Zurich is always worth a trip for itself. This time I had a very special occasion to visit the swish town on the shores of Lake Zurich. It’s not every day that you get to explore one of the world’s most celebrated luxury hotels. The Baur au Lac, a hotel as legendary as its location on the prime spot – Zurich’s glitzy Bahnhofstrasse to the right, the Schanzengraben (the Swiss version of a Venice canal) to the left and the lake right in front of the hotel right behind the sumptuous garden – adding even more glamour to the unique location. There are many reasons to choose this hotel above the other competitive properties. Might it be the fact that the Baur au Lac was awarded “Best Hotel in the World” by Condé Nast Traveler in 2020 or the historic background that makes sure every Royal or celebrity has stayed here at least once in their life. What I found most impressive was the fact that this is one of the last remaining old-school luxury hotels. It’s that kind of hotel you cannot feel too overdressed but vice versa. Arriving by car is the best way to fully enjoy the arrival experience when two porters open both sides of the vehicle at the same time. Followed by a friendly “Welcome to the Baur au Lac” before they take care of literally everything.

You can leave the outside world behind you and are being transported back to the good old days when hotels used to be posh havens of their luxurious world. There is an entire array of staff when you enter the gold polished doors, everyone keen on assisting you in every way possible. I checked in two hours later than originally supposed (thanks to Zurich after-work traffic) and the staff indirectly realized that my only wish was to move to my room as quickly as possible. Needless to say that there was no paperwork at all to be done and they fulfilled my undisclosed desires without hesitation. My room was situated on the third floor and the hallways were exactly like you would expect them to be: heavy carpets, elegant furniture and thick doors with golden handles. The friendly front desk attendant opened the door and let me enter my room first – it’s the details stating the difference in places of this calibre. A foyer covered in marble was the first thing that came to my mind – opening to the walk-in wardrobe to the left, to the bathroom right in front and the main room to the right.

Let’s start with the main area, the bedroom: I loved the décor and the colour scheme of my room – it provided a very welcoming and warm atmosphere with a touch of world-class glam. While I am normally not a big fan of carpets in hotel rooms, this one was of the highest quality and perfectly matched the entire interior, plus gave the room its cosy and elegant vibe. There was a spacious working desk with a chair, a drawer with the minibar and a television on top as well as two comfy armchairs with a side table that boasted a fruit platter and homemade chocolates along with a handwritten note – a very personal touch. I have to admit that since I started this weblog, I came across some pretty amazing hotel beds. However, the beds at the Baur au Lac are next level. Not only was the mattress the best I have experienced so far, but also the pillows and blankets were top. Let’s not forget the linen by top-notch Italian producer Rivolta Carmignani – they were even better than the ones I have seen in their flagship shop in Milan. My six hours of sleep felt as if I had a twelve-hour hibernation, and that is exactly what you should expect from the world’s best hotels. Again, the little details do make the difference.

Another important fact indicating a top-notch hotel is the bathroom of a guestroom. I can’t see shower-tub-combos anymore. That’s why the Baur au Lac installed bathrooms - covered in only the best marble – with separate showers and bathtubs during their latest renovation phase. Of course, the bathroom came with double vanities, a deep bathtub with the best water pressure one can dream of (the tub filled in under two minutes), a separate electronic toilet (with washlet), the walk-in shower covered in black marble on the floor and beige on the walls around plus thick and oversized towels. Just because that is not enough for the title of “best hotel in the world”, they supplied their bathrooms with upscale Bottega Veneta toiletries – a rare find in the best properties. So that they fulfil all 10 criteria of a perfect bathroom, there is a double door window for fresh air and daylight when getting ready for dazzling Zurich nights. Overall the room was a solid 10/10 and I wish every high-end hotel could be this comfortable, elegant and practical – in most cases, they are just one.

Unfortunately, during my stay, they had closed their garden and Pavillon restaurant, however, I was able to enjoy breakfast at their recently opened Baur’s – their Brasserie-styled restaurant facing bustling Talstrasse. Thanks to the amazing interior design (the interior was done by Martin Brudnizki) one felt transported to a hip London diner. I had a glimpse during the evening and the lights and atmosphere was creating the perfect spot for a discreet dinner as one would look for in a city rich in banks and investment firms like Zurich. Baur au Lac handles things slightly differently. This is the reason why they serve breakfast a la carte rather than putting everything on a buffet and creating a stressful situation. Every guest arrives and is slowly being paused when being handed over the breakfast menu – reducing the pace some people might have in this bustling metropole. I went for the salmon, a cheese plate, fresh fruits and Eggs Benedict, along with fresh orange juice, the original Baur au Lac tea by TWG and a bread basket with homemade jams and their special honey from on-site bees.

I loved the breakfast arrangement and didn’t mind that everything was served with a little break between the dishes. Since I wasn’t in a rush at all, I indeed enjoyed the relaxed breakfast atmosphere that perfectly matched that lazy Saturday morning. Thanks to the rain, I didn’t miss anything and went on to explore the rooftop gym at the Baur au Lac. Where other hotels would have created Penthouse suites or rooftop bars, here you can find one of the world’s most stunning gyms. Overlooking Lake Zurich with an unparalleled view and sometimes even glimpsing the snowcapped Alps in the back – there is simply no excuse not to work out after breakfast. Before leaving I checked out the city centre and I was impressed with the location once more: within one minute you reach the finest shops and can splurge on luxury goods. Overall I am a total fan of the Baur au Lac! Service is among the best in Switzerland, resulting as the best worldwide, the location is simply unbeatable in Zurich and the interior couldn’t be more luxurious. The hotel is currently in a big renovation process that is carried out in various steps, that’s why I couldn’t visit their garden and Pavillon restaurant. Their next step is to renovate the front desk and lobby. I am sure after the renovation process, the Baur au Lac is even more stunning and will score itself the reputation of being Zurich’s Grand Hotel for another century.