Just off the main square in León, Nicaragua, Hotel Austria is perfectly situated by universities, shopping, restaurants and all of the cultural sites the colonial town has to offer. Perfect for both business and leisure travelers, the boutique getaway welcomes with Nicaraguan hospitality and Austrian style.
Arrive at a facade with hand-crafted wooden window shutters that would be at home in the Austrian Alps. Immediately, the bustle of Leon's busy byways fades as you enter the reception area. An open lobby space has seating areas with solid wood furniture that are perfect places to gather for conversation. You're greeted by a staff that speaks Spanish, English and German. If feeling a bit retro, you can fill out a postcard and they'll mail the far-off greeting for you.
The interior grounds are one of the best-loved features of the hotel. While the streets of León resound with the sounds of city life, the central garden transports you to the tranquility of a tropical haven. Rich with palm trees, native plants and flowers, the verdant courtyard is centered by a tiered fountain that invites relaxation. It's a great spot to enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning, or the cool of the evening as the sun goes down. You'll find further respite from the Nicaraguan sun on a covered patio with rocking chairs that beckon leisure time. Settle back and enjoy your surrounds, set against the lush backdrop of blooming plants and leafy trees.
Guestrooms of generous size open to face the verdant central garden. Inside, you'll find new, flat-screen TVs with premium cable channels, modern air conditioners and ample walk-in showers. Many of the rooms feature separate seating areas, appointed with the same smooth, solid, hand-crafted wood furniture in rich tones that is found throughout the hotel. Suites come with refrigerators, which are also available for a nominal fee in the standard rooms. WiFi is available in the rooms, as well as all other areas of the hotel.
Enjoyed with calming views of the main garden, the menu is an international affair that stretches from Europe to Latin America. Start your day with an included breakfast, choosing from a range that includes a continental option with fresh fruit, and a Nicaraguan típico with gallo pinto and made-to-order eggs. Local cuisine is also represented with Churrasco, traditional skirt steak with Chimichurri. If you feel like Mexican fare, there's Cortadillo de Res, braised beef in a tomato sauce with vegetables. You can also order a Mexican-style fillet, and chicken chilaquiles, served over lightly fried tortillas.
True to its name, Hotel Austria serves authentic Austrian cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Enjoy Berner Sausage, stuffed with cheese and decadently wrapped in bacon. Savor an Austrian classic with a Wiener Schnitzel pork cutlet, or sample some Gulash, a hearty beef stew in paprika sauce. Complete your meal with the Vienesse delight of Sachertorte, a rich, dense chocolate cake that's the house specialty. Perhaps a tasty piece of Apple Strudel with vanilla ice cream. Either for dessert or to start your day, you be remiss not to try Kaiserschmarrn. The fluffy, chopped pancake, sprinkled with sugar, was famously a favorite of Austrian emperor Franz Joseph I.
Hotel Austria's ecological initiatives include solar collectors that provide energy for hot water in the guestrooms, as well as for other services. New, highly efficient air conditioners cut down on energy use. Plastic bottles, aluminum cans and other waste are separated for recycling. All through the hotel, you'll find reminders to conserve water, energy and stay in an environmentally conscious mindset.
You're just one block from the town's main square and Cathedral of León, Central America's largest temple, dating to the mid-1700s. Sit back at an outdoor cafe and order a cool drink as you watch the activity of daily lives traverse the city's geographic and community center. Discover the life of one of the town's most famous sons at Museo Rubén Darío, an 8-minute walk away. The colonial home where the famed namesake poet lived contains many of his personal items. One block from there lies the Museo de Arte Fundación Ortiz-Gurdián, featuring works from masters like from Picasso, Miró and Chagall.
If you'd like to take a quick jaunt out of town, Cerro Negro Volcano is just a 45-minute drive. It's a popular place for thrill seekers who hop on snowboards or pieces of cardboard to surf down black volcanic sands. It's just a short trip to the ocean. A 30-minute drive away, Las Peñitas Beach welcomes with sandy beaches that give way to seaside cafés and bars that are splendid spots to unwind with a cool cocktail and take in the setting sun.
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