This whimsical boutique hotel is set within a historic 1800’s Gründerzeit-style townhouse and perfectly encapsulates the timeless elegance of the 1920s and 30s Art Deco era. Situated on a quiet side street off Mariahilfer Straße (Vienna’s main shopping street), as soon as you step over the threshold it makes you feel as though you have been transported back into the city’s rich historic past.

Lavish grand staircases, crystal chandeliers, plush velvet furnishings and black-and-white tiled floors all create a distinctive blend of glamour and historic charm, which when mixed with modern luxury, results in an atmospheric hotel stay unlike any other!

The hotel is named after the fictional muse ‘Josefine de Bourblanc’, a young aristocrat who found a home here as a beloved hostess, after fleeing the Russian Revolution.

She was known for her artistic flair and is said to have transformed the hotel into a world of surrealism, enchanting guests with poetry recitals, and artist soirées, whilst jazz constantly played from the Phonotheque, creating a sense of magic which guests still experience today.

This wonder continues through the hotel’s stunning interior design, which incorporates traditional architecture with many Art Deco flourishes and contemporary amenities. Each of the 49 individually decorated rooms has its own charm and features cane-woven headboards inspired by Viennese craft traditions, box-spring beds, retro phones, surrealist art, and quirky details to further accentuate the hotel’s dreamlike aesthetic. The room types are divided into seven different categories and range from a cosy single all the way to a duplex suite with a roof terrace and striking views of Vienna’s skyline. I stayed in the Josefine Idéale which I loved, but if you have the budget, the Bel Étage suite would be my pick for the stained-glass windows alone!

When you arrive, you are greeted with a handwritten note and a complimentary bottle of red or white wine, a thoughtful touch that sets the tone for your stay.

I loved that the breakfast also fitted into the theatrical world of ‘Josefine’ and is served in a 1920s-inspired salon where it felt more like afternoon tea than a standard hotel breakfast. Tiered trays filled with Viennese classics and continental touches made for a perfectly decadent start to the day.

In the evening, make a visit to the Phonotheque and sift through the hundreds of classical records, or spend the night in the hotel’s Barfly’s Club, which offers craft cocktails in a dimly lit, velvet-covered setting, evoking the spirit of the Weimar-era.

The hotel and its staff are committed to excellence and have received widespread international acclaim for the hotel’s unique design and atmosphere, all of which culminated with being awarded the prestigious Michelin Key.

Their motto, “Come in, switch off and forget the outside world,” makes an ideal starting point for you to be fully immersed in a bygone era of glitz and glamour.

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