For sale his chocolate cake survives in a luxury hotel in Vienna

The Sacher hotel, one of the finest accommodations in Austria, had to reinvent itself to survive the crisis caused by covid-19. It costs more than $ 2,500 to spend a night in one of its suites.

The pandemic squeezes, but does not drown, the mythical Sacher Hotel in Vienna, which, with almost no guests due to the coronavirus, tries to survive thanks to its long history of resilience and innovative initiatives, such as the proposal to take its famous chocolate cake .

Since the arrival of the pandemic in Austria, the hotel, located opposite the Opera, has gone through the crisis in the shelter of its ancient imperial tradition.

“We have passed many tests since the brand was created and our family continues to think long term,” its CEO, Matthias Winkler, told AFP.

The good results of previous years and the public aid allow it to partially make up for the absence of its usual wealthy international clientele.

In normal times, this clientele guarantees 92% of the 23,000 annual nights in the 152 rooms and refined ‘suites’ of the Sacher, the price of which in the low season ranges between 400 and 2,300 euros (USD 480 – 2,760)

Like all hotels in the country, the Sacher is now open only for the very rare authorized business trips.

The origin of the Sacher epic dates back to 1832, with lots of cocoa and the necessary Chantilly cream. A young pastry chef, Franz Sacher, receives an order for a cake, which will cause a stir at court.

Forty-four years later, his son opens the current hotel, but it’s the visionary wife to whom the property owes its exceptional reputation.

Heads of orchestra, bankers, writers, politicians, accounts or businessmen, impeccably dressed, are all proud to go dancing, partying or staying at the “de Anna” hotel

Two world wars and the fall of the Habsburgs do not interrupt these worldly celebrations. Romy Schneider, Nureyev, Prince Charles, Jessye Norman (…) The hall continues to be filled with dedicated photos of legendary characters.

Over the decades the hotel grows. It now occupies six neoclassical buildings in the heart of Vienna.

And it is precisely this legend that attracts the Viennese, who come to take a “Sacher Torte” in a drive-in place on the street, due to the confinement due to the pandemic.

“I learned from television that you could pass by, buy a cake and then take it home,” says one customer.

Like hot bread

Cakes sell like hot cakes. They are brought directly to the concierge, as the waiter, porters and baggage handlers are partially unemployed.

“I do a little bit of everything,” smiles Uwe Kotzendorfer, the impeccable and distinguished concierge who has been at the hotel for 20 years, with uninterrupted enthusiasm.

In fact, there is a bit of everything to do: check the temperature in the mini cellars, maintain the luster of the marble in the bathrooms, or carry out repairs in the deserted rooms.

Even though the business is almost paralyzed, “a part of Austria’s history is in our hands,” says Deputy Director Doris Schwarz.

“And now, more than ever, we have to measure ourselves,” he adds, under the imposing portrait of a matriarch representing Anna Sacher, with a large cigar between her fingers and two bulldogs at her feet.