This 3-star hotel just outside the city centre can be reached easily from the City Air Terminal in Landstrasse Wien Mitte. Take the metro line U3 to station Volkstheater (4th stop) and then continue on line U2 to station Rathaus (1st stop). From here, cross wide Landesgerichtsstrasse (where there are the traffic lights) and walk straight along Josefstadterstrasse until you reach the second street on your right. This is Buchfeldgasse where you'll find Hotel Alpha again on your right.
A wall plaque near the main door indicates that you're entering a three-star place of accomodation. Once you make your way in, you will definitely find out that Hotel Alpha's huge reception area is superb and tastefully furnished. During the recent refurbishment and upgrading, the walls and ceilings have been redecorated with ornamental strips of patterned gypsum and coated with soft pale shades of paint creating an aura of elegance, gracefulness and style. All this is enhanced by the functional low reception desk designed with the aim of providing the best way of communication between clients and receptionists. A couple of display stands with hundreds of tourist brochures and information about attractions and transport fill up the corners of the reception area.
The English-speaking receptionists were the best we've ever met anywhere in Austria. After being given a hearty welcome, we were asked to sit over a cup of coffee while the receptionists checked for room availability keeping in mind the level of comfort we requested. Soon we were shown into a double room which though small and crammed with simple furniture was comfortable enough to provide us with an abundance of warmth and cosiness. A direct-dial telephone, a radio and a satellite television were somehow squeezed in amidst the furniture. The plain bathroom was trim and tidy; all accessories were apparently new and in addition to soap and shampoo, an assortment of skin lotions and body cosmetics were available.
Next to the reception area, an elegant ground floor restaurant is used for breakfast, served between 8am and 11am. Though not extravagant and fails with regards to hot dishes and fresh fruit, the breakfast buffet definitely provides what one expects from a three-star hotel. Cereals, fruit salad, oven-fresh bread, waffles, biscuits and cakes were all displayed on a huge side table. Take your share from the orderly display and don't miss trying Hotel Alpha's excellent homemade croissants filled with dark creamy chocolate.
The clean cosy room and the friendly receptionists have both contributed in making our 4 day stay in the hotel the best possible. To these, one has to add Hotel Alpha's excellent location, just a stone's throw from Vienna's Rathaus and within walking distance of the Hofburg.