Augarten Hotel, Graz

The Hotel Augarten is centrally located in Graz, Austria, within 1.5 kilometres of the old town and the sights of the Schlossberg (castle hill) area. The main railway station lies two kilometres away. The contemporary Augarten adds a striking landmark of glass and metal to a city already well endowed with architecture from many periods.

Liberally sprinkled throughout with designer furnishings and modern artworks by German artists, the hotel features include an indoor swimming pool surrounded by brightly coloured sofas and a rooftop sun terrace with views across the city.

The sauna and gym stay open round the clock. Garage parking is provided and there are three conference rooms on site. The Augarten serves breakfast daily (surcharge), and its Gault Millau-awarded Magnolia restaurant serves light Mediterranean-style cooking (fish and fresh vegetables feature on the menu).

The 56 guestrooms each measure 25 square metres and are sleek and bright in restrained minimalist grey-and-white schemes enlivened with splashes of vermilion and black. Fully air- conditioned, they feature safes, minibars, underfloor heating, satellite television and complimentary high- speed Internet connections. All have a private balcony, a bathtub, and original modern paintings.