Sacher Hotel: A wonderful hotel on the river overlooking the Castle and the old town. This is a first class property with a beautiful décor and lovely rooms. I enjoyed my large double with king-sized bed. There was a wonderful attention to details, from the turn down service, to the chocolates, fruit plate and small Sacher tortes found in the room when you arrive. There were flowers in the bathroom and more beautifully arranged flowers on the table at breakfast. The hotel staff wore traditional clothing and were so anxious to be helpful. You really felt like you were in Austria!!!
There is a lovely Sacher Bar (despite smoking being allowed), living room overlooking the river and old town and breakfast room, the Roter Salon. The Café Sacher is a popular spot with photos on the walls of many celebrities who have stayed in the hotel and eaten there. My favorite was the Zirbelzimmer, the fine dining restaurant that had great food and a wonderful atmosphere with wood paneled walls and ceiling and decorations of antlers and antiques. Schwarzstrasse 5-7.
Goldener Hirsch: A Luxury Collection Hotel at Getreidegasse 37, this 69 room hotel is a very old-world hotel with great charm and many antiques. It opened in 1584 as a guest house and pub. It was purchased in 1939 and restored and reopened after WWII in 1948. It is in a great location in the heart of Salzburg.
Their restaurant has been a local staple since that time. They offer wonderful Austrian specialties in a warm, traditional setting. I loved the stag design on the napkins and plates. Very Austrian!! The service was excellent. I had a really wonderful venison dish, with red cabbage, a potato dumpling in a mushroom sauce with cranberries. I even liked the Austrian red wine, a blend of Cabernet, Merlot and Syrah.
They also have a more casual restaurant, Restaurant s’Herzl, which has received some good press as well.
Art Hotel Blaue Gans: For a contemporary spot, the Art Hotel is for you. It features around 100 contemporary works of art in its 37 guest rooms. In a way, you are staying in an art gallery. It is located at Getreidegasse 41-43. Their restaurant the Blaue Gans or Blue Goose is one of the better restaurants in town.
The Hotel Stein: Opened in 1924, American soldiers stayed there during WWII. It declined over the years, but has since been recently been renovated. Their rooftop restaurant and bar is really spectacular and worth the visit even if you don’t stay there. Giselakai 3-5.
The Hotel Am Dom also gets good reviews for its contemporary design.