Augarten Hotel, Graz, Austria

Whereas Glasgow's stint as the European Capital of Culture transformed it from a gritty city into a hipster destination, Graz's turn in 2003 morphed it from comely university town to hotbed of futuristic architecture.

Of course, such things cannot occur with the obligatory design hotel in place, to house the onslaught of visiting futurists. Such is the Augarten Hotel. Not terribly well located, in what seems to be a bit more of a more residential and office area (but just a 15 minute walk to the city center), the Augarten Hotel is likely the most resolutely modern hotel in Austria.

The facilities

As you enter the sleek lobby, you notice there is not the slightest nod to the city's Renaissance history. A little exploring, and the design hotel's astonishing contemporary art collection, scattered glibly along stairwells and between well-chosen pieces of Capellini furniture, begins to reveal itself.

If that weren't enough, the Augarten Hotel's special features include an indoor pool and a roof terrace with breathtaking views.

The rooms

The design scheme continues in the design hotel's rooms, which are spacious, starkly furnished, and flooded with light--the only slightly more expensive apartments, complete with refrigerators and microwave ovens, make one feel quite at home. Bathrooms are shiny and workable. Ask for a room facing the old city, as those have views to the Schlossberg (castle). A very cool place to stay.