Mercure Grand Hotel Biedermeier Wien 4 stars

I got a very nice greeting from Christian on reception when I arrived but can't say the same about his female colleague when I asked her for something on Saturday night. As an Accor gold member I was upgraded and got a free drink voucher as well as a small chocolate in my room and free minibar which I appreciated. I always feel that the Accor loyalty programme is superior to other hotel programmes I belong to. I was in suite 333 and had to carry my suitcase up another flight of stairs after taking the lift to the 3rd floor. The first thing I noticed was the thin carpet on the floor with no padding between it and the floorboards. My first impression was that everything was outdated, not exactly true Biedermeier style, and could do with being renovated. I didn't particularly like the footboards on the beds as I'm quite tall. I also had to bend sideways under the slanted roof by the shower and the water pressure wasn't great. The worst thing was the really uncomfortable couch which was actually a single bed with a cover pushed against a board nailed to the wall. I would have preferred a proper couch which I could rotate and a footrest to put my feet up. There was only a small TV screen above the minibar, which had to be replaced as it was broken, so I had to turn my head to watch it. There were no TVs in either of the two bedrooms. I had dinner in the restaurant both nights I was there. The food was just alright with mainly meat dishes so not much choice for someone who doesn't eat meat. The second night I ordered a Caesar's salad and got a mushy heap of iceberg lettuce. Someone might want to inform the chef that a Caesar's salad is made with romaine lettuce. The salad was also too expensive for what it was. The service was friendly which is why I went there twice as I didn't see any other places I liked nearby. Overall a good stay due to the spaciousness of my suite and the convenience getting there from the airport with the CAT train to Wien Mitte then a 10 minute walk but I would probably try a different hotel next time.

I got a very friendly greeting from Christian and received an upgrade and drink voucher as I'm a gold member. I couldn't say the same for his female colleague on Saturday night. The hotel runs down both sides of the alley and there are long corridors to walk down. I took the lift up to the 3rd floor, my suite 333 was up another flight of stairs (next to rooms 331 and 332) which could be inconvenient if you have a heavy suitcase. In my suite there was carpet on the floor but no padding between it and the floorboards, there was a bedroom on the right of the corridor then a toilet then an open living room which led to the bathroom which had a slanted roof so you had to bend sideways in the shower and the water pressure wasn't very high. There was a second bedroom at the end which is where I slept and I wasn't disturbed by any noise. My impression was that everything was very old-fashioned, it wasn't exactly true Biedermeier style and I felt like it could do with being renovated. There were no TV screens in the bedrooms and the one in the living room was very small. There was no couch, just a single bed pushed against a board on the wall and it was extremely uncomfortable and since the TV screen was fixed to the wall above the minibar you had to turn your head to watch it. It would be nice to have a proper couch which you can move and a footrest. I had dinner in the restaurant both nights as I was there and the food was alright but the Caesar's salad was just a huge mushy heap of iceberg lettuce and was too expensive. My stay was fine but I would probably try another hotel next time a bit closer to the centre.

stay at hotel followed a week in Graz for myself and my wife visiting my daughter. Found hotel very helpful, upgrading our room to a double bedroom. Staff on reception were particularly helpful with good english to help with booking the hop / off red bus tour round Vienna and the train transfer link to airport.

Reception service is extraordinary, rooms are great and very comfortable (Privileg rooms), the staff at the bar and breakfast are super accommodating and pleasant. It could not be better.

I loved my experience at the hotel. The only improvement would be a better gym with TV.