Standing right opposite the cathedral (and the station, making it handy for rail travellers), this five-storey 19th-century townhouse is a refined setting to relax after a day’s sightseeing. Unwind in the spa, or with a drink in the cigar lounge, to the sound of live piano music. Excelsior’s Michelin-starred restaurant Taku is a draw, serving an east Asian menu, plus you can sample French fine cuisine at Hanse Stube, take tea in the Winter Garden drawing room and dine al fresco in the courtyard. The hotel’s decor weaves together antique pieces with contemporary textiles, to a sophisticated effect.