas DeRenzo

"Park Hyatt Vienna Opened in 2013 in a 100-year-old former bank building, the Park Hyatt has utilized the space well, with a restaurant in the former cashier’s hall and a pool in the former vault. The suites are spacious, and all rooms have more than just the basic requirements for your average traveler, including safes large enough for laptops. While the marvelous Grand Salon is typically used for banquets and business meetings, guests should definitely try and take a peek at this beautifully designed room. The prime location in the historicInnere Stadt, or first district, means most major sights are within walking distance."

"Park Hyatt Vienna Opened in 2013 in a 100-year-old former bank building, the Park Hyatt has utilized the space well, with a restaurant in the former cashier’s hall and a pool in the former vault. The suites are spacious, and all rooms have more than just the basic requirements for your average traveler, including safes large enough for laptops. While the marvelous Grand Salon is typically used for banquets and business meetings, guests should definitely try and take a peek at this beautifully designed room. The prime location in the historicInnere Stadt, or first district, means most major sights are within walking distance."