It has not always been the peaceful place it is today

It has not always been the peaceful place it is today. When, in the middle of the 19th Century, the Prince of Saxe-Coburg built a magnificent palace in the heart of the Habsburg Empire, he could have had little idea of the turbulent history that lay in wait for the family residence. After World War II, Russian troops sheltered within its walls, after which it became for a while the headquarters of the Austrian Federal Railways. Now, however, as one of the finest addresses in Vienna, the Palais Coburg designed by Karl Schleps is a luxury hotel.

Its vast central portico with many elegant pillars gives it strong architectural presence. And thanks to Silvio Nickol, who opened the Palais Coburg gourmet restaurant in 2011, it is also home to a chef who serves up truly princely dishes for discerning palates.