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Hotel MOTTO is a beautifully designed, and locally run hotel that offers a vibrant experience of modern Viennese life mixed with the charm of 1920s Paris. Its guiding principle is simple yet powerful - it’s passion, and it’s felt in every detail. From the moment you arrive, you're enveloped in a warm embrace of hospitality that makes you feel truly welcome, and at ease. Every detail, from the charming décor to the friendly smiles reflects a deep passion for creating memorable experiences, and while passion is their motto, Love, is the DNA of Hotel MOTTO and it’s written throughout the hotel in a multi-layered creativity. And the love language is art.
The hotel is the creation of Bernd Schlacher, a well-known figure in Vienna, known for MOTTO am Fluss, a stunning al fresco cafe, and restaurant that resembles an ocean liner situated on the Donaukanal.
For his first hotel venture, Schacler has taken inspiration from his love of Paris, and in particular a favourite hotel. The Hôtel du Petit Moulin, nestled within the cobblestone streets of the bohemian enclave of the Haut Marais is surrounded by galleries and trendy boutiques, tucked away behind a historic boulangerie façade, where Victor Hugo reportedly bought his bread, It is whimsically dressed top to bottom by fashion designer Christian Lacroix.
The result is a stylised, chic Parisian/ Viennese boudoir aesthetic that is fittingly located in Vienna’s boho-chic 6th district, Mariahilf. Hotel MOTTO delights the eye. On entering the handsome building you’ll find the lobby, with squishy seating reproduced by Schacler, while the walls are adorned by Italian artist Andrea Ferrola’s whimsical chic, charming, and timelessly romantic illustrations depicting pink-suited bellhops and leopards. Ferrola is the co-founder with his partner Daria Reina of the unique concept store and atelier Chez Dede, and one of my personal favorite places in Rome. The dynamic duo specialise in Life and Style for hospitality, transforming luxury hotels into iconic hotels.
On leaving the lobby’s romantic aesthetic, you arrive in a spacious anteroom, where you are confronted by the huge, primitive mask sculpture in a striking Pepto-Bismol pink by contemporary Viennese artist Franz West (1947–2012) at the foot of the original. Repositioned and staggeringly gorgeous, an oval marble stairwell unfurls upwards like a peeled orange skin, captivatingly cutting through the heart of the six-storey building - fear not there is a lift, and of course it is totally and timelessly in keeping - two old-fashioned brass elevators feature dials that delightfully point to the floor the lift is currently visiting. The only thing missing is a uniformed lift attendant, and bell hop!
To cement the look and feel, Schlacher sourced chandeliers from The Ritz Paris at auction, which served as inspiration for new light fixtures, adding to the elegant boudoir chic of the gorgeously glamorous, coquettish decadence. Even the staff uniforms are curated, and designed by Austrian fashion couturier and one-time Vivienne Westwood intern, Lena Hoschek, with a fun Fifties rock ‘n’ roll vibe. *Hoschek’s fans include Mad Men actress Christina Hendricks, dancer and entrepreneur Dita Von Teese, fashion icon Sarah Jessica Parker, as well as singers Lana Del Rey and Katy Perry.
The hotel’s bedrooms are soft and romantic, featuring powder-pink decor and beautiful chinoiserie prints of birds and blossoms on the headboards and wardrobe doors. The hotel itself has a rich history dating back to the 17th century, welcoming famous guests like the Strauss family and 19th-century artists. It also featured in John Irving’s novel ‘Hotel New Hampshire’ based on his experiences in Vienna. Schlacher has not scrimped. No detail has been overlooked and the design function is faultless! To me, the rooms have been designed like a boat, where every bit of space matters.
Do not be misled, whereas the hotel is charmingly romantic it buzzes with energy - just head to its crowning glory, the vibey top-floor restaurant and bar, wrapped in panoramic views across the city’s spires and rooftops and one of the hottest spots in town. Here, local architect Arkan Zeytinoglu, has encased CHEZ BERNARD in a modern, structural dome of glass and steel that is flooded with daylight, and resembles the bridge of an Art Deco ship. Head chef Markus Winkler offers a delicious brasserie style Austrian menu with Mediterranean influences, and the stylish young staff’s T-shirts read, ‘Je ne regrette rien’. There’s more - on a summer evening the alfresco Rooftop Terrace restaurant and bar on the 8th floor, (open in good weather!) is the place to be so make sure to book. The local community loves it and with good reason! The terrace overlooks the rooftops of Vienna, with a more panoramic view of the city and hillside vineyards, through the pretty parasols fluttering in the breeze. The open grill features culinary highlights from the CHEZ BERNARD menu, along with delicious cocktails. I could go on — but I think it’s enough to say the food and drink are also way up there in the deliciousness stakes. Views and delectables are accompanied by smooth sounds curated by DJs from Paris, Berlin or Vienna.
If that’s not all, the delicious breads and French-style pastries come from the hotel’s own organic bakery, 'MOTTO Brot' invokes memories of both Vienna and Paris with a traditional outdoor terrace the locals call 'Schanigarten'. which has a charming old-world shopfront on the ground floor.
What Else?
Tip: If you can, book a room on the sixth floor, each room has a balcony or terrace. Room 307 even boasts a spectacular crescent-shaped balcony!
The eight ART DELUXE rooms have mirrored walls adorned with dynamic graffiti art by Sasha Knezevic and art works by Amer Hadzic.
BEWARE!
Whereas it’s tempting to spend your time here in the hotel - in the rooms and the roof and restaurant - MOTTO elevates any decision angst, making it easy to venture out. Just follow their curated guide on where to go.