Pension Riedl

The family-run Riedl, located inside the northeast corner of the Ring, is housed in a perfectly preserved Art Nouveau Jugendstil building. It's close to Schwedenplatz, Hotel Post, and Pension Dr. Geissler. The pension is small, offering only eight rooms of varying sizes.

Rooms have been updated recently, but are still relatively simple. Six have private bathrooms with modern fittings, including spacious glass showers. Two rooms have private showers but share a toilet. Guests staying in the latter are given robes to wear for shower dashes. All rooms are comfortably equipped with cable television, radio, and telephone.

Seven rooms open to the street. Request one in the front for a sweeping city vista. One quiet room sits on the courtyard, offering pretty views of the neighborhood. Our favorite room is a small twin with a balcony. It opens to a gorgeous view of Otto Wagner's famous Post building across the street. A giant statue of an angel faces the bedroom.

The Riedl's building is on the tranquil Georg Coch-Platz, a quiet green square in the upper northeast corner of the Ring. Walking to most sites inside the Ring is quite easy, and trolley and subway lines are just minutes away. And we'd be remiss if we didn't mention the truly friendly management.