Hotel Sacher
Hotel Sacher features on the Gingerguide audio walk through Vienna. Give it roughly ~30 min: enough to look, hear a two to three minute story on the spot, and ask the AI guide whatever the story leaves open.
- Type landmark
- Suggested visit ~30 min
- Vienna Vienna guide
About Hotel Sacher
A byword for Viennese luxury behind the State Opera, opened in 1876, and home of the Original Sacher-Torte, the chocolate-and-apricot cake fought over in a famous lawsuit.
The Hotel Sacher Wien stands just behind the Vienna State Opera and has been a byword for Viennese luxury since Eduard Sacher opened it in 1876. It is famous above all for the Original Sacher-Torte, a dense chocolate cake with apricot jam and a dark glaze, served with unsweetened whipped cream. By the hotel's own semi-legendary account, the torte was created in 1832 by the sixteen-year-old apprentice Franz Sacher, Eduard's father, for a dessert demanded by State Chancellor Prince Metternich.
The recipe was refined by Eduard while he trained at the Demel confectionery, and the two houses later fought a long legal battle over the name Original Sacher-Torte. The hotel sued in 1954, and the case was settled out of court in 1963, leaving the Sacher the exclusive name and Demel selling its version as the Eduard-Sacher-Torte.
Did you know? By the hotel's own account, the Sacher-Torte was invented in 1832 by Franz Sacher, a sixteen-year-old apprentice standing in for the ill head chef, for a dessert demanded by Prince Metternich.
How long is a visit to Hotel Sacher?
Set aside roughly ~30 min for Hotel Sacher. That covers a good look and the narrated story, and because you set the pace you can always stay on.
Is Hotel Sacher worth your time?
Hotel Sacher is among the 35 narrated highlights the Gingerguide team chose for Vienna, so it is worth a look. Hear the story for the context, then ask the AI guide for anything more.
Nearby stops in Vienna
Sources and further reading
Where to check the facts about Hotel Sacher and read more:
Day 2 of the Vienna in 2 days itinerary →Day 2 of the Vienna in 3 days itinerary →
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Hear the story of Hotel Sacher
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