Hotel Villa Honegg façade, Master Suite, views and indoor pool © Hotel Villa Honegg, photography by Timo Schwach
ENNETBÜRGEN
Hotel Villa Honegg
Perched at an altitude of 914 metres in the verdant hills of Ennetbürgen, Hotel Villa Honegg is a haven of beauty and tranquillity. Constructed in 1905, the traditional-style hotel underwent a complete renovation in 2011 and now boasts a selection of top class accommodation, wellness and dining options that fuse its storied past with a modern outlook.
Home to 23 rooms and suites, each with a balcony or terrace, the hotel was designed to soak up the panoramic views of Lake Lucerne and the Alps beyond. With an Art Nouveau aesthetic complete with furniture selected by London interior designers Jestico & Whiles, luxury emanates from every corner of the hotel. A rarity for a hotel of this size in Switzerland, Hotel Villa Honegg also offers guests the opportunity to book the property on an exclusive use basis.
Guests can take advantage of a variety of facilities onsite, including a private cinema, a restaurant with a sun-soaked private terrace, a 24-seat conference room, a seminar room and a spa with an indoor pool and heated outdoor infinity pool, sauna, steam bath, gym, massage therapies and cosmetic treatments. Just a twenty-minute drive from the city of Lucerne, its location is also ideal for active nature lovers, with hiking and mountain biking routes nearby, plus golfing, kayaking and archery activities available.
Grand Hôtel du Lac entrance
VEVEY
Grand Hôtel du Lac
Grand Hôtel du Lac is a Belle Époque palace set in one of the most stunning locations in Switzerland: right on the shores of Lake Geneva. Dating back to 1868, this superior five-star hotel has a rich history that continues to shine through even after its complete renovation in 2006. Spearheaded by famous French architect Pierre Yves Rochon, the redecoration of the hotel’s fifty rooms and suites has transformed the interior into a stylish space with bold lines, exquisite furnishings and modern touches.
With its spellbinding views of the marina and glittering waters beyond, Grand Hôtel du Lac serves as the perfect place for a wedding or special celebration. The hotel is also home to an expansive garden which frames the outdoor terrace of Michelin-starred restaurant Les Saison, so guests can enjoy gourmet cuisine surrounded by nature’s beauty.
For those looking for a fun day out, Grand Hôtel du Lac provides easy access to Lavaux, a UNESCO World Heritage Site home to striking terraced vineyards and various top-class wineries that offer tastings and guided walks. Back at the hotel, guests can unwind at the outdoor pool or have some well-deserved me time at the exclusive Valmont Spa.
The Chedi Andermatt exterior, Deluxe Room, cuisine and interiors of The Restaurant
Andermatt
The Chedi Andermatt
An iconic Alpine retreat in the heart of the Swiss Alps, The Chedi Andermatt delivers the height of luxury for the most discerning travellers. Boasting an Asian aesthetic imagined by revered architect Jean Michel Gathy, the hotel features wood textures, clean lines and large open spaces.
The 123 rooms are the epitome of elegance and comfort, adorned with natural hues, plush furnishings and state-of-the-art amenities, including in-room fireplaces, minibars, iPads, and flatscreen televisions. The views are the cherry on top: the cascading mountainscapes flood in unbounded from the hotel’s 1,447-metre vantage point.
The 2,400-square-metre spa also beckons in these beautiful scenes while offering guests access to a generous indoor pool and sauna area, as well as a Tibetan Relaxation Lounge featuring Eastern-inspired treatments.
The hotel’s duo of restaurants continue the Asian theme, presenting fine fare in sophisticated settings. Michelin-starred The Japanese delivers a tantalising gastronomic journey through a carefully curated Kaiseki menu, while
The Restaurant’s Wine and Cheese Cellar, housed in five-metre-high glass walls, invites diners to delight in some of Switzerland’s greatest culinary treasures.
The Omnia exterior
ZERMATT
The Omnia
Holding pride of place on a rock 45 metres above the village of Zermatt, The Omnia is an experiential escape offering the ultimate hospitality. After taking an elevator through a tunnel, guests are transported to a floating oasis of calm perched nearly 1650 metres above sea level. Naturally, the views are incredible at this altitude, brimming with mountainscapes as far as the eye can see.
Home to only thirty rooms, of which twelve are suites, the hotel focuses on offering nothing but the best to its guests. Facilities include a library, a restaurant with fireplaces, a lounge bar, a boardroom, a wine cellar and two sun-drenched terraces set high above Zermatt’s rooftops. The hotel’s spa also deserves special mention; with panoramas of Matterhorn mountain, tranquillity and top-class treatments are the order of the day here.
What makes this hotel truly special, though, is its attention to detail. Guests are encouraged to forget about time and be at peace in nature. Taking cues from the Alpine setting, the hotel’s aesthetic features classic design elements that go hand in hand with bespoke, modern touches.
Park Hyatt Zurich exterior, lobby, bedroom and wine cellar
Zurich
Park Hyatt Zurich
Park Hyatt Zurich offers the best of both worlds: a city centre location that’s only a few minutes’ walk from the stunning Lake Zurich. Whether choosing to stay in and enjoy all the fabulous facilities at the hotel or venturing out to the nearby local landmarks, guests will be spoilt for choice.
Within the glass walls of the contemporary hotel, visitors can savour sublime, sustainable fare at the Parkhaus restaurant. A showpiece central kitchen highlights the space, inviting diners to interact with the kitchen team while they conjure up gourmet creations. After dinner, head to the ONYX Bar, which enthrals with its lively, cosmopolitan atmosphere and exquisite signature cocktails.
When retreating back to their rooms and suites, guests will be treated to spacious oases brimming with all manner of amenities. A design masterpiece in its own right, the hotel’s aesthetic blends urban and natural materials; think granite tabletops, cherrywood accents and marble bathrooms. Art is a key focus, with pieces from the likes of Sol LeWitt, Heinz Mack, Serge Poliakoff and Günther adorning the public areas.
Bedroom at The View Lugano
Lugano
The View Lugano
The View Lugano is precisely as its name suggests: a stunning design-led hotel with superb views across Lake Lugano. A boutique hotel with only eighteen luxurious suites, each of which comes with a private furnished terrace, every facet is designed to soak up the beauty of its surroundings. Taking cues from a luxury yacht, the interior features teak flooring, leather furnishings and chrome-steel accents. Large glass windows, expansive open spaces and perfectly manicured gardens further characterise the hotel, which is only a five-minute walk from the town centre.
With a host of fabulous facilities onsite, there may be no need to venture out from the hotel, though. There’s a state-of-the-art spa with a fitness centre, hammam and indoor pool, plus a splendid restaurant, Innocenti Evasioni, that serves market-fresh Mediterranean cuisine. Seminar and banqueting services are also available, making The View Lugano the perfect destination for a conference or special celebration.
Bern from above, Hotel Schweizerhof Bern & Spa entrance, Luxury Living Studio at the hotel, view from the Sky Terrace
BERN
Hotel Schweizerhof Bern & Spa
Switzerland’s remarkable capital is home to one of the country’s most superb luxury hotels: Hotel Schweizerhof Bern & Spa. While its historic foundations date back to 1859, the recently renovated hotel is a first-class establishment offering every comfort and convenience.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bern is a unique city loved for its Medieval air, replete with countless fountains, sandstone façades, narrow streets and historic towers. Echoing the age-old beauty of its locale, Hotel Schweizerhof Bern & Spa is an opulent venue that effortlessly marries the old with the new. Its 99 rooms and suites are stylish sanctuaries outfitted with modern furniture and all amenities guests could need, including a kitchenette, Nespresso machine, rain shower, Bulgari care products and Japanese bathtubs.
The hotel’s top floor is an unmissable attraction, offering an elegant Sky Terrace with 360-degree panoramic views of history-steeped Bern. After watching the sunset on the rooftop, head to Jack’s Brasserie for French cuisine inspired by the seasons. Awarded fourteen Gault&Millau points, the restaurant offers some of the city’s best fare in a sophisticated atmosphere. For post-dinner treats, visit the Lobby-Lounge- Bar to sample one of its signature cocktails or take a moment to unwind in the delightful Cigar Lounge.
Hôtel Les Armures is housed in a seventeenth-century mansion in Geneva’s old town © Les Armures management / Marc- Antoine Nissille
geneva
Hôtel Les Armures
Set within a beautifully preserved seventeenth-century building, the picturesque Hôtel Les Armures is regarded as one of Geneva’s most intimate five-star establishments. Boasting all the modern comforts guests could desire while showcasing its old-world charm in all its glory, it’s a haven for those who love art and romance. The 32 rooms fuse contemporary design with original décor elements like exposed beams and cut stone, all brought together with luxury finishes such as marble bathrooms and high-quality furniture.
The hotel’s location in Geneva’s old town also makes it a drawcard for those who want to be in close proximity to the lake, local shops and the business district. For laid-back evenings after a day spent exploring the city’s treasures, guests can indulge in traditional Swiss and French cuisine, local specialities like raclette and fondue and an extensive wine selection at the onsite restaurant.
Aerial view of the beautiful city of Geneva © Switzerland Tourism / Jan Geerk
Find out more about these beautiful hotels at myswitzerland.com/boutiquedesign