All starts with a historic Building at the Heart of Vienna. LOVIS is located at Kärntner Straße 8, one of Vienna’s most iconic addresses, in the heart of the city’s historic centre. Surrounded by renowned cafés, cultural landmarks, luxury boutiques and architectural treasures, the building has welcomed visitors for centuries.
Today, four of its eight units have been thoughtfully transformed into boutique rooms and suites, allowing guests to experience Vienna while staying within a building that forms part of the city’s architectural and cultural heritage. The property also houses several exclusive boutiques, including the flagship store of Austria’s renowned crystal brand, Swarovski.
An Architectural Gem of the
When the current building was constructed in the early twentieth century, it was connected to its neighbouring twin building by a small bridge spanning the narrow passage known as the Kärntner Durchgang, one of Vienna’s earliest pedestrian streets.
Both buildings were designed by the architect Leonhard during the height of the Art Nouveau movement. More than a century later, elegant decorative details, ornamental façades and delicate French balconies still reflect the architectural style of that period.
The neighbouring building at Kärntner Straße 10 is home to the legendary Loos Bar, designed by Adolf Loos, one of Vienna’s most influential architects.
By the eighteenth century, financial difficulties led to the property’s auction in 1749. Its new owner, Joseph de Franze, demolished the original structure and commissioned a new building, while maintaining both addresses as one property.
In 1780, ownership passed to Philipp Wiest, who renamed the building Zu den drei Löwen (“The Three Lions House”), beginning another chapter in the long history of this remarkable address.
Today, the building remains in the private ownership of three families who continue to preserve its architectural and historical heritage with great care.
Honouring the legacy of this unique property, part of the building has been transformed into LOVIS—a contemporary boutique stay that allows guests to experience Vienna within a place shaped by more than five centuries of history.
By opening its doors to travellers, the families continue a long tradition of hospitality that has defined this address for generations, connecting Vienna’s rich past with the way people experience the city today.
From the Hasenhaus to the Dreilöwenhaus:
Long before the present building stood here, this site was already one of Vienna’s most significant addresses. Originally, Kärntner Straße 8 and 10 formed a single property.
Between 1508 and 1525, it became known as the famous Hasenhaus (“House of Rabbits”), serving both as the residence of the Landesfürstliche Hasenbannmeister and as imperial accommodation. The building became well known for the distinctive rabbit paintings decorating its façade.
In 1515, during the historic Habsburg double wedding, the Hasenhaus welcomed distinguished royal guests to Vienna. According to historical records, King Sigismund of Poland stayed here. During the following two centuries, the property continued to host important international visitors. In 1564 it accommodated the French and Venetian embassies, while between 1608 and 1609 it became the residence of the Ottoman delegation.
Golden streets, crisp mornings and timeless cafés await.
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