Staying at Hotel Grand Elisabeth (Hotel Review)
As one of Sisi’s most beloved places in Austria, Bad Ischl still holds a strong connection to the woman who was once the most famous Empress of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
From the stunning imperial villa that served as her and Emperor Franz Joseph’s summer residence to their favorite patisserie Zauner, you can follow Sisi’s traces throughout the town.
And since recently, there’s now a hotel that completes the experience: Opened in April 2025, Hotel Grand Elisabeth is entirely dedicated to the “royal rebel” of her time.
Together with my sister, I spent four nights at the modern design hotel in the heart of Bad Ischl, discovering Sisi’s legacy all over the property.
(This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase after clicking.)
First Impressions
The Hotel Grand Elisabeth is very centrally located, just a five-minute walk from the promenade and the heart of Bad Ischl. The building is huge, with a striking white façade and plenty of windows.
The moment you step into the big, bright lobby, you get a good feeling of what’s waiting for you.
On the right, you’ll find the reception desk with a poster of a modern Empress Sisi, while on the left, there’s a small shop selling jewelry, body care products, and Zauner pastries.
But the centerpiece of the lobby is undoubtedly the original carriage from the Sissi movies with Romy Schneider, which the hotel acquired at an auction. It’s a really cool and unique feature that perfectly blends into the hotel’s style.
Since we arrived at Hotel Grand Elisabeth around noon, we first headed to the town center for lunch before returning to check in.
It was still around 1:30 pm (check-in is at 3):00 pm), but luckily, the room was ready for us. After getting some information on breakfast, spa hours, and more, we received our key card and took the elevator up to the room.
Fun fact: Even the elevators here are Sisi-themed! There are two, named “Elisabeth” and “Franz.” 😉
Accommodation
There are a total of 132 rooms and suites at Hotel Grand Elisabeth, in several different categories. Our room was on the third floor and belonged to the Superior Double Room with Balcony category.
It was equipped with everything you need for a comfortable stay: a large double bed with two bedside tables, a shelf with a big flat-screen TV in front, a large wooden wardrobe, a coffee machine and a kettle for tea, a small table with two chairs, and a separate bathroom with a toilet and rain shower.
The room combined modern accents with cozy touches like the wooden floor and wardrobe, which I really liked.
Thanks to the two windows, the room was bright and airy, and it also had a balcony. Unfortunately, we couldn’t use it because there was still snow, but I can easily imagine how nice it would be to enjoy a cup of coffee or tea out there in the morning.
The room was simply decorated, with black-and-white photos on the walls and a book of infographics about Empress Sisi.
As a small welcome gift, there were two little chocolate pralines and a message on the table – very sweet!
The bathroom was equally beautifully designed, with marble tiles, a large round mirror, a sink on a wooden vanity, and a very spacious walk-in shower.
Even the shower amenities and body care products were top-quality, all from the Austrian natural cosmetic brand Valentina & Philippa.
We felt completely comfortable in our room, and in just a few days, it had already become a cozy little home for us.
Restaurant & Bar
Of course, the Hotel Grand Elisabeth also has its own restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as a bar, which we visited twice.
Grande Liberté
Grande Liberté is the place where you can enjoy a hearty breakfast in the morning, a light bite at lunchtime, and a three-course menu in the evening.
Breakfast was definitely our favorite time of the day. The buffet is a dream, offering everything you could wish for – even for me as a vegan! Home-baked sourdough bread, Zauner jam, a variety of spreads, plant milk, fresh fruit, all kinds of cereals, and much more.
Unfortunately, my stomach can’t handle eating much in the morning, which was a real pity, especially here. I usually just need a few slices of bread with a spread, some vegetables and fruit, and, of course, my beloved cup of coffee.
Speaking of coffee: They have a fully automatic, very modern machine where you can already choose your cappuccino or latte macchiato with oat milk. I’ve never seen anything like it anywhere else – and it’s really, really good, since the whole beans are freshly ground!
We also had dinner on our arrival day at the restaurant, where I enjoyed a special three-course menu that was adapted for me.
They usually offer one meat option and one vegetarian option, but you can request a vegan version – just let them know in advance.
While the restaurant doesn’t focus on plant-based cuisine, all the dishes I had were really delicious. To start, I got an adapted “Sissi’s Garden” salad without cheese, served with a vegan dressing created by the chef.
I love pumpkin, so the main course – a pumpkin risotto – was a real highlight, but so was the dessert: a coconut-blueberry panna cotta that was incredibly well made.
Besides the food, the restaurant’s interior is worth mentioning too. The furniture is elegant, and even the glasses and cutlery are branded, which adds a nice touch.
Together with a glass of Bellini, we rounded off the perfect dinner experience at Grande Liberté!
Violet Hour
Did you know that Sisi loved violets – especially sweets made from them, like violet sorbet or candied violets?
I hadn’t known that until we went for a drink at the hotel bar, called Violet Hour. The name doesn’t just refer to the twilight hour when day turns into night, but also to the Empress’s love of violets.
This is reflected in the menu, which features drinks like a violet spritzer or signature cocktails such as “Die Kaiserin” (The Empress) with a special violet foam. My sister had that one twice and loved it, while I stuck with a classic Lillet Spritz.
Besides these drinks, the menu also offers non-alcoholic cocktails, Austrian beers, additional signature cocktails, and plenty of other options.
Fitness & Spa
The spa area at Hotel Grand Elisabeth is small but perfectly designed — cozy, modern, and equipped with everything you need to relax. It includes a heated indoor pool, a Finnish sauna, a bio-sauna, a fitness studio, and a yoga room.
We used the sauna and pool every day after exploring Bad Ischl, which quickly became our favorite way to unwind. Next to the pool, there are beds for relaxing, but we preferred the small relaxation room by the saunas, which also had a few cozy beds.
Two out of the four mornings, we used the treadmills in the fitness studio and did some stretching in the yoga room, where mats are provided.
It’s also possible to book spa treatments using natural Alpine-inspired products, inspired by Empress Elisabeth’s beauty rituals and traditional Bad Ischl recipes.
Final Words
We had a truly wonderful stay at Hotel Grand Elisabeth. It’s a perfect spot for Sisi fans, with subtle nods to the former Empress without going over the top.
Our room was incredibly spacious and beautiful, breakfast was perfect for fueling up before a day of exploring the town, and we also really enjoyed the spa area.
The only downside we noticed was that there aren’t quite enough beds to accommodate all guests. We stayed from Wednesday to Sunday, and while it wasn’t a problem during the week, it got busy on the weekend after 4:00 pm, with lots of people not having a place to relax.
But I also wouldn’t call Hotel Grand Elisabeth a classic wellness hotel, and in summer, that’s really not an issue at all.
For me, it’s the perfect hotel for a short getaway to beautiful Bad Ischl and the Salzkammergut region, whether as a couple or on a girls’ trip, especially if you want to immerse yourself a little more in the world of Empress Sisi.
Check out my reel for more impressions from my stay!
Check out: Sisi in Bad Ischl: Exploring Her Favorite Summer Escape
This blog post was written in cooperation with Hotel Grand Elisabeth and is based on my personal experience.
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Hört sich nach einem richtig coolen Hotel an 🙂
Ja das ist es wirklich! Wir hatten einen tollen Aufenthalt. 🙂