Review: Swissotel Zurich is ideal for day-trippers and business travellers alike

Switzerland is full of exciting day trips no matter which city you choose as a base. For access to the Northern part of the country, the most popular option is Zürich: the country’s largest city and one of its most well-known. It’s for this reason that Swissotel is one of the best options for either short-stay business travel or longer-term exploration, seeing as it’s across the street from Zürich Oerlikon railway station, which while not exactly in the beating heart of the city, is one of the major junctions for the both the Zürich’s incredibly efficient S-Bahn network and the inter-regional Swiss railway network. There’s also a tram station right out front and a plethora of restaurants, cafes, and shops nearby. Pair that connectedness up with the Swissotel brand’s reliable reputation for high-end comfort and it’s easy to see the value here.

First impressions still very much count here. The spacious lobby is full of bright designer furniture and defined spaces, all laid out between the distant elevators and the reception desk. The space also opens up to various attached businesses including a bakery, shoe shop, cafe and even a hairdresser.

Swissotel’s lobby is generous and impressive | Image supplied | Credit: Swissôtel Zürich /Bruno Helblin.
Image Supplied | Credit: Swissôtel Zürich/Bruno Helblin.

On entry it appears to be newly refurbished, or at least recently redone for an ultra-slick, ultra-modern look. The four stars for this enormous 347-room hotel are well-earned by the faultless, friendly service, which is complemented by a quick and painless check-in. A higher room is most ideal here since this property boasts the status of tallest business-focused hotel in the entire city, a reputation that implies sweeping, panoramic views taking in Zurich’s modest skyline. Those really lucky will be able to take in the Swiss Alps from their room.

Our Premiere Room is quite small, when compared to all the other features across the hotel, but is elegantly designed and comfortable, delivering on those aforementioned city views but not quite taking in the alps. The room is bright and well-appointed, two soft twin beds neatly adjacent to the window and the disappointingly small but functional marble bathroom. The glass window which separates the walk-in rain shower from the bedroom is slightly see-through.

Image supplied | Credit: Swissôtel Zürich/Wiman Photography.

A large attractive working desk sits opposite the beds with the mini bar and a mid-sized flat screen television and there’s a thoughtful amount of connectivity throughout the room. This is primarily a business hotel after all so tech heads are well taken care of .

Those without a sufficient view of the Swiss Alps should head up to the gorgeous rooftop infinity pool, undoubtedly the most popular common area in the hotel aside from stylish cocktail lounge Le muh Bar. A “Spa & Sport” leisure facility is also offered and it’s quite comprehensive when compared to similar four-star hotels around Europe.

The real charm here is, in addition to the convenience of transport, the Oerlikon area itself. The on-site Restaurant Le muh is where the daily continental breakfast, a rich and generous buffet, is located with ample outdoor seating looking out to the local market square. It’s bustling and full of life outside, excellent for people watching especially on Wednesdays and Saturdays when the Oerlikon Farmers Market, one of the biggest and most popular in the city, fills the square. You’re also close to just about everything you’d need to help stock up on a short-stay in Zurich – and if longer, consider the easy one-hour train ride to Baden, a charming town in the Limmat Valley, most ideal for a day-trip because of it’s famous hot springs and relaxed atmosphere (though it’s the very opposite of ‘relaxed’ if you happen to visit during Badenfahrt, a raucous ten-day town-wide party that only happens once every ten years). And when you’re all done, it’s only 5km to the international airport.

Swissôtel Zürich

Address: Schulstrasse 44, 8050 Zürich, Switzerland
Contact: +41 44 317 31 11
Website: www.swissotel.com

Bookings also available through booking.com.

The writer stayed one night as a guest of Swissotel Zurich.

Feature image: Swissôtel Zürich/Niall Clutton

———-

This content has recently been ported from its original home on AU Abroad and may have formatting errors – images may not be showing up, or duplicated, and galleries may not be working. We are slowly fixing these issue. If you spot any major malfunctions making it impossible to read the content, however, please let us know at editor AT theaureview.com.

Chris Singh

Chris Singh is an Editor-At-Large at the AU review, loves writing about travel and hospitality, and is partial to a perfectly textured octopus. You can reach him on Instagram: @chrisdsingh.