Hotel Sans Souci, Vienna

Vienna, even more than most European capitals, holds tight to its rich, storied history. And why shouldn’t it? For the most part, the same has been true of its hotels — but a new generation of hoteliers is wagering that you’ll get your fill of the classics everywhere else in town, and your living arrangements can safely be brought up to date. Hotel Sans Souci is as lighthearted as the name suggests — it’s basically “without a care” in French — and here in the contemporary arts district of Spittelberg, just outside the Ringstrasse’s zone of seriousness, a lighthearted boutique hotel is exactly what’s called for. The building is classic enough, dating back to 1872, but the interiors, by the Philippe Starck–spawned Yoo design group, are contemporary through and through. The whimsy is kept relatively contained, manifesting itself mainly in the occasional graphic flourish — in general you’re in for parquet floors, luxe finishes, and some memorable modern furnishings. A fully equipped spa and fitness center and a casual yet stylish restaurant round out the Sans Souci’s offerings.