Best Independent Style Hotels in Zürich

With a heritage spanning 175 years, Baur au Lac Its Restaurant Pavillon has two Michelin stars and the Head Sommelier Marc Almert, was named Best Sommelier of the World. Baur’s brasserie and bar, has a classy, vintage feel, while Le Hall lobby bar features an enormous glittering chandelier beneath its domed glass ceiling, along with an open fire and oil paintings. Come the summertime, guests can dine beside the manicured lawn with alpine views at Baur au Lac Terrace. The decor here takes on an Art Deco meets Louis XVI style, with contemporary touches in its 119 colourful bedrooms.

The interiors at this La Réserve’s Swiss property have been designed by Philippe Starck, inspired by its lakeside setting and forming a yachting theme. Its gastronomy takes an eclectic approach, combining Peruvian and Japanese cooking at La Muña restaurant, where wooden canoes hang from the ceiling, following the on-water vibe. The Eden Kitchen is located on the ground floor and also has an Asian influence, alongside Mediterranean dishes. Bedrooms at Eden au Lac include enormous bathrooms, with the brand’s own bath products and a maxi bar, filled with an unusual range of tipples.

A city break in Zurich is made all the more enticing, with a stay at this turreted, Belle Époque, landmark hotel. Overlooking the lake and surrounded by woodland, it’s a ten-minute shuttle ride into the heart of the action. The decor is ornate and classy – an 11-metre Andy Warhol artwork adorns the lobby,  along with grand columns and glittering chandeliers. Facilities in the complex include a tennis court, golf course, ballroom, enormous spa and even an ice rink during the winter months. Past patrons have included the likes of Roger Moore, Sofia Loren, Nelson Mandela and Elizabeth Taylor. So you’ll be in good company when you book a room here.

Multiple townhouses dating back to the 1400s have been renovated to house the 49 bedrooms of this old town hotel, whose name means ‘ram’. It’s a unique mix — original medieval features, heavy beams and wood panelling somehow blend seamlessly with the glitzy modern furnishings. Bibliophiles will enjoy whiling away an hour or two browsing the library’s hardbacks in an easy chair and those with carnivorous tendencies will love the two restaurants: Widder and AuGust. After a satisfying dinner, guests can relax with one of a range of 1000 spirits from the bar, accompanied by the sounds of nightly live music.

Found in the beating heart of the old town, this lifestyle boutique hotel has 64 designer rooms. Modern and cosy, each has crisp white bedding, calming artworks above the bed, accents of muted colours, pale wood wall coverings, a Nespresso coffee machine, fresh fruit (replenished daily) and 40” LED HD flat-screen TVs with Airplay. Storchen’s La Rôtisserie restaurant has recently gained a Michelin star under Chef Stefan Jäckel and during the summer months, its cuisine is also served on the enchanting riverside terrace. Guests can continue their riverside experience at the Barchetta Bar, or imbibe in the Cigar Bar or at The Nest, Storchen’s rooftop establishment.

FIVE Zurich is a luxurious lifestyle hotel located in the city’s Wiedikon district, perched on a hill overlooking the city centre. The contemporary hotel comprises 45 luxurious suites and 42 suite-sized lifestyle rooms each of which presents either a superb city skyline or majestic mountain and swimming pool view. More than just a hotel, FIVE Zurich has been dubbed the new dining and nightlife place to be in Zurich offering seven international award-winning restaurants, ranging from sophisticated Chinese dining at Maiden Shanghai Zurich to street-food-inspired Asian bites at Soul Street Zurich, there is something for every occasion. The rooftop nightclub ‘The Penthouse Zurich’ offers spectacular views across the city with weekend DJs and dancing going on into the morning. The hotel offers an indoor pool and its famous ReFIVE spa providing a luxurious place to relax and refresh, as well as a heated outdoor pool for a beautiful mountain-side swim.

This late 19th-century hotel feels very modern by comparison. The uber-cool five-floor, Rhineside property is designed to be relaxing and fuss-free, yet luxe. 48 individually decorated rooms are contemporary, comfy and cosy, with L’Occitane bath products. Guests can tuck into fancy and substantial hot platters in the herringbone floored dining room beside the hotel’s river promenade. Or enjoy fresh light lunches on the summer terrace and drinks under the stars by night. Private dining for up to eight can be arranged in the refined and bright Rhybligg room.