There are many great hotels in Switzerland, but for the sweetest experience of all, look no further than the Baur au Lac. It is located in its very own park in the heart of Zurich, at a vantage point lofty enough to overlook the spires and towers of the city, Zurich see and the Alps. A hotel for more than 170 years, it is just a few minutes’ walk away from the city’s financial district and the Bahnhofstrasse, perhaps Switzerland’s most famous shopping street.
The location is just the start of a long list of great features, but the best of all for any sweet-tooth is a certain tasty brown substance. Since its founding year of 1844 the hotel has made its own chocolate and the 1844 Chocolat Baur au Lac is one of the many excellent products made at the site. Others include the Rectangle Lait 43 per cent Noisette and the Rectangle Noir 7 per cent Amande. All of these make excellent souvenirs for loved ones back home although, inevitably, most bars do not make it very far before mysteriously disappearing. If the chocolate is tempting, so too is the wider array of culinary offerings. The hotel offers wonderful food in its Pavillon and Rive Gauche restaurants, while food can also be enjoyed at the Rive Gauche and Rive Gauche Terrasse bars. International acclaim has never been slow in coming: the Pavillon has a Michelin Star and the US-based experts at Leading Hotels of the World listed the Baur an Lac as the best hotel in Europe.
With wonderful savoury cuisine and amazing chocolate, one may wonder what else there is about the hotel that is special. The answer to that question is a lot: A 24-hour concierge service, massage and therapy on request, private garage and car wash, an in-house florist, complimentary mini-bars, individual room safes and complimentary internet access. Pets are allowed in guest rooms too, so it’s luxury for your furry friends too. The hotel has plenty of special offers available at various times, so why not see if you can get a great deal on an exceptional stay?
