The grand hotels of Zurich: the back story

About The grand hotels of Zurich: the back story

By the ULTIMATE Zurich Editorial Team

Editor-in-Chief: Jai Michael

Zurich’s grand hotels mark the city’s history. The Storchen has welcomed guests on the Limmat for more than 660 years, in Zurich Tourism’s words; Baur au Lac opened in its own park by the lake in 1844 and is still run by the same family, now in its seventh generation; and The Dolder Grand opened in 1899 as the Dolder Grand Hotel & Curhaus on the Zürichberg, high above the city. A newer generation has joined them: the Widder, made from historic town houses in the Old Town, the Eden au Lac reborn by Philippe Starck as La Réserve, and Mandarin Oriental Savoy on the Paradeplatz.

By the lake

Baur au Lac, at Talstrasse 1, stands in its own park where the Bahnhofstrasse meets the lake; its 119 rooms and suites range from Art Deco to Louis XVI and English Regency, with Baur’s and Marguita, both in the MICHELIN Guide. On the Utoquai, La Réserve Eden au Lac has 40 rooms and suites redesigned by Philippe Starck, and Eden Kitchen & Bar, One MICHELIN Star in the 2025 guide.

In the Old Town

The Widder Hotel, at Rennweg 7, is spread over nine historic buildings, with 49 rooms and suites and the Widder Restaurant, Two MICHELIN Stars in the 2025 guide. The Storchen, the only hotel directly on the Limmat in Zurich Tourism’s words, has 64 rooms and suites and La Rôtisserie, One MICHELIN Star. Mandarin Oriental Savoy faces the Paradeplatz, with ORSINI, One Star, and the Savoy Brasserie & Bar.

Choose by mood: the lake and the park, the lanes of the Old Town, or the hill and the spa.

On the Zürichberg

The Dolder Grand, at Kurhausstrasse 65, has 175 rooms and suites, a spa of 4,000 m², an art collection of more than 100 works and The Restaurant, Two MICHELIN Stars in the 2025 guide; the Dolderbahn funicular and the hotel’s shuttle take you down to the city.

Design and value

The B2 Boutique Hotel fills the old Hürlimann brewery, with a library of 33,000 books and the thermal baths next door; the two 25hours hotels bring design to Langstrasse and Zurich West.

Our advice: book early for the Zurich Film Festival in late September and for the big trade fairs, when the city fills up.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with The grand hotels of Zurich: the back story before you go.