Driven to celebrate beauty

Carrying tradition forward

»At the Grand Ferdinand, we do not look back on tradition – we carry it forward. Free from labored retrospection. With openness to successful continuations. Our aim is not to reinvent hospitality, but rather to focus on how tradition is handled. We want to connect to eras in which nothing in Vienna was more meaningful than what was good. Lobmeyr chandeliers, cutlery from the Wiener Silbermanufaktur, the finest French champagne, and at the center ‘great Viennese cuisine’ set the tone.«

Blessed with beauty

»The Austrian national anthem speaks of “A people, blessed with beauty.” And it is this beauty that we are bringing back to the magnificent Vienna Ringstraße. In keeping with this, the Grand Ferdinand is permitted to bear the Austrian Federal Coat of Arms. An honor granted only to very special establishments. This pleases me deeply and affirms my sense of purpose. I believe that whatever one does, one can do it beautifully. Whatever one builds, one can build it beautifully. Beauty is not a question of money, not a question of design, and certainly not a competition of creativity – it is, quite simply, a question of attitude.«

Making greatness tangible

»Vienna has always been extraordinarily demanding. Second best was never good enough. This held true for music, literature and theatre, for craftsmanship and above all for food. Everyone strived for the highest perfection in everything. For me, there is nothing more fitting than to make this pursuit of greatness the guiding principle of the Grand Ferdinand. Kaisersuppe, the great Tafelspitz menu served from the trolley, Fleischlaberln à la Metternich, violet ice cream à la Sisi and much more besides. Believe me – you will enjoy it.«

Warmly,
Florian Weitzer