I wanted to love this hotel. I really did. The Imperial Riding School is one of those properties that looks absolutely spectacular in photos, and when we pulled up in our taxi after a long travel day, I was ready to be impressed. The building is a former riding school for the Habsburgs, and the architecture is everything you’d hope for in Vienna.

But here’s the thing about luxury hotels: the building is only half the story. And our experience at the Imperial Riding School was a real mixed bag.

Check-In Experience

Let me just get this out of the way: the check-in was the worst I’ve ever experienced at a luxury hotel. And I’ve stayed in many.

We arrived by taxi, bags in tow, and there was nobody to help with luggage. Not the end of the world when you’re travelling light, but when you’ve been on the move all day and you’re juggling a dog, a carrier, and suitcases, a bit of help goes a long way.

The receptionist was underwhelming in a way that felt almost impressive. She wasn’t rude exactly, just completely uninformed about every aspect of our booking. We’d booked through Crazy Daisy Travels, which meant we had certain perks and inclusions, and she seemed to know nothing about any of it. She told us breakfast wasn’t included (it was). She didn’t acknowledge any of our room amenities or benefits. It felt like she was seeing the reservation system for the first time.

And Daisy? Not acknowledged at all. No hello, no welcome, nothing. The only mention of her was when the receptionist asked if she was a service dog. After we had already confirmed ahead of time we were travelling with a pet.

As someone who runs a dog-friendly travel agency, I would never want any of my clients to receive the level of reception we got. This is the part where the benefits of working with a travel agent are suppose to wow the client not to inform them of what your booking should be. It set a really poor tone for the stay.

Then came the room key situation. We were told we were in room 524 on the fifth floor. We lugged ourselves up there, found the door (which oddly had no do not disturb sign), tried the key, and it didn’t work. Because we were actually supposed to be in room 542. Great.

The Room

Once we finally got into the right room, things got a lot better.

The room itself was lovely. Really lovely. Herringbone flooring throughout, which is perfect for dogs because it’s easy to clean and Daisy isn’t sliding around on slippery tiles. The layout was spacious and well thought out, with that classic Viennese elegance you’d expect from a building with this history. Daisy was super relaxed here from the moment we arrived, which is always a good sign.

And waiting for us was a proper welcome: apple pie, biscuits, and chocolate, along with a nice welcome letter from the hotel. It felt like the room had been prepared by people who actually cared, which made the reception experience even more confusing. How can the same hotel get one thing so wrong and another so right?

The contrast was stark. Room experience: 10 out of 10. Reception experience: maybe 2 out of 10 if I’m being generous.

Dining

Here’s where things get a bit odd. Daisy is allowed in the bar area. She can lounge on the sofa in the evening while we have drinks and dinner. The staff there were wonderful, actually. They brought her water without us asking, and she snoozed happily beside us while we had wine after a long day of exploring.

But breakfast? Daisy isn’t allowed in the breakfast room. The same physical space where she’s welcome in the evening somehow becomes off-limits in the morning. I don’t fully understand the logic, but rules are rules and it’s more common than not for breakfast so I am always prepared for that.

In practical terms, this meant leaving Daisy in the room while we went down for breakfast. She’s a good girl and handled it fine, especially since we kept it to about 30 minutes. But it does add an extra layer of planning to your morning, and if you have a dog who struggles with separation, this could be tricky and you may want to opt for room service.

The breakfast itself was busy. We learned quickly that arriving around 9/10am meant walking into a busy breakfast service. On one memorable morning, someone bumped into me and spilled orange juice all over me. So that was a fun start to the day but luckily I wasn’t dressed for the day.

The bar and evening dining, on the other hand, were a highlight. The architecture of the space is beautiful, all high ceilings and that grand Viennese feel, and sitting there with Daisy curled up beside us, sipping wine after a day of walking through Christmas markets, felt properly luxurious. This is the Imperial Riding School at its best.

Hotel Facilities and Dog Access

The hotel has a pool and wellness area, which we used on our last evening. It was a nice way to unwind after days of walking (and I mean serious walking, daily treks across Vienna were standard for us).

In terms of where Daisy could go: the bar and lounge areas, common areas and hallways, and for evening dining. The only place she wasn’t allowed was the breakfast room.

For toilet breaks, there’s a park about 5-10 minutes from the hotel, which is manageable. Space to go right outside the door. Vienna in general felt pretty good for finding grass, unlike some cities where you’re desperately hunting for a patch of green. That said, if it’s cold or raining, that 10-minute walk feels a lot longer.

The Standout Moment

This hotel gave us two very different standout moments.

The negative one: that check-in. I keep coming back to it because it really did colour the start of our stay. When you arrive somewhere tired and excited, and you’re met with blank indifference and a series of mistakes, it’s hard to shake that off immediately. Check-out was a miss too.

The positive one: those evenings in the bar. Daisy snoozing on the sofa, the grand architecture all around us, a glass of wine in hand. The hotel staff in that space treated Daisy like she belonged there. They brought her water, they smiled at her, they made us feel welcome. It was the complete opposite of check-in, and it showed what this hotel could be if the service was consistent.

Practical Details

Location: The hotel is slightly outside the city centre, but honestly, this wasn’t a problem. There’s a tram stop right around the corner that takes you straight into town. We walked most places anyway, about 25 minutes into the main tourist areas, but the tram was there when we needed it.

Getting There: We took a taxi from our previous stop directly to the hotel door.

Transport Tip: Buy a 24-hour transport pass. We paid €24 for two adults and Daisy, and it covered trams, buses, and the U-Bahn. Worth every cent.

Green Space: Park within 5-10 minutes for Daisy’s toilet needs.

Departure Warning: On the morning we left, it was raining, Daisy needed to go outside to do her business, we asked to split the bill and were told it wasn’t possible (even though we’d been told at check-in that it was), the receptionist was more concerned about ‘who told you you could do that’ instead of helping solve the problem, we had no time to get it sorted so we left as we had a train to catch. It wasn’t the smoothest exit.

Who This Hotel Is Best For

This hotel is best for dog parents who care more about the room and the building than the service experience. If you’re someone who can shrug off a bad check-in and focus on the positives, there’s a lot to love here. The architecture is spectacular, the room was comfortable and dog-appropriate, and the bar experience was exactly what you’d want from a luxury stay in Vienna.

If smooth, polished service is important to you from the moment you arrive, this might not be your place. The inconsistency between different parts of the hotel was frustrating, and I’d want to see improvement before recommending it wholeheartedly to clients.

Quick Facts

Location	Vienna, near Hauptbahnhof (Central Station)
Pet Policy	Dogs allowed in rooms, bar, and common areas. Not allowed in breakfast room.
Pet Fee	€25 per stay – great value
Best Rooms for Dogs	Rooms with herringbone flooring throughout
Rating	6.5/10
Best For	Dog parents who want a gorgeous historic building and don’t mind a rocky check-in experience

Final Verdict

Rating: 6.5/10

The Imperial Riding School Vienna is a hotel of contradictions. The bones are incredible. The history, the architecture, the rooms, the bar, the location for exploring Vienna with your dog. All of that is there.

But the service lets it down. That check-in experience was poor, and the inconsistency around where Daisy was and wasn’t allowed (fine in the bar, banned from breakfast in the same space) felt arbitrary. The departure morning added another layer of frustration.

Would I stay here again? Maybe, if the price was right and I went in with adjusted expectations. Would I send a client here? I’d want to have a conversation with the hotel first about what we experienced, because I wouldn’t want anyone else to arrive excited about their Vienna adventure and be met with that level of indifference.

Vienna itself is one of the most dog-friendly cities we’ve visited. The restaurants, the transport, the general attitude toward dogs. It’s all wonderful. This hotel has the potential to match that energy, but it’s not quite there yet.

Planning a dog-friendly trip to Vienna? Check out our full guide to Dog-Friendly Vienna for restaurant recommendations, Christmas market tips, and everything you need to know about exploring the city with your pup.

Have you stayed at the Imperial Riding School with your dog? I’d love to hear about your experience in the comments.