Swiss Hotels and Restaurants

and Restaurants

Zürich

Complete Index of Articles on Switzerland

witzerland claims, with justification, to have invented the hospitality business. The Swiss are rightly proud of the services a traveler will find. What you get is obviously relative to what you pay, but you'll get more in service and care (relative to price) in Switzerland at every level than you'd get elsewhere.

Their great hotels are among the finest in the world. Many of the most elite hotels in the world are managed by Swiss or Swiss-trained personnel. Even at the bottom end of the price scale, you will find excellent value.

About the Hotels and Our Selections

e've listed places at which we've enjoyably stayed, and others about which we have received reliable (and usually enthusiastic) recommendations from others. The Swiss Hotel Association (SHA) publishes a comprehensive guide to member hotels (probably 90%+ of all hotels in the country) in both book form (available from the Swiss National Tourist Office) and on the Web at http://www.swisshotels.ch/.

Most of our stays have been at four-star hotels, but these selective recommendations cover a broad price range. You'll also find a few restaurant suggestions.If you're new to European travel you might want to glance at our Swiss Hotel and Food Notes. These include information on bargain accommodations and how to locate "Zimmer Freis" (furnished rooms/apartments.) Also, the 'net is great for finding hotel recomendations. Is it the best way to book them? Our answer may surprise you ... read Booking Hotels on the Internet, which also has quite helpful information on how properly to confirm your hotel booking.

Prices and Open Periods

rices provided as a guide, in Swiss francs (CHF) for 2001 except as noted, most from the SHA listings, most for two people in twins with bath. (Check today's exchange rate.)
-- see our hotel information page if you have questions about hotel terms like EP, MAP, half-pension, American plan, stars, or single, double, triple, twin, quad, etc.

Most Swiss hotels have single rates significantly lower. Many hotels, especially those in resort areas, have seasonal rate structures; many have a broad range of rates depending on type of room and view. As well, some of the recommended hotels (especially in the mountains, and resort-type properties) are closed for parts of the year. Restaurant prices are from 1997.

Consult the hotel or the SHA guide for more precise rate information and to check if your choice is open when you want to go. Also a source of e-mail and web addresses.

What's Included?

rices generally include:

	service
	taxes
	Swiss-style Continental breakfast (rolls, butter, jam, coffee, milk, tea or chocolate, cheese, cold cuts, dry cereals, fruit, often fruit juice, and usually müsli.)

Breakfast is rarely included in Geneva or Zürich.

Phoning:

he Swiss country code for dialing is 41. When calling from the US precede the number by 011 plus country code and delete the zero (0) in the city code prefix. The Swiss are updating their phone system. Many numbers have changed recently. In most cases the contacts shown are current as of early '00; check the SHA site if you have difficulty.

If the person answering the phone isn't speaking English, the following may be helpful to you:

	Do you speak English?	Does anyone there speak English?
German	Sprechen Sie Englisch? shpreh'-khern zee aingleesh	Spricht dort jemand English? shprikht dorhdt yea'-mahndt aingleesh

Zürich

Hotels

Baur au Lac and Dolder Grand ( both ) are the tradtional luxe-class leaders in Zürich and start at CHF540-650.
Baur au Lac PH: 01 220 50 20 - Fax 01 220 50 44
Dolder Grand PH: 01 269 30 00 - Fax 01 269 30 01

The WIdder Hotel is a recent addition to the luxe crowd in the city. A boutique property with fewer than 50 rooms and suites, it's been cobbled together, elegantly, from eight townhomes, claimed to be national monuments. The interiors, though, are completely new, with accoutrments you'd expect in the 21st century. The location is excellent, on Rennweg, a couple of blocks from midway along the Bahnhofstrasse. Double from
CHF590 to 695.
PH: 01 224 25 26 - Fax 01 224 24 24

The Splügenschloss (Relais et Chateaux-affiliated), and the Arabella Sheraton Neues Schloss are excellent four-star hotels, from CHF345. Splügenschloss is a choice selection for European (and knowledgeable American) businesspeople. Some weekend 'deals' (e.g. -15%) often available from both.
Splugenschloss PH: 01 288 99 99 - Fax 01 289 99 98
Neues Schloss PH: 01 286 94 00 - Fax 01 286 94 45

Zum Storchen () has an excellent setting at the river's edge in an ancient (but thoroughly modern) building. Rates are excessive even for Zürich, in the range of CHF480 and up, and the rooms small even by European standarads. Romantic setting but poor value, we think. Nonetheless, a room overlooking the river may be worth it to you. Excellent dining room.
PH: 01 227 27 27 - Fax 01 227 27 00

Kindli - Small (21 rooms), quaint hotel located a convenient one block from the main street (Bahnhofstrasse) in a pleasant, colorful area. Described by regulars as "charming". Doubles from CHF280.
e-mail: hotelkindli@compuserve.com
PH: 01 211 59 17 - Fax 01 211 65 28

Florhof - A boutique hotel located near the university and theater. Newly renovated, quiet and reasonably central. Doubles CHF320 and up.
PH: 01 261 44 70 - Fax 01 261 46 11

The Seidenhof, alkoholfrei - your basic three-star hotel - spare furnishings, but clean and adequate space. Definitely not charming, but very serviceable, well-located on Sihlstrasse. Large public parking garage nearby. Doubles from CHF270.
PH: 01 211 65 44 - Fax 01 212 01 48

Two garnis are recommended by reliable sources; the Rütli and the Rössli. Both located just across the river not far from the train station and in or near the 'old town' (Niederdorf) and the University. Maria and Brian described the Rössli as "very clean, charming, and hospitable" after their July, 2001 visit. The Rütli is located just a bit more conveniently. Doubles CHF250-280 for the Rössli and CHF200-270 for the Rütli.
Rössli PH: 01 256 70 50 - Fax 01 256 70 51
Rütli PH: 01 255 58 00 - Fax 01 264 58 01

Comfort Inn Royal, 'garni' (), described as 'clean and friendly' by clients, near the train station, CHF 150-200.
PH: 01 266 59 59 - Fax 01 266 59 60

Among other hotels, the Leonhard and Limmathof have been recommended. They are across the Limmat from downtown, but not far from the main train station. Doubles from CHF138 for the Limmathof (), CHF160 for the Leonhard (). both with bath and including continental breakfast. Recent reports say the Limmathof is getting a bit run down; the Leonhard somewhat better, though a bit costlier as well.
Leonhard PH: 01 251 30 80 - Fax 01 252 38 70
Limmathof PH: 01 261 42 20 - Fax 01 262 02 17

A Zürich resident recommends the Walhalla as a good buy. Renovated in 1997, the hotel is located adjacent to the Sihlquai exit from the main rail station (Hauptbahnhof). Doubles with bath/shower from CHF130
PH: 01 446 54 00 - Fax 01 446 54 54

The Pension St. Josef offers very basic accommodations at a very low price for Zürich, and not far from the train station. Rates as low as CHF75 for a single without bath, with hearty Swiss-style buffet breakfast. Twin with shower at CHF165. As well there are rooms with bath for up to 5 people, and studios with kitchenettes for up to four. Prices for these run from CHF 185 - CHF 220.
PH: 01 250 57 57 - Fax: 01 251 28 08

Restaurants

Agnes Amberg - very expensive, world-class, 3 courses CHF 43-69

Haus zum Ruden and Zunfthaus zur Zimmerleuten are old guildhouses on the Limmat river, with excellent Swiss and Continental cuisine, and at least moderately expensive.

Our favorite upper-middle restaurant remains the Kaiserreblaube und Goethestuebli. It's just off the square of Sanktpeterkirch. Excellent food, and prices quite fair by Swiss standards.

At the guildhouses or the Kaiserreblaube we'd recommend the Zürcher Geschnetzltes -- chipped veal in a white sauce. The 'typical' Swiss dish, if there is one, accompanied by Rösti, what we might call hash brown potatoes, but far better and also a Swiss classic.

Walliser Channe (one block off Bahnhofstrasse, just past the St. Gotthard) is a reliable source of fondue and other specialties from the Valais. Moderate prices.

You can eat a single course in the very good, inexpensive (for Zürich) crowded, Zeughaus Keller (Paradeplatz) for under CHF 20. For the most part you'll sit at long tables with, perhaps, a doctor on one side of you, a bank clerk on the other.

The Augustiner (Augustinergasse 25, right off Bahnhofstrasse a couple blocks north of Paradeplatz) is a good 'typical' Zürich restaurant. Traditional atmosphere, and the food is great, mainly traditional Swiss food, like Bauernrösti, fried potatoes and bacon baked over with cheese -- farmer style. Delicious, but oh, those calories. More class than the Zeughaus Keller, though more expensive, too -- moderate for Zürich.

In the summer, you can enjoy a moderately-priced meal with music at the open-air Bauschänzli near the lake.

You'll find modest prices and surprisingly good food in the various Bahnhof Buffet venues in the Hauptbahnhof. There will be one expensive restaurant (name and theme changes from time-to-time), usually excellent. You'll also find a Rösti Bar restaurant there, toward the back, which serves at least ten varieties of the potato-based national dish ... especially welcome at breakfast time, but good at lunch, dinner or a midnight snack as well.

For a unique experience, eat on the Gastrotram. The city transport company operates a dining streetcar. The type of cuisine is changed from time-to-time. It was Japanese (sushi for Ed) the last time we tried it. Another year Bavarian. The cuisine changes annually.

The food is fairly decent, somewhat pricey, but the experience and the views make it worthwhile. The Gastrotram typically operates Tues. to Fri. 1130-1400 and 1800-2300, and on Saturdays from 1700-2300. The route is a loop between the Bahnhofplatz and the Bellevueplatz tram stops.

The Zürich Visitors Bureau can provide the operating schedule, route and cuisine information.

More lodging information for:

Berner Oberland Hotels and Restaurants (Jungfrau Region)

Swiss Hotel Association Directory

A Personal Visit to Switzerland

Complete Index of Articles on Switzerland

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