Opened in 1892 as the Hotel am Ring, the Bristol remains one of Vienna’s true jewels. For more than a hundred years the Bristol has been a popular meeting place for Vienna’s cultural and business life. Many prominent personalities have come and gone from the treasured hotel located directly opposite the Vienna Opera, including Gustav Mahler, Herbert von Karajan, and many other famous international guests. The Bristol is one of the few international hotels in the city that is also happily frequented by the Viennese. In earlier days, people enjoyed the legendary Sirk corner for refreshments before and after the opera, and today the restaurant and—of course—the very intimate Bristol Bar remain beloved.
Lobmeyr has made chandeliers for the hotel several times over the years. The five-star hotel’s many Maria Theresa chandeliers—in the typical Viennese high baroque style—are made by Lobmeyr, as are the Bristol baskets: Named after and specially designed for the hotel, these understated ceiling chandeliers are formed from stems adorned with coloured glass leaves. In the 1930s, ceiling lights were made that had pressed glass plates based on a design by Eduard Wimmer-Wisgrill, head of the Vienna School of Arts and Crafts School of Fashion. In the 1960s, architect Mayer designed a chandelier especially for the room used by the Rotary Club for their regular meetings.