Fun In The Old Town: Visiting Salzburg’s Gentle Hide Hotel

By Nicola Venning

3 weeks ago

The perfect base for Austria's cultural hub

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Fun In The Old Town: Visiting Salzburg's Gentle Hide Hotel

Gentle Hide Design Hotel is a comfortable, welcoming hotel with an emphasis on stylish decor. Just over the river from the pretty old town, yet also within its own historic neighbourhood, it’s a perfect place to stay when visiting Salzburg, says Nicola Venning.

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Review: Gentle Hide Design Hotel, Salzburg, Austria

Stay

Gentle Hide’s unusual name puns on its position in a converted leather factory, as well as the fact that its small main entrance on Schwarzstrasse, the main road outside the old town, is discretely hidden away. The “Gentle” emphasizes – correctly – the relaxing stay you can enjoy here.

The nightclub-like vibe of the décor – noir or deep green walls in the lobby with rich black jungle design carpet, belies the sunny staff and hands-on nature of the hotel owners.

In contrast to the dark dining area and entrance, the bedrooms are havens of cream with black accents: think art deco meets industrial chic. There are funky hanging tube lights, brass office-style toggle switches and an opaque fluted shower screen. Cream marble countertops with bold streaks of green and brown marble patterns add to the general jazziness.

While there are no tea or coffee-making facilities, the hotel bar offers free expresso all day. Despite being on a busy road, our room was blissfully quiet (there is double glazing) and had great views. From our balcony, we could see beyond the Baroque pink-and-white-wedding-cake of a building opposite, to the Hohensalzburg Fortress high over the old town.

Do

Wander through the narrow lanes of the Baroque Altstadt, a Unesco world heritage site, and only a five-minute stroll away. Stop for a café or hot chocolate in one of the beguiling squares and watch the world go by. For some sightseeing head to the main square, Residenzplatz and the DomQuartier. Don’t be put off by their exterior drabness. The Prince-Archbishop palace keeps all its finery inside and the ornate gilded State Rooms are well-worth visiting. The impressive cathedral is included in the tour.

However, if the queues are too long, nip round the corner to St Peter’s Abbey Church. It’s free, very Rococo and a gaudy delight. Families might enjoy paying the small two euro fee to see The Abbey Catacombs. Some scenes from The Sound of Music were filmed here, and Mozart’s sister Nannerl (also regarded as a child prodigy) is buried near the entrance.

Speaking of Mozart, he was born in Salzburg, and his image is everywhere. A visit to the home of his birth would be hard to ignore. The large apartment where he and his parents lived is now part of a museum, and though spartan and rather underwhelming given Mozart’s stature, it’s still compelling for its domestic insights and the story of his rapid rise.

Do visit Fortess Hohensalzburg which towers just above the city, and can reached by funicular. It’s as big as a medieval village and a fascinating contrast to the old town below.

Buy an all-inclusive Salzburg card from €28 for 24, 48 or 72 hours; it gives free use of public transport and free entrance to most museums. After that, pop into one of the concerts. They are always being held in local churches, halls and palaces, day and evening. For a small fee you can hear splendid classical music. And not just by Mozart.

Eat

Gentle Hide offers a wide-ranging buffet breakfast which includes pastries, cereals, fruit cold meats and cheese. Hot cooked options are also available. The hotel does not cater for evening meals, though the bar is friendly and an easy place to enjoy a tipple at the end of the day.

The old town boasts many varied restaurants though for less touristy options, visit the small district immediately behind the hotel. In Linzer Gasse and other nearby streets, you will find Italian, Austrian and modern Japanese restaurants amongst others, popular with locals and not just tourists. We enjoyed traditional Austrian spinach dumplings, goulash and the lively patter of the English-speaking host.