SWISSBLISS
SWISS LUXURY TRAVEL BLOG
Baur-au-Lac, Zurich
Even the bees enjoy five-star accommodation here!
Sisi, the Empress of Austria stayed here as did Marc Chagall, who famously created the stained-glass windows of the Fraumünster church just around the corner from the hotel. Richard Wagner performed his world première of The Valkyries in the hotel itself, accompanied on the piano by Franz Liszt, his father-in-law. And Alfred Nobel was persuaded to create the Nobel Peace Prize whilst staying at the Baur-au-Lac.
What does honey have in common with the Nobel Peace prize? The Baur-au-Lac! This beautiful, very elegant Zurich hotel has the most amazing history and has hosted some of the world’s finest royalty, aristocrats, musicians and artists, as well as 80’000 bees, since it first opened in 1844.
Just like the hotel, the rooms and suites are tastefully decorated combining classical touches with modern elements throughout. There is an i-pad in every room, from which you can order in-room dining, or your favourite pillow to be delivered to the room. The i-pad also provides a comprehensive guide to everything you need to know about the hotel and Zurich. The rooms offer blue tooth technology to allow you to connect your phone to its very cool integrated sound system.
Whilst, today it continues to host many of the world’s famous, it also shelters the most beautiful beehive I have ever seen – definitely five-star – that is home to 80’000 bees. The beehive is very cleverly tucked away in the Baur’s elegant, landscaped park between the lake of Zurich and the city centre, away from hotel guests. The hotel produces its own honey, called “Miel du Jardin” that you can enjoy at breakfast or purchase as a gift.
Everything in this hotel is elegant and graceful. The entrance welcomes you with its fine marble floor leading you into the plush lounge. This stunning room, called “Le Hall” has an impressive Empire period chandelier as its centerpiece, porcelain Chinese table lamps and luxurious silk and wool carpets, and lots of comfortable seating; you can enjoy afternoon tea, or a light meal here. The floral decorations in this room are simply sumptuous. The hotel employs two fulltime florists who decorate the hotel with over 1000 flowers every day. I would recommend using the stairs to get to your room, to discover the beautiful stained-glass windows that grace the stairwells.
Personally, as someone who loves a good night’s sleep, I was quite taken by the pillow menu which will keep even the most tired guest up for awhile: it offers eight different, and very unusual options. Would you prefer a hard pillow, a neck-supporting pillow or a synthetic pillow? Nothing very original you might say, ok, let’s take a look at the fun options. How about a Swiss Stone Pine pillow filled with fine, fresh wood shavings from Swiss stone pines from the Grisons? Apparently, stone pine has a soporific effect inducing a deeper, more refreshing sleep. Or why not try a pillow filled with cherry stones – nature’s hot water bottle - for profound relaxation? The hotel will heat it up before delivering it to your room. Sweet dreams are guaranteed…
On the downside, the Baur-au-Lac doesn’t offer a spa, but it does have a nice, compact and bright gym on the top floor with nice views on the lake. Oh, and before I forget, your car too can be pampered here. The hotel’s garage offers guests a number of exclusive services, including valet refueling, a car wash and a tyre changing service.
1st of December 2016
The Baur-au-Lac has two very fine restaurants. The Pavilion, which offers very elegant dining, in its own rotunda, with uninterrupted views on the park and the river, is a more sophisticated, classy restaurant with one-Michelin star. The Rive Gauche is a much more relaxed and casual restaurant, with a great, funky menu, with three options: meat, vegetarian or vegan. Decorated in soft green tones, it resembles a very chic US diner.
For more information check out the hotel's website here.