Monday, December 30, 2013

A perfect start into the day...


…is the ARCOTEL Hotels-Power-Breakfast!

ARCOTEL Hotels-Power-Breakfast. 
ARCOTEL Strawberry-Apple-Ginger-Rosemary-Jam © ARCOTEL Hotels

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. This fact is generally well-known and approved by numerous scientific studies. To be mentally and physically fit, the human body needs vitamins, minerals and other bioactive nutrients in the morning. We from the ARCOTEL Moser Verdino know this and thus, offer a rich breakfast buffet for the perfect start into your day.

"Regional, home-made, fresh", this is the motto of our ARCOTEL Hotels-Power-Breakfast. But what is special about our breakfast? The home-made ARCOTEL marble cake, the delicious ARCOTEL jam made from strawberries, apples, ginger and rosemary, the ARCOTEL Liptauer cheese as well as the ARCOTEL muesli mix. We also offer our guests rice pudding and porridge, according to the Five Elements Theory of Chinese nutrition science. Additionally, to start your day well-informed, you can choose between numerous newspapers.

Convince yourself about our ARCOTEL Hotels-Power-Breakfast at our restaurant Moser Verdino from Monday to Friday from 6.30 a.m. until 10.30 a.m or Saturday and Sunday from 6.30 a.m. until 11.30 a.m.

We look forward to welcoming you at our restaurant Moser Verdino!
T +43 463 578 78-0


Friday, December 20, 2013

Enjoy the Fascination of Friedrichstadt-Palast

With its attractive and central location in the “Mitte” district, you really do have the world of art and culture at your feet when you stay at the ARCOTEL Velvet Berlin! The highlights of Berlin’s theatre scene are just a few minutes’ walk away. Quite literally around the corner is one of the jewels in Berlin’s theatrical crown: the Friedrichstadt-Palast, which boasts the biggest stage in the world!

The dimensions of the show palace are unequalled in the world – and the best way to appreciate this is to book a ticket for the current variety show “berlin ERLEUCHTET”! The show will transport you into a gorgeous fantasy world to let you experience winter at its most captivating as you are bedazzled by singers, a show ballet and world class artists who take you on a spectacular journey full of colour through the winter wonderland. In a furious and festive finale, the stage and the auditorium together with the guests are sunk in a phenomenal snow storm and fulfil the dream of a white winter.

Experience the stunning winter show and spend a stress-free night in a hotel just around the corner: Our “Berlin in Winter” package lets you experience Berlin in winter in a most unusual fashion! Relax in the cosy atmosphere of one of our comfortable Superior rooms and in the evening enjoy a glass of sparkling wine in our VELVET LOUNGE bar to put yourself in the mood for the show. Featuring more than 100 artists, the show will transport you into a unique winter wonderland. Sleep in the next day for as long as you like, as you don’t have to check out until 3.00 p.m.!  

 

Enjoy Berlin with our special “Berlin in Winter:
(Available 7 January 2014 - 1 February 2014
)
                                          
•    1 night in a Superior room
•    Ticket(s) for the show “berlin ERLEUCHTET“ 

      at the Friedrichstadt-Palast Berlin 
•    1 glass of sparkling wine per person on 
      the day of the performance
•    1 bottle of mineral water in your room
•    Late check-out up to 3.00 p.m.
•    Generous buffet breakfast 


Click here to book the package "Berlin in Winter" via our website! 

If you have any questions, please contact our Reservations team:
E reservation.velvet@arcotelhotels.com | T +49 30 278 753-0


Thursday, December 19, 2013

What Hamburg is not.. part II

... or Six Misconceptions about Hamburg

A (tongue-in-check) expertise. Even though Iam not from Hamburg, and in fact wasn’t even born in Germany, I have been living in this Hanseatic city for several years now. And I love it. All towns, countries and even city districts sometimes have a hard time living down prejudices that people have about them. Hamburg is no exception. But enough of that! Let’s get straight down to Part II of six Misconceptions about Hamburg.


4. There is plenty of tasty fish in Hamburg
The fish are a rather tricky matter. Every Hamburger and, above all, every visitor to Hamburg, has heard of the famous "Fischmarkt". But you can also get bananas, salami, latte macchiato, vegetables and even household plants, such as yuccas, at the Fischmarkt. With more than 60,000 visitors per week, the fish market is definitely a tourist attraction. But in fact, nowadays most of the fish is transported deep-frozen to Hamburg by lorry and air. Hardly any freshly caught fish is landed now. This explains why the range of fish and fish restaurants is really no different to that in other large inland cities. Sorry, Hamburg, but these days, the plentiful supply of fish fresh off the boats is more of a myth than reality.

5. Hamburg equals harbour, bricks and water
Hamburg is often used as the backdrop for TV formats and films. And so the images of a typical port city with lots of water, red brick or clinker brink buildings and old grey houses with green slip roofs have spread. Of course, Hamburg has all of that. But Hamburg is also a very green city. Almost 14% of the metropolitan area is green space and there are roughly 1,400 parks. Just a few minutes’ walk away from the ARCOTEL Onyx is the 500,000 m2 Planten un Blomenpark in the heart of the city and at the start of the Reeperbahn.Or the Stadtpark, which with 150 hectares is three times bigger, and boasts a planetarium, ecological swimming pool and open-air pool, a lake, an open-air stage for concerts as well as playgrounds, barbecuing areas and of course plenty of vegetation.

6. "Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg"
Every year in May, Hamburg celebrates the birthday of the port of Hamburg with a massive spectacle that this year drew more than 1.5 million visitors. Hamburg‘s wealth and prosperity really is closely linked to the port and so the city’s residents always enjoy remembering 7 May 1189. This was when Emperor Frederick Barbarossa consented to the establishment of the harbour and granted Hamburg the status of an Imperial Free City which bestowed numerous privileges such as exemption from customs duties, free trade and fishing rights. Except the document that can still be found in the Hamburg State Archive is a forgery! It was made some 70 years after Barbarossa’s death. So strictly speaking, Hamburg is neither “free” nor a “Hanseatic city”. Scholars and historians are still debating the exact circumstances under which the document was produced and whether it is merely a 14th century copy of the original document that had been lost.

Yet whatever the case, Hamburg is and remains a wonderful city with wonderful people. I love it here!

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Art & Cultur at KÉ café & bar

 A truly amazing art event took place at the KÉ café & bar on 05th December 2013 – as always – in best company!

Andreas Licker and the team of ARCOTEL Nike Linz invited on Thursday, 5th of December, to the last "Art & Culture" event in this year at KÉ café & bar directly at the banks of the river Danube with a wonderful view to the landmark of Linz the "Pöstlingberg". With great pleasure we started with this last Event in 2013 into Christmastime.

(c) Werner Redl
Art & Indulgence
The vintager of the month, the vineyard Anita and Hans Nittnaus from Gols in Burgenland presented selected wines. Exquisite wines were presented and enjoyed in the course of a guided and commented wine tasting.

(c) Werner Redl: Hans Nittnaus
The Linzer artist Gabriele Scharinger presented great pictures which can be admired at the ARCOTEL Nike Linz until March 2014.
(c) Werner Redl
The wine tasting was very much appreciated by the guests who were also spoiled with culinary treats prepared by our chef de cuisine Bernd Waldhäusl and his team. Exquisite delicacies from our cuisine, were served in correspondence to every wine.


No wonder that Andreas Licker was very happy to welcome more than 60 guests. The relaxing evening in sophisticated ambience ended long after the wine tasting accompanied by live piano music from Wolfgang Schnaitl.

It was a very successful evening and we are already looking forward to our next Art & Culture event on 09th January 2014!

Vienna - A Dream on Ice

It´s finally time to start the ice-skating season. Indoors and outdoors, you`ll finid plenty of places to indulge a passion for this winter sport in Vienna.

Between 24 January and 9 March the square in front of the town hall (Rathausplatz) is transformed into a huge ice landscape - the Wiener Eistraum. It´s simply perfect for ice-skating and curling and it doesn´t matter if you don´t have you own skates as they can be hired at te rink side.

If you don´t want to wait until then, you can glide around the Indoor Ice-Rink at the Wiener Stadthalle, where the winter season runs from 26 october to 9 March.

if you`re looking for a stunning view, then you should definitely come to Schloss Wilhelminenberg on Ice. The highest ice-rink in vienna is open from 16 November to 19 January and offers a breath-taking view of the city from the terrace in front of Schloss Wilhelminenberg. With 200 m² of ice, the rink offers even more room for skatin and curling this year. To the sound of lively music and impressive lighting-effects glide across the ice and enjoy the view over Vienna...

The Vienna Ice-Skating Club on the Heumarkt probaly has the oldest tradition. For more than 140 years, skaters have been trying out their moves in a rink that in summer is filled up with sand and where guests are served cocktails. The season here runs from 19 October to 2 March.

After your time on the ice. Joe's Bar at the ARCOTEL Wimberger Vienna is the perfect place to warm up again. Perhaps with one of more than 200 rare and special whiskies, a fruity cocktail or perhaps a tasty hot soup.

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

New Year's Eve in Vienna


New Year's Eve is just around the corner. The turn of the year means various celebrations all over Vienna and lots of dancing, including the festivities at the ARCOTEL Kaiserwasser Vienna.

Our New Year's Eve gala buffet at the gourmet Restaurant UNO is a culinary treat. Festively decorated tables with views over the Kaiserwasser ensure a spectacular setting. After dinner you may enjoy the festive New Year's Eve atmosphere in Vienna's city centre. Celebrate with guests from all over the world in the city on Vienna's New Year's Eve path with its various stages and performances. The heart of the city can be reached within 10 minutes by subway, and to make the trip a short one you can already open the exclusive sparkling wine carrier on the way.

After a long New Year's Eve night our New Year's Brunch provides the perfect culinary well-being. Serve yourself at our rich buffet and enjoy the first hours of the New Year with the sounds of the New Year's Concert of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (live broadcast).


We wish you an exciting start into the New Year!
 

Your ARCOTEL Kaiserwasser Team

New Year's Eve Gala Buffet

31st December 2013 from 06.00 p.m.
EUR 89.50 per person

New Year's Brunch

1st January 2014 from 11.00 a.m. until 02.00 p.m.
EUR 43.00 per person

As both events will be quite busy reservations are recommended. 
T +43 224 24-866 or
E restaurantuno@arcotelhotels.com

December at ARCOTEL Allegra

During the cold weeks in December we have prepared a great offer just for you. Our offer of the month called "Christmas Time @ Joe's Bar" includes a large selection of hot drinks such as mulled wine, punch and natural teas. We recommend a relaxing "warm up" at Joe'sbar, which is open daily from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. During these cold days refresh yourself with our hot drinks (starting from 15.00 EUR) and relax in the wonderful Christmas atmosphere.


Just like the previous months, in December we prepared the recipe of the month, which you can use to prepare your own food. Get all the necessary ingredients, follow the instructions and your delicious meal will soon be complete. But if you still do not have the time and will to cook, you still have the option to enjoy the "Pork Fillet with Sautéed Oyster Mushrooms" in the cozy atmosphere of Restaurant Radicchio during December.

Ingredients for 4 people:

1kg pork fillet
1kg oyster mushrooms
100 g cherry tomatoes
salt
pepper
onion
bay leaves
1 clove of garlic
olive oil








Preparation:
Cut the pork fillet into even slices; season it with salt and pepper. Dice the onion into small cubes. Pour some olive oil in the pan, let it heat up and add the onion. Fry it slowly, add mushrooms and cherry tomatoes, a little bit of garlic, bay leaf and season it at the end. Gently fry the pork fillet in a pan. Serve everything on a serving plate. Have fun cooking and bon appétit!



In addition, The ARCOTEL Allegra has created a special offer for your Christmas parties and New Year's Eve. New Year's Eve at The ARCOTEL Allegra Hotel is one of the best parties in town. An unforgettable experience and a great atmosphere in a decorated and pleasant environment with unlimited food and drinks, tasty snacks and entertaining DJ Emilio Dalbello are guaranteed. If you decide to spend the night at The ARCOTEL Allegra Hotel, a visit to our wellness center with jacuzzi, Finnish sauna and relaxation area after a memorable New Year's Eve is the best solution for a fresh start. For more information:

T: +385 1 4696 000
F: +385 1 4696 027
E-mail: bankett.allegra@arcotelhotels.com

Friday, December 13, 2013

Musuem and bunker underneath the Main Trainstation

Did you know that a bunker is hiding under our Hamburg Main Trainstation? Don't worry, you are not the only one who didn't know that. Even long-established Hamburg citizens do not know this .

Only 10 minutes from the hotel ARCOTEL Rubin exists the only underground bunker museum in Northern Germany . The bunker was built in 1941-1944 during the Second World War. The total area of ​​2,700 m² is spread over 3 floors and was designed to protect up to 2,460 people . Few Hamburg bunkers could accommodate so many people at once. After the war, the underground bunker at first fell into a deep sleep. In 1965, during the " Cold War" , the capacity of the bunker was increased in order to protect 2,702 people. 

Today the bunker provides a shelter for occurring disasters and for guided tours. The guide leads visitors through an adventurous journey to the underworld based on the history of World War II. During this tour , many of the 150 rooms are shown. The entrance to the bunker for the tour is located on the Steintorwall right next to the main train station and is also the entrance in case of an emergency. 

Tour info: bunker Steintorwall
Admission: EUR 7.00 per person , concessions EUR 5.00 per personDuration of the guided tour : 100 minutesPre-registration is essential for this tour. Your tour booking , you can easily book online.