A classic hotel façade with a dark grey entrance door, Christmas ornaments on the side at nighttime. Hotel entrance at night, with yellow lights, two christmas trees on the sides, a dark grey door and a lady with a red umbrella passing by. Stay

Hotel Sacher: A Christmas Classic in Vienna

Vienna Stay:

A traditional, family-governed hotel where heritage and the gracious manner of old-world hospitality lend distinction to this 19th-century residence, long cherished by esteemed guests of notable repute.

Hotel Sacher is an otherworldly destination and the enduring home of one of the most revered creations in the tradition of fine chocolatiers.

A classic hotel façade with a dark grey entrance door, Christmas ornaments and several flags on the top balcony.
A classic building façade with a largw red sparking Christmas bow.
A hotel room, with gold paneling and ornamented mirror, an antique red armchair, next to a Christmas tree with red and gold ornaments, a red and white rug and a red standing lamp.

Lying right next to Vienna’s Opera House and the Albertina Art Museum, Hotel Sacher is the ultimate residence of classical Viennese style, tracing its origins to 1876, when Eduard Sacher, son of Franz Sacher - the creator of the original Sacher-Torte - opened the hotel. Shortly after Eduard’s passing, his wife and partner, Anna Maria Fuchs, famously transformed the Sacher into the preferred destination of high society and prominent figures, establishing it as a renowned hub of its era, one whose prestige endures to this day.

The stay

  • A hotel room setting with blue and white wall paper, bedding, and a crystal table lamp.
  • A green themed restaurant setting, with classical wooden paneling, green curtains and carpet, dark furniture, large crystal chandeliers and white tablecloths.
  • A blue and white stripe wallpaper with gold frames, a blue sofa next to two dark side tables and a center table with flowers, sweets and fruits.
  • A chocolate cake inside a wooden box, on a glass center table, in front of a white sofa with red pillows.
  • A blue themes hotel linge room, with gold paneling on the walls, a golden antique frame, dark blue velvet furniture and golden lamps.

Staying at the Sacher is unlike any other experience. A profound sense of heritage and history is tangible in its sumptuous silks, embroidered tapestries, dark wood panelling, lustrous velvet finishes, commanding chandeliers, and imposing oil paintings from the collection of Anna Sacher. The perfectly themed restaurants and bar follow a pristine colour scheme, where green, blue, and red hues distinguish each refined experience. The rooms, by contrast, are adorned in soft neutral tones, with large windows that offer views of rehearsals at the Opera House, the golden sunlight glinting over the Albertina Museum, and the majestic Hofburg Palace.

Explore the Sacher

Christmas Markets

A Christmas market in front of a cathedral.
A Christmas market stand, with a gingerbread house and other sweets.
A Christmas market setting, in front of a cathedral façade, with dark wooden stands.

The location of Hotel Sacher is nothing short of illustrious, particularly during the Christmas season. Mere steps separate the hotel from the famed Stephansplatz - Vienna’s historic central square - the elegant Kärntner Straße, and several of the city’s most magical Christmas markets: the market at Stephansplatz, in front of St. Stephen’s Cathedral; the festive Maria-Theresien-Platz market; the Am Hof market in the historic Am Hof Square; the charming Old Viennese market; and the celebrated Christkindlmarkt in front of the Vienna City Hall. All are within walking distance, and walking through Vienna's streets at Christmas time is a most charming experience in itself.

  • A lady with a cream coat and scarf in the street at nighttime, next to a Christmas tree and a classical building façade.
  • Classic building façades lit up with Christmas lights and adornments.
  • A classical dark red and golden dining room setting, with golden frames, wall lamps and white tablecloths.
  • A classical dark red lounge space, with red furniture, a crystal chandelier, multiple frames on the wall and a Christmas adorned staircase.

After visiting the markets, enjoy a glass of champagne at the Bel Etage before a casual Austrian dinner at the Rote Bar, or a seven-course tasting menu at the Grüne Bar.

The Sacher-Torte

  • A dark chocolate cake on a silver stand, next to other sweets.
  • A dark chocolate cake slice with cream on the side on a white tablecloth.
  • A classical marble dining room, with a crystal chandelier, a white sculpture, chairs and tablecloths.

If Vienna is your chosen destination for the festive season, you have almost certainly heard of the beloved Sacher-Torte. The story goes that when the head chef in the service of Prince Klemens Wenzel von Metternich fell ill, the task of preparing a grand dessert for the prince’s guests fell to the young apprentice, Franz Sacher. The result was a rich chocolate cake, delicately layered with apricot jam and coated in a silky dark chocolate glaze, which gracefully delighted the prince and soon became a cherished favorite among the Viennese elite.

Book Your Stay

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Discover the Guide

A guide to Vienna at Christmas - Cover page, by Simply Slow Traveler

Vienna is only two steps away from becoming your holiday destination this year. Discover all my favorite classical hotels that warmly welcome the Christmas spirit in my Vienna Digital Travel Guide.

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