Neubau / MuseumsQuartier

25hours Hotel Vienna at MuseumsQuartier

★★★★★

The 25hours Hotel at MuseumsQuartier is Vienna's most playful mid-range hotel, and one of its best-located for culture and nightlife. It sits on Lerchenfelder Strasse at the edge of the 7th district, directly above the MuseumsQuartier and a short walk from the Ring, and it opened in stages from 2011, with the full hotel completed in 2013. The design takes its cue from the circus, a nod to the city's long love affair with variety and showmanship: vintage circus props, round shapes, bold colours and the illustrations of Olaf Hajek create a hotel with atmosphere rather than a superficial theme. There are 216 rooms, from compact doubles to the Gigantic rooms, 34 of them, with kitchenettes and space for longer stays or families. The hotel's star is the Dachboden on the eighth floor, a rooftop bar with a big terrace and one of the best views in the city across the rooftops to the Hofburg, the Parliament and St Stephens, popular with locals as much as guests and lively at sunset and into the night. Downstairs, the RIBELLI restaurant serves Italian cucina popolare, and in summer the Kvetch burger garden in the neighbouring Weghuberpark adds an outdoor option. The Mermaid's Cave has a sauna and steam bath alongside a fitness area, and bikes from the German maker Schindelhauer can be rented to explore the city. Rates are moderate for the location and style, and the crowd is creative, international and relaxed. The trade-offs: the Dachboden draws a crowd on weekend evenings, some rooms face busy streets, and those seeking classic Viennese elegance will find it too quirky; for everyone else, it is the most fun place to sleep in Vienna.

Rooms: standard rooms are compact but cleverly designed, with good beds, rain showers and playful details; the larger categories offer city views. The Gigantic rooms are a smart choice for families or longer stays, with kitchenettes and more space to spread out. Rooms on the higher floors facing the city have views of the Ring buildings; lower rooms on Lerchenfelder Strasse can hear trams and traffic, so ask for a quiet side if you are a light sleeper.

Eating, drinking and relaxing: the Dachboden is one of the best places in Vienna for a sunset drink, with a cosy interior for winter and a large terrace for summer; hotel guests do not get priority, so arrive early at weekends. RIBELLI is a convivial, good-value Italian restaurant for dinner, and breakfast is generous. The Mermaid's Cave sauna and steam bath are a welcome extra on a winter evening.

Location: the MuseumsQuartier, with the Leopold Museum and mumok, is next door, the Kunsthistorisches Museum and the Hofburg are across the Ring, and the Spittelberg and Neubau quarters, with their restaurants, bars and design shops, are on the doorstep. The U2 and U3 at Volkstheater and the U2 at Museumsquartier are a few minutes away, and trams pass by on Lerchenfelder Strasse. Choose the 25hours for design, a great bar and a creative neighbourhood at a mid-range price.