Riverside City Hotel

Va-va-voom! Set in a concrete monster of a building in central Mitte, the Riverside City Hotel & Spa (formerly the Artist Hotel Riverside ) compensates for its drab exterior with over-the-top interiors. Dripping with gold, glitter, crystal and stained glass (plus a few plaster sculptures), the décor here isn’t what you’d call “minimalist.” But don’t let the Las Vegas act fool you. A practical three-star tourist hotel hides just below the glitzy surface.

Quick read

Pros: Comfortable and clean. Great location. Spacious bathrooms. Some great views.

Cons: A tad dated. Can pick up street noise. Wi-Fi is patchy.

Rooms

The Riverside City Hotel’s 30 guest rooms have a sort of Gilded Age feel. Their rich, old-fashioned décor (think peach walls adorned with swirling Art Noveau stencils, deep red carpets, curtains and bedspreads, and some fancy lamps) reaches toward regal but can also seem a bit dated and worn.

Rooms at the Riverside City come in three classes. The “Tourist” (or economy) singles and doubles are the cheapest and most basic, equipped with a TV, phone, mini-fridge and one complimentary bottle of water per guest. “Standard” rooms are still rather simple but offer a bit more space and all the same amenities (plus a safe), and “Comfort” rooms offer even more space. Some rooms also offer some pretty stellar views (while others overlook the somewhat boring courtyard).

The hotel also offers lavish suites with sweeping views, as well as a DVD player and sumptuous whirlpool tub.

Bathrooms

The private bathrooms are spacious and equally decked out, with oversized tiles and ornate mirrors. Note that some of the Tourist rooms have private bathrooms located outside in the hallway.

Hotel

Once an apartment building and a car showroom, the Riverside City Hotel has a decidedly offbeat layout. A small elevator from the building’s apartment days is hidden behind the reception desk and leads to warren-like hallways. Like the rooms, the flashy lobby approximates Old-World glamour, to fun (and campy) effect.

This self-proclaimed “wellness hotel” also features a full deluxe spa. Guests in the suites have free access to the sauna, and all other guests receive half-price admission. For an extra dose of decadence, splurge on a massage or a luxurious bath in the spa’s gold, clam-shaped bathtub.

Breakfast, included in the room rate, is served on the terrace of Cafée Frederick, a Viennese café located on the first floor. Wi-Fi is free throughout.