Schweizerhof-Bern Bern Swiss Bliss Travel

The Schweizerhof Bern

A glamarous landmark in the heart of Switzerland's capital city

Located right in the heart of Bern, The Schweizerhof is the leading five star hotel in Switzerland's capital city. With a 150-year old history, it reopened in 2012 after an extensive refurbishment and offers luxurious accommodation with a slick and sophisticated modern feel to it. As you enter, you are greeted by the beautiful reception that has a stunning black and white marble floor and a dramatic white onyx stone front desk lit up with LED lights.

The Schweizerhof has ninety-nine spacious rooms, dreamed up by MKV design who successfully drew on the hotel’s inheritance to bring this establishment into the 21st century. Using luxurious, high-quality materials, they turned it into a glamorous landmark creating a beautiful urban hotel.

The bedrooms are all decorated in the same style throughout the hotel with neutral tones, high-quality fabrics and red accent colours. The bathrooms, in my opinion, are simply stunning. Decorated in a range of black, white and grey colours, they offer a large walk in rain shower, complete with its own banquette and a black, lit alcove with the most fantastic Bulgari amenities. The bathtub and shower both have the most beautiful grey and white vertical mosaic Japanese tiling work. White marble floors, with a butterfly pattern complete the very slick design. The beds are as comfortable as they look with their super fluffy bedding.

In homage to Paul Klee, each room boasts a framed print or two of the Bern artist and I was told that one or two of his actual masterpieces were amongst the reproductions.

The public areas on the ground floor flow together to create fluid zones, all beautifully decorated with stunning floral arrangements. There is a very cosy and comfortable library area, where you can enjoy a traditional English afternoon tea. The lounge is equally inviting as is the bar a bit further beyond. The bar’s standout feature has got to be the dramatic Murano glass mural decoration.

The weekend I visited, I was lucky enough to be able to discover the delicious vegan breakfast menu the hotel now offers. You get to make up your own breakfast bowl, which has a vegan-yoghurt base and you can select from a wide-range of fresh fruit, nut and seed toppings to jazz up your bowl. The package also includes a delicious fruit smoothie and a hot drink of your choice.

If you are looking to enjoy more traditional fare, then head over to Jack’s Brasserie, a classic, Parisian-style brasserie, which has been left completely untouched as many of its beautiful features are listed. It is famous for its Wienerschnitzel but also offers lots of classic, market-fresh options. It is well-worth taking the time to eat here as the unique ambiance will make you believe that you have been suddenly transported to Paris.

The Schweizerhof has the only public rooftop in Bern that offers fantastic views on the city, including the Parliament building, the university and the Bernese alps beyond. Open from early April to end of summer, it has a bar and serves light summer dishes. This summer is will also be offering outdoor yoga once a week.

And please do not leave this hotel without spending a couple hours in its stunning spa. With its super modern design using a cool mix of earthy colours and funky textures, it offers a small, but super well-equipped gym and five treatment rooms. Its standout feature has got to be the wet area. It boasts a large, modern, and very indulgent thermal pool, with a number of different bubble and massage options, including its own water fall. There is also a beautiful, mosaic Turkish hammam with a very soothing eucalyptus fragrance, a traditional Finnish sauna and a funky, ice-cold plunge pool. Perfect for boosting your circulation!

The Schweizerhof is a truly fabulous hotel, so much attention has been given to detail that you are guaranteed to enjoy a real five-star experience whilst staying here. This hotel certainly left me with a lasting impression…