For the 33rd annual Readers’ Choice Awards, Conde Nast surveyed more than three decades of their registered voters (>750,000) on their favorite hotels around the globe. And the winner for 2020 is…
Opened in 1844 and operated by the same family ever since, Bar au Lac has hosted the likes of Joan Miró and Plácido Domingo. Set in a garden near the Bahnhofstrasse shopping drag (Zurich’s equivalent of Fifth Avenue), the hotel looks right onto Lake Zurich and the Alps—but that’s not the only nice view.
Inside, rooms tastefully mix Art Deco, Louis XVI, and Regency styles, and are individually decorated in neutral tones with red, purple, and teal accents—though, if you’re lucky, you’ll get a room with a balcony on the water. While offering the ultimate in comfort and privacy, the 119 rooms and suites have been equipped with every, yet hardly noticeable, technical refinement.
If you’re keen to splurge more than you have, the Michelin-starred Pavillon is worth the indulgence. Lean back and have a cup of tea at the historical atmosphere of Le Hall. The creators have also imagined a stylish space that takes the classic brasserie concept to the next level, blending contemporary chic with and invitingly cozy atmosphere at Baur’s Brasserie & Bar.
Celebrating Christmas and the turn of the year at Baur au Lac has been a cherished tradition in Zurich for generations.
Despite this year’s many challenges, the hotel will allow this tradition to be continued in a safe environment, following their internal hygiene concept developed in close collaboration with an experienced epidemiologist.
For this year’s Christmas At the Pavillon, chef Laurent Eperon will transform Christmas Eve and Christmas Day into a celebration of modern French cuisine. His creativity and passion for perfect presentation are themselves an unforgettable gift to our guests. The wines to go with these meals will also be as diverse as they are exquisite.
Outside the hotel, Zurich offers so many sights to see. A relaxed stroll through the city reveals something amazing at every corner: architectural highlights, historic squares, streets and districts, churches, works of art and much more. The city on the River Limmat pulsates all year round. The highlights of Zurich’s event calendar include the Street Parade, the Sechseläuten Spring Festival, the Zürifäscht every three years and the Zurich Film Festival.
You can also stroll along the bustling and internationally renowned shopping boulevard of Bahnhofstrasse, around the picturesque old town with over 2,000 years of history on the banks of the River Limmat, or among the trendy districts of Zurich-West and Aussersihl.
CONDÉ NAST TRAVELER
Readers’ Choice Awards 2020
#1 Best Hotels in the World
#1 Top 10 Hotels in Europe
