SWISSBLISS
SWISS LUXURY TRAVEL BLOG
The Kameha Grand
Zurich, Switzerland
For those passionate about design
Located in Glattpark, an up-and-coming business district of Zurich, the Kameha Grand Zurich, with its impressive architectural exterior and fabulous interior, is a designers' dream hotel. Opened in 2015, it is a unique, modern and stylish hotel half way between Zurich airport and the city, within easy reach of the tram.
Designed by the Dutch designer Marcel Wanders with its very slick and daring design, Swiss clichés are show-cased throughout the hotel: the lampshades in the lobby are replicas of Swiss cow bells, the paneling in the rooms and hallways is made to look like Swiss-chocolate bars, and the door handles are fashioned like those found on Swiss safes. Everything in this hotel is about design detail and with 224 rooms and 11 individually themed suites all between 40 and 60 m2, this hotel is like a visual feast for the design lover.
On arrival a very friendly and smiley doorman greeted me and ushered me into the spacious and modern lobby. The receptionists have pod-like desks, where they check you in with the usual level of Swiss efficiency. I must say I found it hard to pay attention to the check-in process as my eyes were drawn by all the incredibly, witty design details in the lobby.
The hotel very kindly put me in the Princess Suite, a light and delicately feminine suite with statement floral wallpaper with beautiful pink peonies one end of the room and a textured graphic floral design at other end. The suite was spacious and full of fun, quirky creative design features including a makeup mirror and a mannequin. The bed was super fluffy and comfortable. The bathroom with its walk in rain shower and designer bathtub, was equally slick and stylish.
I was lucky enough to be given a grand tour of some of the various suites and the first suite I visited was the fair-play suite, a very masculine space dedicated to sport. The green, astroturf headboard will remind you of a putting green and if you’re feeling stressed, there’s a punching bag, complete with boxing gloves to help you unleash any repressed anger. Invite your friends here to play some table-football or play a game of checkers on the carpet designed like a board game. This suite is bound to keep any sports mad lad happy!
The Hotel
The Princess Suite
The Fair-Play Suite
The Space Suite
If you want something a little more cutting edge, then book the incredible space suite designed by the artist Michael Najjar. With its very plush cream carpet, this 115 m2 suite will take you on a trip through the galaxy - 3, 2, 1… lift off! Complete with a floating bed, models of rockets and an astronaut’s glove that conveniently juts out of the living-room wall – presumably a good place to leave your keys or hang up your coat – this suite is totally unique. It comes complete with a walk-in closet, a kitchenette and an integrated steam bath.
The Burlesque Suite
Last but not least, I visited the sunlit burlesque suite, lavishly decorated in tones of red, it feels like a sensual Parisian boudoir with a very modern twist to it. With vibrant, red voile curtains (the theme by the way is carried right through to the bathroom!), a deep-buttoned headboard and deep piled rugs, this suite will transport you into a sensuous world. Unsurprisingly, the bed seems to take up most of the space in this lavish suite.
The Pillow Menu...
The rooms also come with the most extensive pillow and hot-water menu I have ever seen. There are seven different pillow options, including the cherry pit pillow, the neck support pillow, and the savvy sleepers pillow - an anti-aging satin pillow cover for waking up wrinkle-free and with smooth hair (now that’s what I call a tall order!). All of these can be ordered for at home too and will be delivered straight to your door. The hot water bottle menu will ensure that you will have a blissfully warm night and includes nine adult options and kids options such as the stuffed lamb toy or a bunny. For the ultimate relaxation you can even order from a selection of bathtub pillows...
The Spa
During my stay, sadly, I couldn't get an appointment in the 650m2 spa, but did use their small, but very well-equipped gym and had a sneek-peek at the spa facilities. The spa offers four treatment rooms, a beautiful relaxation room, a sun terrace with sun beds in the summer and a good wet area with two saunas and a steam bath. There is no swimming-pool.
The Restaurants and Beyond
Lastly, if you’re feeling peckish the Kameha has two restaurants, the You Restaurant that has 1 Michelin star and 16 Gault Millaut points and offers gourmet French/Far East fusion cuisine, and L’Unico, an Italian restaurant with its very own in-house pasta factory. I did try L’Unico and must say was very impressed by their pasta and particularly liked the fact that you could order a half-portion of pasta. If you want to chill after dinner, there’s a bar on-site, which serves mouth-watering cupcakes during the afternoon, and a shisha lounge to relax after dinner.
All in all, you do not need to leave this hotel as the facilities on site are really excellent. What really stands out the most is the very witty, cutting-edge design throughout this wonderful hotel.
For more information check out the hotel's website here.