SD › Vienna Hotels › Grand Ferdinand Review
Updated: March 19, 2021
Essentials
• Location: Schubertring, 2 blocks from Biergart’l im Stadtpark.
• Hotel website: grandferdinand.com
• Hotel phone: +43 1-91-8800
• Check prices on Booking.com
Close to Stadtpark, The Grand Ferdinand features modern rooms, 3 excellent restaurants, and a rooftop pool
Grand Ferdinand – The perfect blend of mid-century modern with royal era in the heart of Vienna.
Vienna has plenty of historic or flashy modern hotels but the Grand Ferdinand perhaps does the best job of blending the two styles (veering more to the modern side). The elegant location on the Ringstraße encircling downtown puts you in skipping distance of the city’s great sights plus large and lovely Stadtpark. Enjoy views of it all from the rooftop pool and restaurant alongside excellent service and an all-around glamorous feel. The striking taxidermy horse in the lobby sets the stage for more great surprises to come.
See Also
Grand Ferdinand – Location
- Address: Schubertring 10-12, 1010 Wein, Austria.
- Nearest Metro/Subway: Stadtpark (0.2 mile).
- Area: Prime location right on the Ringstraße, the boulevard that encircles the heart of Vienna. You’re walking distance to pretty much all the sights in this old part of town, including only 3 minutes (0.1 mile) from the huge Stadtpark and its sculptures, 7 minutes (0.4 mile) to Vienna State Opera, and 9 minutes (0.4 mile) to the Albertina Museum.
- How to Get There: Stadtpark U-Bahn is a 5-minute walk (0.2 mile) from the front door and the Schwarzenbergplatz tram station to catch the #71 tram that runs all the way around the Ringstraße is only a 5-minute walk (0.2 mile) away. Alternately, taxis are readily available in front of the hotel, Uber works well in Vienna, or pick up a horse-drawn carriage to take the slow route around town. A taxi from the Vienna International Airport to the hotel will take about 40 minutes (15 miles).
- Handy to: Stadtpark, Vienna State Opera, Albertina Museum.
Grand Ferdinand – The Basics
- Ages: The hotel has a grown-up vibe and there aren’t any specific services for families.
- View: Rooms either have views of the grand Ringstraße or the inner garden courtyard.
- Parking: Valet parking is available for a nearby garage and costs €40-50 per day.
- Extras: The rooftop pool has exceptional views and is a rare find for Vienna.
- When to Book: At least 2 months out for the Christmas season and dates in May through June-end and September through October. July and August are less busy, but still think of booking around a month in advance. During other months, you may be able to find last-minute rooms.
- How to Book: Booking.com will have the best rates.
- Phone: +43 1-91-8800
- Email: welcome@grandferdinand.com
- Website: grandferdinand.com
Grand Ferdinand – Amenities
- Pool: Small rooftop infinity pool with magnificent views of old Vienna.
- Spa: No spa.
- Fitness Center: There’s a small but well-equipped fitness center in the basement. Open 24 hours.
- For Disabled Guests: The elevator and hallways are large plus there are 3 specifically equipped rooms for disabled guests.
- For Families: This is more of an adult-oriented hotel but there are a handful of connecting rooms that would work well for families.
- Other Facilities: There’s an 8-bed dorm room here with beds at €30 per night for budget travelers. The polished-wood bunks and plants along the balcony keeps the look chic.
Grand Ferdinand – Food and Drink
- Restaurants: There are 3 restaurants at the hotel, each of them excellent. Meissl & Schadn (open noon-1 am) on the ground floor brings together mid-century style traditions with modern flair. There’s an open kitchen where you can watch the lauded house wiener schnitzel and strudel being made and then enjoy it on red vinyl café sofas or in the garden courtyard. $$-$$$. • The sidewalk café Gulasch & Söhne (open 8 am-midnight) is a homey spot for breakfast or a quick bite and a beverage in the afternoon or post-opera. $. • However, the highlight here is the rooftop Grand Étage (open 6:30 am-1 am), reserved for hotel guests only (except for Sunday brunch) and with access to the small yet stunning infinity pool. Serves a buffet breakfast, fine international fare all day, and acts as a bar. The panoramic views from here over old Vienna are reason enough to stay at this hotel. $$$.
- Lounge/Bar: You can get a drink at any of the hotel’s restaurants, although sipping a beer at the sidewalk café or a glass of wine of cocktail at the rooftop Grand Étage are top choices.
- Breakfast: Can be included in hotel rates but not obligatory, available for hotel guests only at the Grand Étage. Sunday brunch is open to the public.
- Room Service: No room service.
Grand Ferdinand – Rooms
- Room Types: Comfort • Superior • Suite • Grand Suite • List of all Rooms
- Smoking Rooms: Guests can smoke on balconies.
- Best Room: The spacious Grand Suite has an old-Hollywood-meets-Europe feel with a round, green sofa at the center, potted palms, an open bathroom, and a private terrace. Plus, you have private access to the Grand Étage via your own spiral staircase. If you can’t afford the €1,000 per night price tag, the 7th-floor suites, all with fantastic views, free-standing clawfoot tubs, and king beds, are a stellar choice.
- For Families: There are a handful of connecting rooms that are the best choices for families. Cots and extra beds are available for a fee.
Grand Ferdinand – Local Transport
- Walking: This is prime walking area with many top sights under 10 minutes away. Head out the door and get lost in fairytale lanes with horse-drawn carriages, or wander through the lovely Stadtpark or the many museums and churches.
- Subway and Bus: The hotel is right on the Rigstrasse tram loop that makes it easy to get around town. Hop on the U-Bahn from a few stations under 10 minutes away to go farther afield. It’s very easy to navigate the city’s public transport system and get nearly anywhere from here.
- Taxis, Uber, Lyft: Taxis are easy to find (get the hotel to call one for you) and Uber is quick, generally safe, and easy in Vienna.
Grand Ferdinand – What’s Nearby?
Recommended Nearby Tours
- Vienna Walks & Talks – Offers a number of excellent 90-minute walking tours including music tours, underground Vienna, and Third Man movie tours. Start location: Depends on tour.
- Space & Place – Offbeat themed tours from Brexit (focusing on expats and ending at a pub, of course) to the ugly side of Vienna can be booked with this fun and knowledgeable company. Start location: Depends on tour.
- Fiaker Carriage Tours – Lines of horse-drawn carriages with local drivers can be found around the Albertina Museum. Hail one yourself or ask the hotel to find one for you. You can choose the amount of time you’d like to spend clip-clopping through town, and the drivers generally offer some commentary and point out highlights. Start location: 9-minute walk (0.4 mile).
- Ring Tram Tour – Take the famous 25-minute tram loop with video commentary so you can get the most out of the city’s history, architecture, and more. Start location: Schwedenplatz (0.8 mile).
- Hotrod City Tour – Tours around the city and beyond become more fun when you’re behind the wheel of a low-to-the-ground, open-air, mini hot rod. There are also tours on Vespa scooters and by tuk tuk. Start location: Vien Hotrod Tour store (1 mile).
Best Nearby Restaurants
- Restaurant Johann – Indoor mansion or outdoor Italian Renaissance-style patio dining right in Stadtpark. Perfect for pre or post-concerts in the same building. (0.2 mile).
- Plachutta – Lauded restaurant for specialty Austrian meat dishes, most of which use locally sourced ingredients. (0.2 mile).
- Tian – Some of the best vegetarian food you’ll find anywhere in the world (with a Michelin star to prove it), served in an elegant dining room. (0.3 mile).
- Café am Heumarkt – Off the tourist trail, this is a great old Viennese style coffee house serving classic, simple local food in time-warp surrounds. (0.3 mile).
- Café Mozart – Over a century old stop for home-style Viennese classics and especially luscious cakes from strudels to tortes. (0.4 mile).
- Bitzinger Würstelstand – The best sausage stand in Vienna. (0.4 mile).
- Café Museum – Klimt was once a regular at this smart, circa 1899 café serving classic Viennese fare and delectable pastries. (0.4 mile).
- Restaurant Steirereck – Take a walk through Stadtpark to reach this Michelin 2-starred beauty for gastronomy and excellent wine in a remodeled dairy building. (0.5 mile).
- Le Bol – French style café specializing in open-face tartines and croque monsieur. (0.5 mile).
Best Nearby Bars and Breweries
- 1516 Brewing Company – A huge selection of beers on tap plus a busy terrace area and sports on TV. (0.2 mile).
- Kruger’s American Bar – Legendary 1920s bar with a hefty drinks menu, cigar lounge, and Sinatra tunes. (0.3 mile).
- Sky Bar – This chic cocktail bar atop a department store has one of the best views in the city. (0.5 mile).
- Porgy & Bess – Dimly lit, popular jazz bar with acts from around the world. (0.5 mile).
- Loos American Bar – Possibly the hippest place in the city center for a cocktail, so go early for a table. (0.5 mile).
Best Nearby Cafes
- Café Schwarzenberg – A traditional Viennese coffee house that focuses on coffee more than food. (100m).
- Café Sacher – Step into this legendary café for a slice of the world-famous Sacher torte – or head to the adjacent Sacher Eck or Salon Sacher if you don’t want to wait in line. (0.3 mile).
- AIDA Café Konditorei – Jolly, pink, mid-century style café with good cake and coffee. (0.4 mile).
Nearby Shopping & Cool Shops
- J&L Lobmeyr Vienna – Worth visiting for the chandelier-clad atrium ceiling alone. The ceramics, glass, and homeware here are a feast for the eyes. (0.4 mile).
- Steiff – Considered the creator of the original teddy bear, the stuffed toys here are of very high quality. (0.7 mile).
Nearby Attractions
- Stadtpark – 28-acre park straddling the Vienna River and filled with statues of famous composers. (0.1 mile).
- Kursalon – Holds Strauss or Mozart concerts daily in the evening in a Renaissance building. (0.2 mile).
- Haus der Musik – A museum dedicated to sound and music with plenty of interactive exhibits. (0.2 mile).
- Konzerthaus – Known for its classical music shows but also has plenty of other music styles performed in its 4 halls in this big complex. (0.3 mile).
- Vienna State Opera – Historic, architecturally outrageous, and one of the busiest opera houses in the world, seeing an opera here is a must if you enjoy the genre. (0.4 mile).
- Albertina Museum – One of the city’s top art museums, housed in the opulent guest apartments of the royal Habsburgs. (0.4 mile).
- Burrgarten & Volksgarten – These 2 beautiful and grand gardens are separated by the Hofburg complex. (0.5 mile).
- Mozarthaus Vienna – Now a museum, this was the great composer Mozart’s residence for 24 years. (0.6 mile).
- St Stephen’s Cathedral – Spired and jaw-droppingly beautiful cathedral in the heart of the city. (0.6 mile).
- Belvedere Palace – Baroque palace-turned-museum filled with art, including Klimt’s “The Kiss” among other beautiful pieces of art and architecture, and surrounded by acres of gardens. (0.6 mile).
Nearby Markets or Grocery Stores
- SPAR Gourmet – Upscale version of the market chain with most things you need and a good selection of food. (0.3 mile).
- Naschmarkt – The city’s largest market sells everything from fresh vegetables and ready-made food to hippie clothes and tourist tat. (0.6 mile).
Grand Ferdinand – The Hotel
You’re welcomed to the hotel by 2 of the 3 excellent on-site restaurants.
Being greeted by a taxidermy horse in the lobby is an experience that may be unique to this hotel.
The balcony that heads towards the dorm rooms is covered in vines and looks down onto the 2 ground floor restaurants.
Gazing down over the lauded Meisl & Schadn Restaurant.
Dorm rooms are an affordable choice and are much more chic than those at a hostel.
Rooms do an excellent job of blending old-style beams and chandeliers with a modern look.
Showers don’t offer a lot of privacy; something to bear in mind if traveling with friends.
Minibars are inside cool leather suitcase refrigerators.
Luxe soaps and lotions are all in refillable bottles to save on plastics.
Looking down into the central garden courtyard.
Suites have luxe free-standing bathtubs.
Suites also include terraces or balconies with fantastic views over the chic neighborhood.
The dark grey and white color scheme is in every comfort and superior room and regular suites.
The Grande Suite stands out from the rest and centers around a beautiful green velvet sofa.
The Grande Suite has an old Hollywood feel mixing mid-century with glamor.
The suite is bright with plenty of lighting.
The Grande Suite terrace is huge and offers views of a large section of the city.
Hanging out at the exclusive Grande Etage is a huge perk of staying at the Grand Ferdinand.
The rooftop pool is small but gorgeous and an unusual find in Vienna.
Lounge poolside and enjoy epic views.
If you’re craving sweets or want to settle in somewhere for a tea or coffee, stroll straight past the Opera House to the retro mid-century Kaffee Konditorei.
Continue along the ring road to dine or grab a light meal at the upscale Café Museum where the artist Klimt used to be a regular.
Walking through beautiful historic streets brings you to a row of beautifully painted tall houses lining the not-to-miss Naschmarkt (the biggest in Vienna), selling everything from food to postcards.
Walk across the street to grab a coffee at the delightful Café Schwartzenberger.
You’ll want to make the short walk through the beautiful and lively shopping and dining streets of Vienna to visit this gorgeous cathedral multiple times.
Café Sacher is the most well-known and the cutest of the Hotel Sacher Cafes that serve Sacher torte, but there are 2 other cafes on-site as well that serve the same slice of cake and have short or no waiting times.
Buy a soft toy at the adorable Steiff, possibly the original home of the teddy bear, a short walk through old streets full of shops and cafes from the hotel.
A string of beautiful classic gardens runs from the Burggarten to the Volsgarten and its rose gardens, shown in this photo.
There are so many museums in Vienna but the Albertina could be the loveliest, with the art displayed in ornate historic guest apartments of royals.
Coffee and dining is worth the walk to the elegant and classic Café Mozart, a favorite hangout of Graham Green when he wrote The Third Man.
The entrance to the massive Stadtpark is only a few minutes from the hotel along the ring road.
Walk across the busy ring road and past the Ritz Carlton to go see some spectacular live music in this hall.
The entrance to the Schlöss Belevedere (Belvedere Palace) is a short walk from the hotel but be prepared to be on your feet for at least a few more hours as you explore the grounds and museums.
For a classic Viennese coffeehouse experience, head to lost-in-time Café am Heumarkt alongside Stadtpark.
For a treat before or after a concert next door, don’t miss the elegant Restaurant Johann right in Stadtpark.
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