24 Feb Baur Au Lac

The Lowdown

Considered one of the best hotels in Europe, the five-pearl Baur au Lac is a 170-year-old property set in beautiful gardens on the edge of Lake Zurich, just off Zurich’s famous luxury shopping street, Bahnhofstrasse. The luxurious Baur au Lac dates back to 1844 when it was opened by Johannes Baur. Since then, six generations of the same family have owned and run this landmark Zurich hotel. The atmosphere here is one of imposing elegance and exclusivity. The hotel’s luxury atmosphere and vast gardens on the edge of Zurich Lake make this a popular venue for weddings and various events. Baur au Lac attracts a well-heeled clientele of vacationing couples and business travelers seeking a luxurious experience.

The Rooms

Rooms are decorated in a blend of styles devised by interior designer Frederic d’Haufayt. Suites vary from Art Deco to Louis XVI and Regency, but include contemporary mod cons such as an iPad-operated room service, in-floor heating and televisions by the bath. The walls are adorned with Miro-esque artworks and the tabletops feature elegant Chinese vases and other flourishes from the Far East.Every room is decorated with flowers arranged by the hotel’s head florist Loren Fischer, whose original ambition was to work for the Queen. The bedroom was spacious and well designed, with the bed providing a very comfortable night’s sleep. All rooms offer small indulgences like a pillow menu, a CD and DVD player, a free minibar, the hotel’s own brand of bathroom toiletries, and fresh flower arrangements. Deluxe Suites have additional luxuries like marble bathrooms, a Bose sound system and iPod docking station, coffee- and tea-making facilities, and scenic views of the lake or mountains.

Dining

There are 2 restaurants on site. One of them is The Pavillion (where breakfast is served), and is one of the most popular restaurants in Zurich. It is a lovely place set in a beautiful Victorian style glass conservatory with stunning floral arrangements. It has two Michelin-Stars and features classic haute cuisine. The second dining option is the Rive Gauche, Mediterranean inspired restaurant, it is more casual than the Pavillon.

Location

Set in its own park, the hotel enjoys a unique location overlooking the lake and the Alps – and yet is still but a few minutes walk from the Paradeplatz financial district and the Bahnhofstrasse, Zurich’s celebrated shopping high street. Many impressive churches and museums are within walking distance, including the Grossmünster church, an icon of Zurichand also within walking distance is one of the most intriguing sights in Zurich, the Fraumünster. Originally constructed in the 9th century, this old church was ruled by women abbots until the 16th century and is still a working church today. It features five stained glass windows created by artist Marc Chagall. Nearby, Zurich’s cobblestoned Old City straddles the Limmat River and is full of narrow alleys, charming cafes, restaurants and antique dealers.

Features

The Baur au Lac has most of the usual amenities you’d expect from a luxury hotel, like a 24-hour concierge, 24-hour room service, business center, and valet parking. The fitness center occupy an impressive location on the top floor with mountain and lake views from floor-to-ceiling windows.

Essential info

Rooms at the Baur Au Lac start from £585/ CHF 870 per night for a deluxe double room. For more information see www.bauraulac.ch and to book email reservation@bauraulac.ch or call Tel.: +41 44 220 50 30.