Landstrasse / Belvedere

Hotel Daniel Vienna

★★★★★

Hotel Daniel is the clever choice for travellers who care more about good design, good bread and an easy location than about chandeliers. It opened in autumn 2011, the Vienna sister of a hotel in Graz, in a modernist building on Landstrasser Guertel in the 3rd district, right beside the Belvedere's gardens and a short walk from Wien Hauptbahnhof, the main railway station, which makes it ideal for arrivals by train and for airport connections. The hotel's philosophy is smart luxury: no frills you do not need, and real quality in the things that matter, such as beds, showers, coffee and bread. There are 116 rooms in a range of categories with typically playful names, from the compact Smart rooms and the Be Happy Stay Dirty rooms to the Panorama rooms on higher floors with wide views over the city, the Belvedere rooms, the Hammock rooms, where a hammock replaces the usual armchair, and the Trailer, a one-off room in a vintage caravan. The design is clean and Scandinavian-industrial, with lots of light, wood and concrete. On the ground floor, the bakery is the heart of the hotel, baking bread and pastries daily, serving breakfast, a lunch special and coffee to guests and neighbours alike, and making the lobby a lively place throughout the day. In the warmer months, bikes and Vespas are available for hire, a fun way to explore the Prater, the Danube Canal or the Old Town. The city centre is about a 15-minute walk away, and trams and the underground at the main station connect to everywhere. Rates are moderate, among the best value for design-minded travellers in Vienna. The trade-offs are the Guertel location, a busy road rather than a charming lane, and compact standard rooms; ask for a Panorama or Belvedere room for the views.

Rooms: the variety is part of the fun, and choosing the right category matters. The Smart rooms are small but well thought out, good for solo travellers and short stays; the Panorama rooms on the upper floors offer the best views over the city towards St Stephens and the hills; and the Belvedere rooms look towards the palace park. The Hammock rooms and the Trailer are memorable for couples and adventurous travellers. Rooms facing the Guertel have good windows, but light sleepers should request a quieter side.

The bakery and the vibe: the in-house bakery sets the tone, with fresh bread, croissants and cakes, and breakfast here is one of the best value hotel breakfasts in the city. The lobby and bakery attract locals for coffee and lunch, giving the hotel a neighbourhood feel. Staff are young, relaxed and helpful.

Location: the Upper Belvedere, with Klimt's The Kiss, is just across the street, Belvedere 21 is nearby, and the main railway station, with direct trains to the airport, Salzburg, Budapest and beyond, is within walking distance. Tram D runs along the Belvedere to the Ring, and the walk to the Old Town through the Belvedere gardens and past Schwarzenbergplatz takes about 15 minutes. Choose Hotel Daniel for value, design and easy rail connections, and for being first in line for the Klimt room at opening time.