Baur au Lac Hotel has been a leader in the international luxury hotel industry for over 170 years, so we were excited to visit this prestigious hotel. It's a privately owned hotel and is set in its own park. It has stunning views overlooking Lake Zurich and the Alps, and is only a few minutes walk from Zurich's celebrated shopping. It really is in a great location.
The hotel stands very proud and it’s hard not to be impressed when you’re approaching, you can’t ignore the large while pillars and clean facade. There is a grand entrance at the front, and the moment we pulled into the courtyard two members of staff simultaneously opened our car doors and escorted us through the entrance to the reception desk. Check-in was very swift, and we were shown to our suite. We were staying in one of the hotels' Junior Suites, a beautifully presented suite with a clean and classic design.
"The hotel stands very proud and it’s hard not to be impressed.”
There was a large seating area, comfortably fitted out with sofas. The bedroom was spacious and well designed, with the bed providing a very comfortable night's sleep. We made use of the pillow menu, which I definitely recommend, a nice touch. Our suite also included a small balcony equipped with a small table and chairs, a nice addition and a lovely way to spend an evening having a drink and enjoying the fresh Swiss air. The bathroom wasn't overly spacious, but it did include a separate walk-in shower and bath and was prepared with soft towels and luxury toiletries.
The suite was immaculate and there were lots of nice touches, it's clear the interior designer had a keen eye for detail. For a junior suite the overall size is impressive. The mini bar is also complimentary, which as you will know is very rare indeed.
There are other facilities in the hotel, and they are all up to the high standard you would expect. The restaurant Rive Gauche offers an impressive dining experience. There is also a large fully-equipped fitness room, and you can take advantage of some breathtaking views over the lake and luscious greenery while working out.
Baur au Lac delivered everything one would expect from a five star hotel, we had a very pleasurable experience. The staff were a credit to the hotel, no corner was left unturned, the atmosphere throughout the entire hotel was very welcoming. I cannot find a bad word to say about our stay, we enjoyed every minute and look forward to staying there again in the future.
The Bill: £420 per night
