Don’t let the masses of tourists at the Sacher Café put you off. The Sacher torte (an unbelievably sinful chocolate cake) is at once the hotel’s claim to fame and, for its ability to draw a crowd, its greatest disadvantage. But everything else about the Hotel Sacher is charming and exclusive, decorated in a manner that can only be described as thoroughly Viennese.

Built on the site of the old Opera house, the 1876 hotel was founded by Eduard Sacher, son of the man who purportedly invented the famous confection. Unlike many landmark hotels, the Sacher delivers in both service and ambience. There are 360 staffers to service 152 rooms, which makes the ratio almost three to one. They’ll pick you up at the airport, and have a knack for scoring tickets to already sold-out concerts. Besides, the rooms are unbelievable—all individually furnished with state-of-the-art plumbing concealed behind Art Deco bathroom fixtures. And hanging in each are original paintings, over a thousand of them all told.

It has been a celebrity hotel from the start. Anna Sacher, wife of Eduard, was years ahead of her time. She knew the importance of buzz. She collected portraits of her famous guests, and asked them each to autograph a silk tablecloth—the collection includes Queen Elizabeth, Rudolf Nureyev and the Bee Gees. And though the food is not the main attraction at the Anna Sacher Restaurant, you should eat there simply to try the Tafelspitz (boiled beef), Emperor Franz Josef’s favorite.

But the torte? Experts say it’s too dry. And the hotel is no longer the only place in Vienna for Sacher torte. Scandal struck when the neighboring Café Demel claimed that it had created the original torte. After a nine-year lawsuit (only the Viennese could be so serious about a piece of chocolate cake) it was ruled that the Demel could call their cake the Demel Sacher torte. In the eyes of the law, the Sacher’s cake is still the original, even if the Demel’s version is tastier. If you do check into the Sacher Hotel, you will be in for a truly delightful Viennese experience. Just go next door for dessert. And if that's not enough chocolate, indulge in a "Hot Chocolate Treatment" at the newly opened (2006) Sacher Spa.

Style: Traditional Elegance

Atmosphere: Lively

150 Rooms - Rates starting at € 322.50 (approx. US$ 418)