Almanac Palais Vienna

Round windows, sloping walls, a stylish lounge and a beautiful bedroom: my Almanac suite knows how to please. It's just a shame that more than two months after the hotel opened, it still doesn't know how to work. Because whether it's the air conditioning, blinds or telephone: something is constantly going on, off, up, not down as if by magic, or it's dead or on permanent standby. Shortly before midnight, I've had enough and after a brief discussion ("No, I don't want to sleep with the windows and blinds open") I'm allocated Junior Suite 801. Although it is smaller, it has the largest bed and the lowest ceiling height I have ever experienced in a hotel (171 cm tall, I can easily reach the ceiling with outstretched arms). Curiosity the next morning: two completely identical showers mounted next to each other on the wall in the marble bathroom. For shower competitions? Already in my bathrobe, I want to do a few quick laps in the 14-meter pool before breakfast. But as I don't want to go through the lobby and a meeting room on the way there, I first have to go down to the 7th floor and from there take two other elevators down to the basement. In theory, that is. Because in practice, neither elevator works ...

Would you like to read on and enjoy a few culinary delights? Then accompany me to the hotel restaurant "Donnersmarkt", which is very pretty in itself and serves à la carte breakfast in the morning and "plant-forward" cuisine à la fridge-cold beetroot salad or really delicious asparagus tempura in the evening. Would you like to discuss with me over dessert (the lemon crumble is really good!) whether it's okay to write something like this? I think so, because two months after the opening, the standard phrase "Sorry, soft opening" should simply no longer excuse everything!