I

f you’re particularly clued-in about Viennese design then the distinctive structure of the Hotel Topazz will immediately bring to mind a silver vase by Koloman Moser — but even if you don’t know your Moser from your Moses you’ll immediately get the message: this is modern Vienna, or at least Modernist Vienna, and a hotel that has no time for the classicist architecture of the grand hotels.

The Topazz is also a green hotel through and through, from its low-impact construction to its low-energy operation to the locally sourced seasonal cuisine. It’s a smallish building, but the rooms seem to expand their footprints with some clever design tricks: uncluttered open-plan layouts, porthole windows with cushioned seats to draw the eye outside, and a palette of contrasting monochrome colors, so that the darker surfaces seem to recede. It’s a contemporary look that resonates across several decades of the 20th century as well, and it’s one guests won’t soon forget.

At just thirty-one rooms it’s certainly on the small side, and the Salon Topazz, serving breakfast and an all-day bar menu, is the extent of the public spaces. But it offers access to a bit more, thanks to some clever connections — across the street at its sister hotel there’s a highly regarded restaurant, Bloom, which comes complete with some stunning views from its rooftop garden.