Ever since it opened in 1910, the Parkhotel Laurin has been known as one of Europe’s finest establishments. Members of the Austrian imperial family and of German princely families came to enjoy its luxurious ambience. The hotel was built in 1909 for the Staffler family, who are still the owners today. For more than a century, art has played a major role in the Parkhotel Laurin and so art is presented to the guests in every room as well as in the public areas and the beautiful garden. All the artworks are selected personally by the owner, Franz Staffler. The hotel is itself a unique work of art, including for example the legendary Laurin Bar with its frescos by Bruno Goldschmitt, one of the major German representatives of the Art Nouveau movement. Something I noticed when I visited the hotel for the first time was the eclectic mix of business people, artists, locals and hotel guests. The hotel has a very creative ambience and as a guest you feel at home right away. Since the hotel with its beautiful bar and exquisite restaurant is situated in the heart of the city, it is always pleasantly busy. This time, eleven years later, we arrived in the summer and that is when the Laurin Bar moves outside so that both hotel guests and locals feel as if they are on holiday too. The Aperitivo Lungo bar is located in the hotel’s park next to the beautiful swimming pool and every Thursday DJs play a selection of chill-out music. We hugely enjoyed exquisite seasonal dishes by Chef Dario Tornatore, who can take you on a fabulous gastronomic journey from London to Rome and seduce you with flavours of Tokyo and Naples. It’s still a real home away from home and, yes, it was wonderful to be back! No wonder this gem has a impressive guest list including movie director Wim Wenders, conductor Gustav Kuhn, Angela Merkel and the Dalai Lama (who always takes his breakfast at 4.30 am). A presto!