Hotel Josefine

One minute you’re in the here and now, and the next you’re stepping over the threshold into the glitz and glamor of the 1920s and 1930s. With a snap of the fingers, ‘Die Josefine’ in Vienna’s 6th district Mariahilf can catapult you into a bygone era. The hotel’s motto, “Come in, switch off and forget the outside world,” isn’t a promise too far. The 49 rooms are divided into seven categories. They range from the cozy single room in modern art deco design and the open double room with a view of the garden through to the two duplex suites with a roof terrace and breathtaking views over Vienna. The furnishings are as luxurious as you could hope for—chandeliers, purple and turquoise velvet, retro phones, 3D-effect tiles, surrealist art and so much more. And as befits the era, you can also fully immerse yourself in the nightlife at Barfly’s Club awaiting you in the basement with the best bartenders in town. Velvet-covered bar stools and sofas, walls of green marble, mirrors and brass, long drinks and cocktails invite you to indulge in the Dolce Vita. A motley ensemble with a special charm that’s entirely reminiscent of the namesake herself—After all, Josephine really existed! Josephine de Bourblanc was the name of the young aristocrat who, fleeing the Russian Revolution, found a home in this small Viennese hotel. She enchanted guests with poems and stories, transporting them into the world of surrealism leaving behind the magic that can still be felt today. Hotel Josefine is not only a place where you can sleep really well, have breakfast and just be, it’s a place for a particular way of relaxing, for thinking and a bit of time travel in equal measure.

WHAT WE LIKE MOST:

• Josefine because even a short stay here inevitably makes you feel that it would have been great to have met the real Josefine—the person who made such an impact on the boutique hotel built in 1896.
• Location—the hotel is located in the Grätzel in the 6th district Mariahilf with all the amenities you could need; there are bars, cafes and beautiful stores where you can browse, get inspired and lose yourself for a while.
• The box spring beds that provide incredibly restful nights—maybe it’s because of the regionally handmade mattresses, the cozy down comforters and upholstery; maybe it’s simply because of the beautiful environment.
• Josefine Historique and the Bel Étage—two very special rooms where you can admire beautiful stained glass windows. In the latter, old stucco and a free-standing bathtub with lion paws provide exceptional retro flair.
• The two duplex apartments offer enough space for four people—perfect for families, friends and generally for all those who long for a bit of escapism.

GOOD TO KNOW:

• Upon arrival, you’ll find a bottle of water waiting in your room and if you feel like a bottle of red or white wine, you can even get one served free of charge upon request!
• The breakfast is superb and the cozy record library is definitely worth a visit.
• My Secret Garden Café comes specially recommended—just around the corner and only eight minutes away on foot, sit among the flowers and enjoy vegan, vegetarian or gluten-free dishes while sipping a delicious mango lassis.
• Répertoire Wien, the concept store for quirky and beautiful things that’s been given a cool general store look—an absolute must if you like to browse. Needless to say, it can also be found just around the corner.
• In the immediate vicinity, you’ll also find the Chocolate Museum Vienna, the Belvedere Palace, where you can experience 800 years of art history, the Schönbrunn Palace, where you can stroll through the chambers of Franz Joseph and Elisabeth, a bouldering hall and the house of the sea, the Aqua Terra Zoo—with so much to do, there’s no chance of getting bored in this prime location!