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SWISS LUXURY TRAVEL BLOG
The Dolder Grand, Zurich
A treasure trove for art lovers
Imagine checking-in to your room whilst standing under an Andy Warhol painting? Or heading for the spa and coming across an Anish Kapoor sculpture? What about dining in the same room as a painting by Salvador Dali? The Dolder is an absolute treasure trove for art lovers. Its unbelievable art collection comprises over one hundred artworks on display throughout the hotel. It is so unassuming, that you could totally miss it. Nothing calls your attention to it. As with everything in the Dolder, the art collection is all about discretion and understatement.
This hotel is grand in every possible way. Perched up on a hill, high above Zurich, set in a beautiful park on the edge of woods, it is a successful blend between a Disney castle and modern architecture. This combination runs throughout the interior of the hotel too; the rooms in the main building benefit from a more traditional décor, whilst the rooms in the two new wings enjoy a more trendy, modern design. The rooms command beautiful views over its nine-hole golf course just below, the city of Zurich, the lake and the alps in the distance.
To give you an idea of how impressive their art collection is, on my way down to breakfast I walked past three sculptures: the first by Niki de Saint Phalle and Jean Tinguely, followed by one by Magritte, and a third by Salvador Dali. And then, I also took in some artwork by Damien Hirst and Sylvester Stallone. Don’t forget to ask the hotel for their interactive i-pad that features a map pinpointing the exact location of the various art works, allowing you to discover the whole collection at your own pace. And venture into the gardens too, you wouldn't want to miss Henry Moore's Three Piece Reclining Figure.
The rooms and suites are all beautifully decorated, many with their own individual style, some with a more modern, edgy design, others with a more traditional and elegant style. I visited two suites, one inspired by Giacometti, with lots of sculptural lines and the other named after the Italian actress Giuletta Masina, with a very glitzy, glamorous cinematic theme. The rooms in the spa wing have light, soft, pastel shades of lilac and white, dark oak wood floors. The bathrooms are large and bright, decorated with Jura limestone. The rooms are spacious, with large floor-to-ceiling wraparound windows giving you uninterrupted views over the park and Zurich beyond.
Chef Nieko Nieder is at the helm of two Michelin star gourmet The Restaurant at the Dolder that has a reputation for combining surprising ingredients to create unexpected and surprising combinations. The menu features a five- and eight-course menu, as well as a vegetarian menu. With a wine list of over 500 wines, you are guaranteed to find the perfect wine to accompany your dinner.
If you would rather dine in a more casual setting, head for the newly-decorated Salz restaurant, where Swiss artist Rolf Sachs has created a fun, bright décor inspired by Swiss alpine landscapes. The backdrop on one side of this cool eatery is a wall made of salt. Directly opposite, is a vibrant, red wall, with a jagged, red neon outline. The décor is completed with light-oak floors, and a combination of red-leather benches, stone-coloured chairs and plush, royal blue seating. And to top it all off, a large chunk of rock is suspended from the ceiling with red ropes and left hanging in the middle of the restaurant.
I would totally understand any guest who stayed here and told me they never left the hotel as there is so much to discover and indulge in at the Dolder Grand. Luckily for me it was pouring with rain when I stayed here so I had a good excuse to make the most of everything on offer. I especially enjoyed their fabulous spa, which is definitely worth a visit... You can read my impressions of this spa in my next post!
4th January 2017
The Dolder Grand was voted number 18 of the world's 50 best hotels and number 2 of Switzerland’s top hotels, by Condé Nast Traveler Reader's Choice Awards 2016
For more information check out the hotel's website here.