24 Hours at Hotel Europe, Zurich
It’s always great to be back in Zurich. Not just because I have friends there which I plan to see regularly, also because the hotel market is quite interesting as well. While you’ve got the Grand Dame high above the city with its out-of-the-world spa, there are quite a few elegant hotels downtown. Recently I feel there is a hype about Zurich’s Seefeld district which starts at the Opera and goes all the way along the lakeside. Monocle just opened a chic café there and it’s easy to get lost with casual boutiques and lakeside parks. Honestly, I feel this is one of the most laid-back and prettiest areas in the largest city of Switzerland. Right in the heart of Seefeld lies the boutique hotel Europe, a member of Romantikhotels – a European collection of charming hotels.
I decided to arrive by car, which isn’t the easiest way to arrive to Zurich. Streets are packed and traffic lights change very fast. While I would highly recommend discovering Switzerland by train (there are some spectacular new train options in the Alpine Regions), I have to admit it wasn’t hard to reach the Hotel Europe on four wheels. The nearby parking garage Opera is brand new and even for 45 francs a night, it was just a very short stroll of two minutes once I was entering the hotel’s lovely entrance. Upon arrival, I was greeted by a friendly front desk attendant and headed over the old-school golden keys as you would know them from movies. What I found very interesting is that their front desk is open from 7 am till 9 pm and should you be arriving after that you can do a self-check-in. This is a very clever move especially in pandemic times when city hotel occupancies are low anyways. Let’s be honest, we rarely need anything from the front desk after dinner. Plus let’s not forget you’re in the heart of Zurich, so there is always a possibility to get a late-night bite or drinks.
My Junior Suite was located on the second floor and had a very cosy vibe. Measuring 25 square meters, this would probably count as an entry-level room in terms of size at a five-star hotel. However, I loved the look and feel of this boutique hotel room. The Junior Suite came with an incredibly comfortable bed with separate blankets and two pillows per person (much appreciated), two armchairs, a super-huge and brand new television, a writing desk as well as a wardrobe with plenty of storage space. While some rooms do have French balconies, mine just had windows with a very partial view of the lake, which was a lovely touch. Right next to the bed was the bathroom. While quite tiny, it had everything I wished for. I appreciated the walk-in shower with a proper shower door and great water pressure as well as the good-smelling Zurich-based toiletries by Soeder. There were two bath towels per person and the entire room was flawlessly clean.
After a wonderful night out at a restaurant run by friends of mine, called Zur Goldige Guttere, I was ready for a light and casual breakfast at the Max & Otto Restaurant in the Hotel Europe. There was a selection of basic breakfast products on the buffet while coffee could be ordered. I liked their bread selection, fresh orange juice along with the scrambled eggs and perfect cappuccino. It’s the right way to start the day in a bustling city like Zurich. Overall, I had a great overnight stay in one of Zurich’s coolest areas and would consider staying at Hotel Europe again should I be looking for a casual, laid-back boutique hotel with a very personal touch. If you come in summer, make sure to bring your bath suits as the hotel lies just opposite the most beautiful bathing spots. All in all, I can highly recommend the Hotel Europe Zurich for a great value for money.
Disclaimer: I stayed at Hotel Europe, Zurich for editorial purposes, however all the above written hasn’t been influenced in any way.
