The Vienna effect

Slip back into the 19th century at the Anantara Palais Hansen Vienna Hotel

03 Jul 2026

There’s something cinematic about evenings in Vienna. I slip into a tailored Boito ikat jacket and, just before the golden light turns the city into shades of honey and cream, find myself in a horse carriage moving through the iconic Ring Strasse boulevard. Built during the height of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the boulevard is lined with grand museums, opera houses and stately buildings that carry the confidence of imperial Europe. I remember wanting to turn my head in every direction at once, almost in a full circle, afraid I might miss a facade or a balcony. Vienna has that effect on you. Anantara Palais Hansen Vienna Hotel brings the city’s imperial grandeur together with the intimacy of contemporary luxury. I could almost imagine horse carriages arriving directly into the entrance, announcing guests with theatrical drama. Situated in the heart of Vienna, the hotel was originally designed by Theophil Edvard von Hansen in the 19th century. Anantara Palais Hansen Vienna Hotel’s real luxury lies in its space and height. Filled with soft natural light and calming interiors, the suite instantly put me at ease, comfortable enough to catch up on emails in peace.

The Anantara Palais Hansen Vienna consist of 152 rooms and suites; Photography courtesy of Anantara Palais Hansen Vienna Hotel

I later casually stumbled upon an extraordinary chair exhibition at the Museum of Applied Arts. I kept coming across architectural gems at every turn, from modern icons such as the Austrian Postal Savings Bank by Otto Wagner to striking examples of Viennese Art Nouveau like the Majolica House. This is a city that has always invested in design, beauty, culture and the complexities of the human mind. Did you know that Sigmund Freud developed psychoanalysis here? After walking amidst history, art and architecture, our meal at the Michelin-starred Edvard at Anantara Palais Hansen Vienna Hotel was the perfect end to the day. Led by Paul Gamauf, the restaurant brings an unfussy approach to contemporary Austrian cuisine. However, the pièce de résistance of this trip was The Kiss by Gustav Klimt. I stood there, staring at every inch of it—the intricate details, the soft sensuality—taking dozens of photographs. And perhaps that is Vienna: just when you think you’ve begun to understand the city, it pulls you into another café, another museum, another beautiful street, asking you to come back. Bis bald!