Detailed Review
Each type of room at the Baur au Lac has its connoisseur. In terms of aesthetics and comfort, even the rooms and suites not affected by the renovation work are always up to date. Now, though, the design of no fewer than 70 rooms of varying individual character is at hand. The individual furnishings have been chosen in France, Italy and Britain and blended into a faithful stylistic concept. Thus do even the bright, extraordinarily luxurious marble baths form a pleasing symbiosis of comfort and genuine luxury. The rooms and suites at the Baur Au Lac match the lifestyle of is regular guests in both comfort and spaciousness. The decor exhibits lasting values, the materials are noble, and the ambiance is light and welcoming. This is not just a place to feel at home, but a veritable residence. Over 70 rooms were furnished completely new in the recent rebuilding phase, each of them individually designed by the owner family.
Press Quotes
"This lakefront retreat counts royalty and artists—Richard Wagner premiered the first act of Die Walkure here—as former guests." Conde Nast Traveler 07
Independent Reviews
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"Zurich's most prestigious landmark hotel"
Baur au Lac
By Kamin Mohammadi
One of Europe’s grandest grandes dames , the Baur au Lac has been owned by the same family since opening in 1844, giving it unique continuity of service. Facing the lake with views of the Alps and set in its own parkland-like garden, the Baur soon attracted the cream of European society. After enlargements to its present size in 1898, the Baur au Lac played host to Austria’s Empress Elisabeth, the Russian Tsarina, the German Emperor Wilhelm II and countless aristocrats. Artists followed, invited by the wealthy guests: Wagner gave his first performance of The Valkyrie here, accompanied by his father-in-law Franz Liszt on the piano; Marc Chagall stayed here as did Joan Miró and Henry Moore. It was also here that Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel was persuaded of the importance of setting up an international peace prize.
The Baur au Lac is still a favourite with the world’s movers and shakers, and the hotel’s famous discretion is one of its many attractions. This is the model of an old-fashioned European luxury hotel, the staircase sweeps into the lobby, ancient doormen know equally ancient guests by name, matrons strut out to drink coffee in the garden draped in furs, businessmen from all over the world are accompanied by elegant wives wearing discreetly chic clothes, Arab sheikhs with wives and kids in tow arrive in the hotel’s new Rolls Royce Phantom… you could spectate in the lobby for hours, lingering over tea.
For all its grandness, the service is superlative and welcoming, with a nice personal touch – this is the kind of place where they will remember you by name on your second visit. There are several restaurants and bars and even a nightclub as well a private member’s club next door. Don’t skip the breakfasts, they are famously the best in town (perhaps the country) and served up in the wonderfully light Le Pavilion which overlooks the hotel’s park.
A traditional grand hotel that richly deserves its awesome reputation.
The rooms
Upstairs the 124 rooms, 24 junior suites and 18 suites are again the height of discreet luxury. Pleasantly traditional, each room has a different decorative style, be it art deco, Louis XVI or English Regency, but regardless, they are all very spacious, with superb marble bathrooms and the absolute top of the range in everything, from sheets to the in-room technology.
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Condé Nast Traveller 2008 Gold List
