Lunch
at Hotel Sacher Vienna
One
of the world's most elegant hotels to sit down for
lunch, for business or pleasure, is Hotel Sacher
in Wien. The luxurious Rote Restaurant Bar is rich in history
and hospitality. It is renowned for its lap of luxury red velvet
ambiance and walls covered with museum artwork that continue
to keep it at the top of the bucket list as one of the most
prestigious rooms of the world to dine in.
Hotel Sacher Vienna Lobby
The
hotel history of this property could fill volumes, for The Hotel
Sacher was founded in 1876 by the restaurateur and purveyor
to the court Eduard Sacher, born in 1843. His father was the
confectioner Franz Sacher, born in 1816 who became famous for
his Sacher Torte. In 1880 Franz married Anna Sacher née
Fuchs, who became the hotel manager after his death. Under her
rule, Hotel Sacher became one of the finest hotels in the world,
where the aristocracy and diplomats would meet. Mrs. Sacher
had serious financial problems and the hotel changed ownership
in 1934. The property is currently owned by one of Austria's
top socialites and businesswomen, Elisabeth Gurtler, who also
serves as the property's Managing Director and has put her personal
touch on the innovative new design of the property.
Located
across the street from the Vienna State Opera, and as a Member
of Leading Hotels of the World, Hotel Sacher continues today
to attract great artists. Since its inception it has been visited
by Emperor Franz Joseph, King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson,
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip, Prince Rainier III of
Monaco and Grace Kelly, President John F. Kennedy and many more.
Rote Restaurant Bar
The
149 exquisite suites of the Hotel Sacher Wien represent the
ultimate in hotel design and comfort. The Sacher spa offers
the latest in health and beauty treatments, including Clinique
La Prairie in Montreaux in Switzerland, and yes they do have
signature chocolate treatments. The hotel is known for their
historic Sachertorte, a chocolate cake with apricot filling,
which is sold in their gift shop and savored in their dining
rooms. There is also an outstanding art gallery in the hotel
with works from the 19th century, and a room filled from floor
to ceiling with photographs collected by Anna Sacher showcasing
famous guests who have visited the hotel.
Both
the Anna Sacher Restaurant and the Rote Restaurant Bar are helmed
by renowned Executive Chef Werner Pichlmaier, holder of three
Gault Millau Toques, who serves what has been described by experts
as some of the most delicious and creative dishes in the world,
paired perfectly with fine wines. The Hotel Sacher wine cellar
boasts an outstanding international wine assortment, including
a wide range of Austrian wines, particularly from the fine wine-growing
areas of Vienna, and the surrounding region.
"Tafelspitz" National Dish of Austria
Chef
Pichlmaier has won awards for his unique modern plates, but
is the master of traditional Vienesse dishes. Chef's iced pea
soup with buttermilk and lobster over flowers and herbs was
a perfect choice on a very warm day, and the (Sacher Tafelspitz
mir Apfelkren, Schnittlauch sauce and Erdapfelschmarn wahlweise
mit Semelkren) "Sacher" boiled beef with apple horseradish,
chives sauce and Viennese potatoes served with creamed spinach
was beyond amazing. Naturally, we savored our petit Sacher Torte
with whipped cream dessert to the last bite.
I
was completely drawn to the Blaue (Blue) Bar, a charming place
to rendezvous for a champagne or cocktail before or after dinner
or an opera, where blue brocade walls merged beautifully with
lush velvet couches and sparkling hanging chandeliers offered
an irresistibly enticing hue. Such a magical place that speaks
of another time, perhaps a magical time when the Blue Danube
waltz was revered by all.
Sacher Torte Dessert
If
your budget won't allow lunch or dinner at the Hotel
Sacher, do stop by at the Cafe Sacher and have a slice
of Sacher Torte with coffee or tea before you leave Wien. Let
yourself be one with the spirit of this beautiful history filled
jewel-box hotel located in the heart of beloved Vienna. Liebesleben!
Hotel
SachertortePhilharonikerstraaze
No.4 Innere Stradt
Vienna Austria
www.sacher.com
By Bonnie Carroll
About Bonnie Carroll
Bonnie Carroll has been a food/travel/lifestyle writer since
1983. She is the founder & publisher of Bonnie Carroll's
Life Bites News - www.lifebitesnews.com,
does travel and food reporting on KZSB1290 radio, and contributes
to a variety of national and international travel/lifestyle
publications. Her first children's book C.C. Charles was published
in 2002 and she is currently working on a second book. Contact
her at Contact her at writebc@aol.com.