Hotel Check: Widder Hotel, Zurich
Good to know:
Definitely not the best hotel in town, lacking warm hospitality, not attentive enough, very distinctive interiors and a very limited amount of facilities offered
Points:
7.0 out of 10
Upon arriving in Zurich, I took an Uber to the hotel who drove quite a detour to charge more. Without further frustration, I arrived happily at what is supposed to be Zurich‘s number one property. I was genuinely welcomed in the lobby and approached the front desk. Check-in took a bit too long, wanting every information although I sent them my passport with details already. I appreciate efficient check-ins, so there is room for improvement. While I had lunch with a colleague, the porter brought my luggage to the room which worked very well. Unfortunately, we had to wait quite a long time until our table was cleaned and it took even longer until we could order. While after ordering, service started to be better, our burgers were very distinctive, the fries a bit tasteless. There was no special attention, and overall it was a solid lunch with a good value for money considering we were in the centre of Zurich.
Once I arrived in my Junior Suite - where I was accompanied to - I was impressed by the spacious layout. The design of my suite was very cool, and it was definitely the right choice after having seen some other rooms whose design I found a bit dated. There was a spacious bathroom with double vanities, separate toilet and bidet, a bathtub with a shower combo and an array of toiletries. Even though all bath amenities were hotel-branded ones, the quality was good, and I loved the considerable choice of them: including talcum, a set of creams and powder. Furthermore, I appreciate the two bath towels per person and the attentive housekeeping, which does an incredibly good job. On the other side, the welcome letter was handwritten. However, the welcome amenities looked a bit poor with just two small water bottles and two chocolates. In addition to the really heavenly bed, there was a spacious writing desk and two sofas on the ground floor. What I found a bit odd was the second floor which again had a sofa and an armchair. Both storeys had a separate television which worked well enough with a good selection of international channels.
Turndown service was done correctly, and I was offered an apple with the bottled water. I found it a pleasant surprise that the Widder comes with a complimentary minibar. There is a good selection of drinks in there, and I couldn’t even finish half of it. Having slept like a baby, I can‘t complain about the comfort of the room - the door to the hallway is a great plus to block any noise from the hallway. Breakfast was quite alright with a minimal bread selection. I enjoyed the Eggs Benedict, which were extremely good, as the service by the head waiter was who addressed me by my last name. Unfortunately, they started removing the buffet at 10.30 am without even asking if I want something else from the buffet. They also didn’t refill the salmon at 10.15 am. I found it a bit rude and never saw this inappropriate behaviour at a five-star hotel before.
Overall, the Widder Zurich didn’t perform as good as I expected. I heard fantastic things about this hotel, and especially since it is supposed to be the number one in the Swiss city, I can‘t confirm that this is one of the best hotels I have stayed at. After checking-out the handed me over the train ticket, though didn‘t offer me to bring me to the train station or call a cab. I, therefore, walked to the train station, which wasn‘t a problem, but sometimes it is nice if the staff really cares 100 per cent about the guest. While there is a good gym at the hotel, they don’t have any spa nor relaxation area with sauna. Generally, I found the Widder to be a real boutique hotel however, it lacks this warm and cosy character, also because the staff isn’t acting on a very personal level. This time I cannot give a 10 out of 10 rating, simply because the Widder missed to impress me.
