Pension Lerner

Pension Lerner is a great choice for bargain hunters seeking substance over style. There's no chic bar here or model types in the lobby—there isn't, after all, much of a lobby to speak of—but the Lerner has friendly owners and a location at the edge of Innere Stadt only ten minutes from the Stephansdom. All at rates fantastically low in high season and a complete steal the rest of the year.

The family-run Lerner dodges the frilly Viennese style present in most pensions in favor of deep blues, whites, and wood. There's the occasional strategically placed antique (the owners run an antique shop next door) but nothing is over the top or gratuitous. Bathrooms are clean, but not exceptional beyond that.

For a three-star pension, the amenities are pretty impressive, and include free wireless, cable television, and laundry service. Most rooms (barring two with shared facilities) have en suite bathrooms.

A nice touch is the sourcing of breakfast staples. Bread is provided by a local bakery and ham and sausage come from the neighborhood butcher.