Hotel Sacher, Salzburg, Austria

In short… The most elegant and cozy place to stay in town, with views over the Salzach River and onto the Old Town.

The surroundings… The Hotel Sacher sits on the river right in the middle of the old and new sections of town. It’s just a five-minute walk across the bridge to the historical center, so it has the best views of the Old Town (Alstadt) and the Hohensalzburg Fortress. 

The vibe… We stayed at the Hotel Sacher Salzburg during such a low season window that many restaurants and cafes in town were closed for most of the month—so our experience was different from a visit during the high festival or holiday season. The hotel itself has a very charming energy, with the staff dressed in traditional clothing. Everyone we interacted with was very sweet, helpful and efficient. While the hotel opened in 1866, it underwent a renovation sometime recently, and its look and feel reads more modern trad than old school. While I’m usually a die-hard old-school fan, I thought it felt bright and airy while nodding to the past just enough. 

The rooms… We stayed in the Madame Butterly suite on the top floor, which had a small living room and bedroom both with floor-to-ceiling windows, and a small terrace. The main bathroom was spacious, with a big tub and radiant heat floors, and there was a second small bathroom off the living room. I don’t think we’ve ever stayed in a hotel room that had a coat rack in the room—it felt like home. Plus the painting of the sweet dog added to the homey feeling.

The food & drink… The breakfast buffet here is very impressive, with the standouts being so many different kinds of breads (from super grainy to pretzels), smoked local fishes, Sacher torte(!), and their delicious poached eggs from the menu, which are included in the room rate. While so many people put the Cafe Sacher on their checklist for the Sacher torte, we loved it for its very traditional menu, opting for the classic wurstel, which comes with grated horseradish and mustard, alongside a Steigl on draft. We had dinner there two nights in a row and not only loved the room’s elegant decor and low light, but its emphasis on tableside service. On our first night, we opted for the Wienerschnitzel and a tableside salad—delicious—but were quite jealous of our neighbors’ tartare service. The next evening we ordered the steak tartare, which they actually grind in front of you, and then do all the classic mixing in. I’d suggest steering clear of the potato mousse that they put on the side or any offer of caviar—it doesn’t need it. The bar is very cool—dimly lit, with cozy chairs and low tables, and filled with locals on a special night out. Cocktails are excellent—we had martinis and a Bijou, perfectly made.

The wellness…There is a small gym in need of an update(!) and a small but good sauna.

Date of stay… February 6-8, 2026