Anyone who has visited Zurich knows that Bahnhofstrasse is the city’s most prestigious address, lined as it is with glamorous boutiques and cafés among the imposing banks and office buildings sharing the street with trams and well-heeled pedestrians.  Hotel Schweizerhof, an esteemed presence on the city’s hotel scene for more than 140 years, provides its guests with a doubly convenient location at the top of the street on Bahnhofplatz, right across the street from Zurich’s central train station at the start of the city’s famed shopping promenade.

Hotel Schweizerhof Dufour Signature Suite balcony.

Hotel Schweizerhof’s historical building looks appealingly Old World on the outside.  The young staff are only too eager to ensure guests enjoy their maximum stays.  An intimate marble lobby indicates the quality of stay awaiting guests on arrival.  Understanding the demands of affluent travellers who expect high levels of personal service, Hotel Schweizerhof maintains a particular accommodation category, The Dufour.  Rather than concentrated in a separate section of the building, these suites are sprinkled discreetly throughout, with the spacious Signature Suite as Schweizerhof’s apotheosis of comfort and style.

Here, a large living room with splendid views of the train station’s ornate entrance from the tall windows and private balconies flanked by caryatids retains a graceful air of grandeur from a past era while incorporating modern touches in the details, all under an impressive chandelier that commands the room.  A big bathroom and guest powder room off the central vestibule separate the living room from the bedroom.

The Dufour’s guests have access to all of Hotel Schweizerhof’s facilities, including the lively bars and restaurants where fine food and drink are served in a spirited atmosphere and refined surroundings.  Schweizerhof’s bar hosts a Gin and jazz night every other Thursday; it is extremely popular with locals and guests alike.  A few steps away is Café Gourmet, a French-style bistro with hearty food and drinks just off the hotel lobby.  The hotel’s acclaimed restaurant, La Soupière, offers a more formal European dinner experience; an appealing menu complemented by polished service makes for a memorable meal.

Hotel Schweizerhof Dufour Suite living room.

Guests in The Dufour’s suites arriving by train at the central station are met by one of Schweizerhof’s famous red-capped porters, the Red Doormen, who assist with luggage on the short walk to the hotel.  Additional features of the suites include champagne breakfast and evening butler service.  Basing oneself at Hotel Schweizerhof, with the train station so close, means that day trips to other parts of Switzerland and even beyond to nearby cities in Germany and France are feasible for travellers equipped with a Eurail Pass that allows for spontaneous travel to take in the sights, sounds, and tastes of Switzerland and its neighbours with ease.

Available in Australia from Rail Europe, devotees of Eurail Pass love the convenience of last-minute travel to take advantage of a sunny day or change plans if the weather is not conducive to an extensive outing.  Switzerland’s much-lauded rail network is famous worldwide for its efficiency; the French and German train systems are ideal for touring the region.

Written by:  Robert La Bua – Global Traveller Deluxe

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