SO Vienna is a five-star design hotel at Praterstrasse 1, on the Danube Canal in the second district, and it takes a different approach from the grand hotels across the water. It has 182 individually decorated rooms in a modern tower, with a spa, a 24-hour gym and two hot tubs, though no pool is listed. The architecture is by Jean Nouvel, and the restaurant, Das LOFT, occupies the 18th floor, with an artwork on its ceiling by Pipilotti Rist and views across the city. A bar and lounge are on the property, and breakfast is served daily for a charge, so check what your rate includes when you book. The location is a clever compromise: you are across the canal from the old town, with Schwedenplatz about three minutes away on foot, Stephansplatz about eight and the cathedral about nine, while the Hofburg and the Spanish Riding School are about fourteen minutes. On the other side, the Prater and the Giant Ferris Wheel are a short walk away. That makes SO Vienna a good base for travellers who want the centre on foot and the more relaxed pace of Leopoldstadt, with its restaurants and canal-side bars, at the door. The style is modern, with clean lines and strong design, which will appeal to guests who find the classic palace hotels too heavy. Rooms are comfortable and high up, so views can be excellent, but check the category for a canal or city outlook. The hotel is priced at the top of the market, and the city's tourist tax applies. If you want contemporary luxury with a skyline view rather than velvet and gilt, SO Vienna is a strong choice.
The rooms and the feel
The rooms are modern and individually decorated, with views that improve with height, so ask for an upper floor with a view of the canal or the cathedral. Bathrooms are contemporary, and the atmosphere is stylish and relaxed. The hotel is a good fit for design-minded travellers, couples and business visitors who want a high standard without formality.
Eating and drinking
Das LOFT, on the 18th floor, is the signature restaurant, with a dramatic ceiling and city views, and the bar and lounge provide drinks in the evening. Breakfast is a full daily offering for an additional charge. Outside the hotel, the canal-side restaurants and the lively Leopoldstadt streets offer plenty of choices, and the old town is a short walk over the bridge.
Location
Praterstrasse 1 is next to Schwedenplatz, where tram and underground lines connect you to the whole city, and about eight minutes on foot from Stephansplatz. The Prater and the Giant Ferris Wheel are also close. For couples, design lovers and travellers who like a modern, high-floor hotel with the old town on foot, SO Vienna is a fine alternative to the Ring.
Why stay here
- ✓Design by Jean Nouvel
- ✓182 individually decorated rooms
- ✓Das LOFT restaurant on the 18th floor
- ✓Bar and lounge
- ✓SO Spa with two hot tubs
- ✓24-hour gym
- ✓Full breakfast daily
- ✓Schwedenplatz three minutes on foot
Good questions
Where is SO Vienna?+
At Praterstrasse 1 in Leopoldstadt, on the Danube Canal. Schwedenplatz is about three minutes away on foot and the cathedral about nine.
Does the hotel have a spa and a pool?+
It has a full-service spa, two hot tubs and a 24-hour gym. No pool is listed.
Is breakfast included?+
A full breakfast is served daily for a charge. Whether it is included depends on your rate, so check when you book.
