Imperial Riding School, Vienna: A Place That Keeps Becoming

Hello, my friends! Some hotels impress you the moment you arrive. Others reveal themselves slowly – through details, atmosphere, and the feeling of being gently held by a place that knows exactly who it is. The Imperial Riding School, Autograph Collection in Vienna belongs firmly to the latter. Set in Landstraße (Vienna’s 3^rd district), this hotel is not just a place to stay. It is a site shaped by time, purpose, and reinvention – a space where imperial history, everyday life, and contemporary design exist in thoughtful dialogue. From the moment you step inside, it feels clear that this is a hotel rooted in story rather than spectacle.

Imperial Riding School at a Glance
📍 Location: Ungargasse 60, Landstraße (3rd district), Vienna, Austria
🏨 Brand: Autograph Collection by Marriott
🏛️ History: Former military equestrian school under Franz Joseph I, later Vienna’s largest cinema and post-war bus depot
🛏️ Room Reviewed: Deluxe King Room — generous proportions, warm textures, green marble bathroom
🍽️ Dining: Elstar Restaurant — reimagined Austrian classics with locally sourced ingredients
🌿 Standout Feature: One of Vienna’s largest private hotel gardens
💡 Tip: Slow down and enjoy the hotel itself — mornings in the garden, evenings by the lobby fireplace

A Site Shaped by Empire, Adaptation, and Memory

The origins of the Imperial Riding School date back to the 19th century, when Franz Joseph I established his military equestrian school here. Horses once trained beneath the vaulted ceilings and archways that still define the surviving historic façade. That imperial presence remains tangible, not as ornament, but as structure – visible in proportions, materials, and the quiet authority of the architecture.

Over time, the site evolved alongside the city itself. It became Vienna’s largest cinema at one point, later served as a post-war bus depot, and continuously adapted to meet the needs of a changing city. Today, a contemporary addition sits alongside the preserved historic building, creating a seamless conversation between past and present. Rather than erasing its former lives, the hotel acknowledges them – allowing history to inform, rather than dominate, the experience.

Interiors That Carry the Story Forward

The interior design of the Imperial Riding School is where the hotel’s layered history becomes tangible. Rather than recreating the past or erasing it, the design approach here is interpretive – drawing from the site’s equestrian, cinematic, and civic roles while expressing them through contemporary materials and spatial calm.

From the moment you enter the lobby, the atmosphere feels composed and intentional. Vaulted ceilings and preserved structural elements from the original riding school create a sense of vertical openness, while arches and columns guide movement through the space without directing it too rigidly. The design never overwhelms; instead, it allows the architecture to breathe, honoring the building’s original scale and proportions.

Subtle equestrian references appear throughout the interiors, not as literal motifs, but as texture and rhythm. Flooring recalls stable materials in a refined, modern way. Leather accents, warm woods, and brushed metals introduce a tactile richness that feels grounded rather than ornamental. The palette leans toward natural tones – soft creams, muted browns, greys, and deep greens – echoing both the historic orchard and the surrounding garden landscape.

Lighting plays a crucial role in shaping the mood. Rather than dramatic statements, the hotel favors diffused, ambient light that softens the space and highlights architectural curves. This creates an atmosphere that feels welcoming at all hours of the day, whether you’re arriving in the morning light or returning after an evening out in Vienna.

What’s especially striking is how the historic and contemporary elements coexist without friction. The preserved façade and original architectural details anchor the space in its past, while the modern addition introduces clean lines, generous circulation, and quiet elegance. The transition between old and new feels seamless – a reflection of Vienna itself, where history is integrated into daily life rather than placed behind glass.

Throughout the public spaces, there is a sense that nothing is rushed. Seating areas encourage lingering. Sightlines are open, allowing glimpses into the garden or through arched corridors. The hotel feels designed not just for movement, but for pause – reinforcing its identity as a place to unwind, observe, and reconnect.

Rather than announcing luxury, the interiors practice it through restraint. Comfort is prioritized over spectacle. Story is embedded rather than displayed. The result is a hotel that feels deeply rooted, quietly confident, and unmistakably Viennese – a space that carries its many lives forward with dignity and calm.

Our Room: A Calm, Elegant Base in the City

We stayed in a Deluxe King Room, overlooking the historic Landstraße district. From the moment we entered, the room felt composed and generous – not oversized, but thoughtfully proportioned. Design references subtly weave together the building’s theatrical and equestrian past, expressed through textures, color choices, and layout rather than literal motifs.

The king bed was indulgently comfortable, framed by a sitting area and table that invited you to truly settle in. This wasn’t a room designed only for sleeping; it was a room designed for returning to – after long walks, museum visits, and evenings out in Vienna. Room service here feels natural, not like an afterthought, reinforcing the idea of the hotel as a place to pause rather than simply pass through.

The bathroom deserves its own mention. Stocked with products from Saint Charles Apothecary, a historic Viennese brand rooted in 19th-century apothecary traditions, it reflects the hotel’s commitment to local heritage and sustainability. Even these small details contribute to a sense of continuity and care.

Dining at Elstar: History on the Plate

Dining at Elstar Restaurant feels like an extension of the hotel’s philosophy. The restaurant takes its name from the Elstar apple variety that now blossoms in the orchard on the property – a tribute to Emperor Franz Joseph I, who famously loved the apple trees that once grew here. That orchard, now one of Vienna’s largest private gardens, creates a tangible culinary bridge between past and present.

Inside, preserved pillars from the original riding instructors’ institute remain visible, grounding the space in history. The menu offers reimagined Austrian classics, respectful of tradition while quietly modern in execution. Whether dining indoors or in Elstar The Garden, meals here feel unhurried and intentional, aligned with Vienna’s broader culture of lingering rather than rushing.

The Garden: A Rare and Restorative Luxury

Behind the historic façade lies one of the hotel’s most remarkable features: a vast private garden, once an imperial orchard and now a place of stillness in the heart of the city. This is not a decorative courtyard; it is a living, breathing space where time seems to slow. The garden is home to “The Old Lady”, a 150-year-old plane tree and one of Vienna’s oldest surviving trees, a quiet witness to the city’s transformation. Sitting here, it becomes easy to forget you are in a capital city. The garden reinforces the hotel’s identity as a place of retreat, balance, and quiet generosity.

Bubbly Tips for Staying at the Imperial Riding School

• Slow down and enjoy the hotel itself. This is not a “drop your bags and run” kind of stay. Mornings in the garden and evenings in the lobby or bar are part of the experience, make space for them.

• Choose a room that invites lingering. The Deluxe King Room offers a beautiful balance of comfort and design, with enough space to unwind, enjoy room service, or simply sit and reflect after a day in Vienna.

• Don’t skip Elstar Restaurant. The delicious dining here connects you directly to the site’s history.

• Spend time in the garden if the weather allows. One of Vienna’s largest private hotel gardens is a rare luxury. Even a short coffee or aperitif outdoors adds something special to your stay.

• Make time for the wellness area. The indoor pool, saunas, and gym provide a genuine reset after long days exploring the city. Visiting during quieter hours enhances the sense of retreat.

• Embrace the Landstraße location. Staying slightly outside the most touristic center gives you a more lived-in view of Vienna, with easy access to places like the Belvedere, Rochusmarkt, and neighborhood cafés.

• Look closely at the details. From stable-inspired floors to preserved architectural elements, the hotel reveals its story subtly. The more attention you give it, the more it gives back.

Final Thoughts: Why This Place Stays With You

The Imperial Riding School stays with you because it understands restraint. It doesn’t rely on excess to signal luxury. Instead, it offers proportion, history, calm, and a sense of continuity that feels deeply Viennese.

This is a hotel that respects its past without being trapped by it, that welcomes both locals and visitors, and that offers space – physical and emotional – to unwind and reconnect. In a city defined by balance, the Imperial Riding School feels perfectly at home.

If you’re looking for a stay that reflects Vienna’s layered identity – imperial yet humane, historic yet evolving – this is a place worth lingering in.

Until our next adventure,

xoxo,
Bubbly✨