Hotel Zipser

The almost-too-good-to-be-true Hotel Zipser sits on a sleepy stretch of Lange Gasse in one of Vienna’s most pleasant neighborhoods. The Zipser is just on the far side of the Rathaus and is also close to the Museumsquartier and the Hofburg. Between the immaculate rooms and the efficient, if oh-so-slightly haughty staff, it provides a perfect Viennese experience.

The building housing the 47-room Zipser dates back to 1904. Back then, it was a home for young girls. These days, the Zipser has the sleek feel of a downtown hotel, evidenced by the lobby's marble and wooden finishes and the small bar by the check-in desk. Downstairs, an expansive breakfast room is a mishmash of cool modern design and old-fashioned stainless steel appliances.

Upstairs, the mid-sized rooms are appointed with televisions and Wi-Fi. Much of the furniture here is wood, but it's blessedly free of the frippery attached to the décor of many hotels in the city. Bright and shiny bathrooms are a bit monochromatic, but are rather large for this price point.

The real treats here are the rooms that come with enormous terraces. Offering nearly the square footage of the rooms themselves, and they look out on a lush private garden.