A historic black-and-white image of Praterstraße in Vienna, featuring buildings on both sides of the street. Streetcars are visible, and people are walking along the cobblestone road. There are lampposts and a tall monument in the foreground, creating a lively urban scene.

History of the Austria Classic Hotel Vienna

The Austria Classic Hotel Vienna opened in 1838 under the name “Hotel Nordbahn” in Vienna’s 2nd district. For nearly 200 years, our historic hotel in Vienna has been synonymous with a perfect blend of professional service and warm, personal hospitality.

Even back then, the hotel was very popular with travelers to Vienna thanks to its convenient location in Leopoldstadt. Today, our guests enjoy the proximity to Vienna’s Prater and the city center. The family that owns the hotel has upheld the same commitment for generations: Everyone who steps into our hotel in Vienna is welcomed as a friend.

A tradition featuring prominent guest

The long history of our hotel in Vienna is evident in its hallways and lounges. Historic views of the building on Vienna’s Prater tell the story of nearly two centuries of hotel tradition. On May 10, 1988, the world-famous film composer Max Steiner—known for the music in *Casablanca* and over 300 Hollywood productions—was born at the Austria Classic Hotel Vienna. The Polish poet and artist Stanisław Wyspiański was also a guest at our historic hotel in Leopoldstadt. 

To this day, we combine history, quality, and Viennese hospitality in a family-run hotel in the heart of Vienna. 

A vintage postcard depicting a bustling square in Vienna, featuring horse-drawn carriages and people walking. There is a monument in the center and colorful buildings lining the streets. The sky is partly cloudy, adding to the lively atmosphere of the scene. A vintage photograph showing a restaurant garden at a hotel. Several staff members in formal attire stand by outdoor tables under trees, with lanterns above. The scene conveys a relaxed dining atmosphere. A busy street scene from the past, featuring horse-drawn carriages, pedestrians, and early 20th-century buildings. Various storefronts and a church spire are visible in the background, while advertisements adorn some buildings. The atmosphere reflects a bustling urban environment. Black and white postcard depicting Praterstrasse, showing horse-drawn carriages and people on the street. Historic buildings line the road, with a monument visible in the distance. The postcard has handwritten text in German on the right side. A vintage postcard depicting a bustling street scene in Vienna, showing buildings with architectural details, horse-drawn carriages, and early streetcars. The image captures a lively urban atmosphere from the early 20th century. The sky is bright blue, enhancing the historic charm. A historic black and white photo of a street scene featuring the "Hotel Kordoban" building. Several vintage cars are parked nearby, and two individuals in formal attire stand on a cobblestone street in front of the hotel. The urban setting suggests early 20th-century architecture. A historic black-and-white image of Praterstraße in Vienna, featuring buildings on both sides of the street. Streetcars are visible, and people are walking along the cobblestone road. There are lampposts and a tall monument in the foreground, creating a lively urban scene. A black and white historical photograph of Praterstraße in Vienna, featuring cobbled streets lined with buildings. Horse-drawn carriages and carts are visible, along with pedestrians. Street lamps and overhead wires add to the vintage ambiance, capturing the essence of urban life in the past. A vintage hotel note from Hotel Nordbahn in Vienna, detailing room number, price per person, and services included. It contains instructions in German and English, advising guests not to leave boots at the door. The text has decorative elements typical of historical hotel stationery.

A Timeline of the Austria Classic Hotel Vienna

1808

Construction of the main building “Zum schwarzen Tor” (at the time only two stories) at Praterstraße 72, which was called “Jägerzeile” until 1862, as a residence for Mr. Peter Danhauser.

1837

Opening of the “Kaiser-Ferdinand-Nordbahn,” Austria’s first steam railway, and the first station building on Nordbahnstraße (during the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Nordbahnhof was one of Europe’s most important railway stations until 1918).

1838

The main building was expanded to three stories, and the “Hotel Nordbahn” was opened by Mr. Josef Johann Scheiflinger, son-in-law of Mr. Peter Danhauser; since then, the hotel has been owned by the Scheiflinger family and their descendants.

1849

The two side wings in the inner courtyard were added.

1866

Battle of Königgrätz during the German War on July 3; defeat of the Austrians by the Prussians; the army’s high command established itself at the “Hotel Nordbahn” until its dissolution.

1868

The hotel was taken over by Josef Peter Scheiflinger, son of Josef Johann Scheiflinger.

1888

Maximilian Raoul Walter “Max” Steiner was born on May 10 at the hotel. Max Steiner was an Austrian composer who later became a U.S. citizen. He is considered one of the most successful and influential film music composers in cinema history and is often referred to as the “father of film music.” He was nominated for an Oscar a total of 24 times and won the award three times. His scores for *Gone with the Wind*, *King Kong*, *Casablanca*, and *A summer place* are particularly famous. In 1933, in King Kong, he set dialogue to music for the first time in film history—a milestone in the genre. You can find more information about Max Steiner in our bar named after him, “Max Steiner,” as well as in the breakfast room.

1904

Stanisław Wyspianski stayed at the hotel in August; a Polish playwright, poet, and visual artist from Kraków, member of the Vienna Secession artists’ association; see the commemorative plaque on our building’s façade.

1908

The hotel was taken over by Mr. Felix Scheiflinger, Commercial Councilor and Civil Engineer, long-time chairman of the Vienna Hotel Association, son of Mr. Josef Peter Scheiflinger.

1944 - 1945

Severe damage and partial destruction of the building during World War II

1945 - 1955

Hotel under Russian administration; partial renovation of the hotel.  

1955

Mr. Felix Scheiflinger, Commercial Councilor and DI, resumed management of the hotel; further investments were made in the restoration of the building.

1961

The hotel was taken over by Ms. Erika Blumauer, daughter of Mr. Felix Scheiflinger, Commercial Councilor and DI.


1973

Mr. Reinhard Blumauer, Mag., son of Ms. Erika Blumauer, took over management of the hotel.

1973–1988

Major annual investments in the hotel’s infrastructure.

1988

Unveiling of a commemorative plaque for film music composer Max Steiner by the then Mayor of Vienna, Dr. Helmut Zilk.

1990

Hotel expansion with additional rooms and enlargement of the breakfast room with a terrace.

2009

Hotel expansion with new premium rooms through the construction of an annex and the reconstruction of a wing of the building destroyed during the war.

2010

Ms. Ines Pietsch, daughter of Mr. Reinhard Blumauer, takes over management of the hotel.

2014

The hotel is fully air-conditioned. 

2016

12 additional rooms are refurbished and renovated.

2017

Redesign of the breakfast buffet and expansion of the breakfast room. In addition, the hotel lobby and reception area were redesigned, and additional rooms on the first floor were renovated.

2018

Opening of the new “Max Steiner” bar, dedicated to the famous film music composer Max Steiner, who was born in 1888 at the Austria Classic Hotel Vienna. Redesign and technical upgrade of the seminar room for exclusive seminars and block-style meetings.

2019

Various room modifications and renovations in the right wing of the second floor.
 

2020

Various room modifications and renovations in the left wing of the first and second floors.

2020 - 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic posed immense challenges for the hotel. During this time, the hotel was completely closed for many months, and all employees were able to remain employed under a reduced-hour work arrangement. Thanks to support from the Austrian government and the owner family’s prudent financial management, operations were maintained and the hotel was able to weather this difficult period.

2024

Extensive renovation of the nearly 200-year-old main building: rooms refurbished, attic insulated, new soundproof windows, and renovation of the facade and plumbing—with a focus on energy efficiency. Application for the Austrian and European Ecolabels—proudly awarded in the fall  of 2024.

The breakfast menu was also made more sustainable: more regional suppliers, more organic products, and a wider selection.

2025

Installation of a new photovoltaic system on the roof of the inner courtyard—another step toward energy independence and environmental protection. Awarded the 4th star—a significant milestone for our hotel. Redesign of the fitness and relaxation room, as well as the in-house workshop and staff locker room.

Vision for the future

As a newly classified 4-star hotel, our goal is to continuously improve the Austria Classic Hotel Wien in order to better meet the growing expectations of our guests. Sustainability remains a central component of our philosophy: With the Austrian and European Ecolabels we have already been awarded, as well as the photovoltaic system installed in 2025 on the roof of the inner courtyard, we have achieved important milestones—among other things, this allows us to power the air conditioning systems with clean energy in the summer.

In the future, we aim to further enhance the quality of our service, operate in an even more resource-efficient manner, and invest in targeted improvements—such as the renovation of our two terraces and green spaces.

Ines Pietsch and the entire team at the Austria Classic Hotel Wien look forward to offering exceptional comfort as the sixth generation of the family—with our sights already set on the seventh!