Ruby swears by the ‘lean luxury’ philosophy, which is all about having a lean organizational structure and concentrating on the essentials. The aim is to create a contemporary and affordable accommodation for the modern, cost- and style-conscious customers. We hopped over to one of their Vienna branches to check it out for ourselves.
A bit about the location, Ruby Marie is situated right in Vienna’s 7th district at the corner of Mariahilfer Straße, Vienna’s best-known shopping street. The Westbahnhof Train and Underground Station and the Zieglergasse Metro Station are just a stone’s throw away, MuseumsQuartier is located nearby and the city centre can be reached within 10 mins on public transport, however we much preferred to walk and take in the views.
This trendy boutique hotel has various unique characteristics about it, Ruby are big on IT and using it where it makes sense, for example, guests use tablets to self check-in which takes no longer than 30 seconds to print out a room card. And what’s better is there’s no checkout hassle at all, just grab your stuff and go! The lobby is open-plan and this is where the check-in station, bar and dining area is located, you’d think that’s too much going on for one room but it works. The interior walls and ceilings are awash in dark shades with lamps and candles of all shapes and sizes injecting warmth back into the space whilst pops of colour come from the warehouse-inspired knick-knacks and quirky furnishings. Overall the vibe is hip but not pretentious, sink into their plush leather seats and blue velvet sofas, order a coffee and soak up the atmosphere.
Onto the rooms, we stayed in the ‘wow room’, which is their third biggest one out of six different sizes to choose from, however the maximum amount of guests in any room is still 2. Upon entry we were greeted with vintage designer pieces surrounded by white walls and oak-wood flooring which is quite the contrast compared to the rest of the hotel. We were pleased to see an open glass rainfall shower in the middle with the option of privacy curtains if needed and it was also well stocked with their own Ruby Care line which all smelt DIVINE and can be bought at their shop along with other bits and bobs. Separating the wet room and the toilet room was the sink area, which adorned a Hollywood LED mirror, perfect for highlighting all your flaws!
Not only was there a HD flat screen TV, we had our very own Marshall amplifier too, we wasted no time in plugging our phone in to unwind and unpack, you can even borrow a guitar from the front desk if you feel like a jam session. The room was simple, sleek and spick-and-span. Amenities include an electronic safe, hairdryer, high speed Wi-Fi and a universal docking station. We were also surprised to find a handy smartphone, which we could take out and about with us for local and international calls, unlimited Internet access and hotel service speed dial, all for free! Another nifty little gadget we had was a slim tablet which served as a digital concierge for our stay, it provided hotel information, music from Ruby Radio, games, insider tips on Vienna and a live chat function should you need to speak to staff. We didn’t interact with many staff members during this stay as there was no need to but the ones we did speak to were friendly and helpful.
We did have a bit of trouble getting the cold tap going in the sink and our shower could have done with a little more pressure, but then again that’s down to personal preference and I happen to like my showers to feel like I’m being shot with a machine gun. Also note that there aren’t any tea or coffee making facilities but I guess that’s just more reason to head out and sample the top notch cafes available. Although there aren’t any minibars in the rooms, you’ll find a ‘Maxi Bar’ on each floor, which is a vending machine filled with soft and alcoholic drinks, snacks, hygiene essentials and ‘pleasure sets’ – also an essential obvs. Anyway, enough about pleasure, we were more interested in utilising the luxurious mattress and soundproof walls to snore our heads off before the long day of exploring ahead of us.
Breakfast time. Now what you won’t find at this self-service buffet is what’s typical of English breakfast. No sausages. No bacon. Not even toast. Ruby’s lean luxury philosophy leaves out the mass-produced goods and focuses on providing organic quality food sourced locally from producers they know personally. Munch your way through a delicious range of cheese and charcuterie, cereal, yoghurt, bircher muesli, superfood toppings, wholegrain breads and buns, fresh fruit, hard or soft-boiled eggs and wash it all down with HAUSBRANDT coffee, organic teas and juice. From gluten-free bread to lactose-free milk, rest assured this vegan friendly breakfast caters for many dietary requirements.
On a nice day this can all be enjoyed on their lovely rooftop terrace peppered with colourful deckchairs, inviting beanbags and potted plants. Other fun features include a library to kick back and relax in; this leads into the Galley Kitchen where you can make complimentary hot drinks. Enjoy old classics every evening in their movie lounge decked out with tiered seating and footrests. Find your inner peace and meditate in their yoga sanctuary equipped with mats and towels. Kick some ass in their work space which also doubles as a meeting/conference room. Explore the city from a local’s perspective on their rental bikes for €10 per day (plus a deposit of €50). Get your sweat on at their local fitness studio Körperstadt using the discounted day ticket costing €15. Socialise at their stylish 24/7 bar and keep an eye on their notice board to find out what events are on and what drink specials they have.
With all that it offers, this all-encompassing hotel integrates seamlessly into Vienna, offering guests trendy decor, high-quality room furnishings, and multi-media features at affordable prices thanks to lean processing and cloud-based technology. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and hope to visit their other sites too.
The Munich-based Ruby Group is slowly but surely taking over Europe with locations in Munich, Dusseldorf, Hamburg and Vienna. And soon Frankfurt, Cologne, Zürich and London will be joining the roster. Click here to find out more and to book a room.
