Hotel Meininger Vienna Downtown Franz: our review
Our stay at the Meininger Hotel Vienna Downtown Franz: rooms, communal areas, breakfast, prices and why it's ideal for families in Vienna.
Miriam5 min readVerified · June 2026
When I started planning our trip to Vienna, I quickly realised it wasn't going to be a budget destination. As a family of four, we always look for central, affordable accommodation when the aim of the trip is to explore a city. The hotel we booked from the Meininger hotel chain more than met our expectations.
Meininger Hotels
MEININGER Hotels is a hotel chain headquartered in Berlin, Germany. The key to MEININGER's success is its hybrid concept, combining the best of a hotel's services with the advantages of a hostel. They stand out for excellent value for money and very central locations.
The MEININGER chain has grown rapidly in recent years and already has 35 properties in 25 European cities, such as Amsterdam, Budapest, Copenhagen, Paris, Rome, Vienna and Venice.
By the way, did you know that each MEININGER hotel has a different theme?
Meininger Hotel Vienna Downtown Franz
The Meininger chain has two hotels in Vienna, the MEININGER Hotel Wien Downtown Sissi and the one we stayed in, the Meininger Hotel Vienna Downtown Franz, both very similar.
Location
The Meininger Hotel Vienna Downtown Franz is in Leopoldstadt, Vienna's second district, between the Augarten and the Danube Canal. You can walk to some attractions and it's well connected to public transport. The airport is 37 minutes away by public transport and the central station (Hauptbahnhof Wien) 30.
The exact address is Rembrandtstraße 21, 1020 Wien.
Rooms
The hotel has 7 floors and a total of 131 rooms. They offer double/single rooms, family rooms and also beds in shared rooms, ideal for young travellers on a smaller budget.
Our experience at the Meininger Hotel Vienna Downtown Franz was very pleasant.
Check-in was fairly quick and they gave us all the information about the hotel.
We stayed in a family room on the fifth floor. A simple room, but with the basic comforts you need in a city hotel: two single beds for the adults, a bunk bed for the girls and a private bathroom with a shower. The bathroom has a hairdryer.
I have to say the hotel was very calm and quiet.
Communal areas
One of the things I liked most about the Meininger Vienna Downtown Franz hotel was seeing different types of travellers sharing the same space. In the lobby it was easy to find families with children playing in the play area, groups of young backpackers chatting or having a drink at the bar, and travellers working on their laptops in the lounge area.
Communal kitchen
There's a communal kitchen right next to reception, ideal for making yourself something to eat at any time. Remember the hotel doesn't have a restaurant; it only offers breakfast. The kitchen has a microwave, fridge, water heater, washing machine and dryer.
I know washing machine and holiday aren't words that go together, but believe me, when you travel with kids — and even more in our case, on a 35-day trip — having the option to do a load of washing is a big help.
It costs €4 per wash or dry.
As you can see in the photo, the kitchen also has a recycling point, a television and a mini library. There's also a small dining area inside.
Play area
In the lobby there's a play area with a table football that costs €2.50 for 30 minutes and a pool table, which costs €3 for 30 minutes or €5 for 60 minutes. It was very funny, because on the first night we arrived at the hotel very tired and told the girls we'd play table football in the morning. But in the morning we couldn't find the table football or the pool table, haha — the tables turn into the buffet tables during breakfast.
Breakfast
You can book breakfast when you reserve or directly at the hotel. Breakfast costs €12.90 per person; children up to 6 eat free and 6-12 get a 50% discount. It's a buffet, simple but varied, with options for adults and children: breads, cereals, jams, cold meats and cheeses, plus coffee, juices and teas. It's served every day from 6:30 to 10:30.
Other useful information
- It has private parking for around €25 a day. If you're interested, it's best to contact the hotel beforehand to confirm availability and price.
- Meininger hotels also accept pets, but only in the private rooms and for an extra €15 per night.
- They're a cashless hotel. They mostly accept bank and credit cards.
Advantages for families
Below are the advantages MEININGER Hotels offers for families.
- FAMILY DISCOUNT: for stays with children aged 0 to 12, booking on the MEININGER Hotels website gets you 15% off the whole stay
- Free breakfast for children up to 6 and a 50% discount for ages 6 to 12.
- Free cots for babies
Conclusion: is it worth it?
In short, the Meininger Hotel Vienna Downtown Franz was a perfect choice for our family. We enjoyed a comfortable, affordable stay in one of the most beautiful — but also most expensive — cities in Europe.
We'd definitely recommend it to other families looking for central, affordable accommodation in Vienna.
FAQ
Where is the Meininger Hotel Vienna Downtown Franz?
In Leopoldstadt (Vienna's 2nd district), at Rembrandtstraße 21, between the Augarten and the Danube Canal, with good public-transport links.
Is it a good hotel for families?
Yes: it has family rooms, a play area, a communal kitchen with a washing machine and a 15% discount for stays with children aged 0 to 12.
Does it have a kitchen and breakfast?
It doesn't have a restaurant, but it does have a communal kitchen (microwave, fridge, washing machine) and a buffet breakfast for around €12.90 (free up to age 6).
How much does parking cost?
Private parking costs around €25 a day (best to book it in advance). They also accept pets in private rooms for €15/night.
Is it worth it?
For a central, affordable family break, yes. It's simple but comfortable and very well located; the only downside was a mix-up with the room cleaning.
