In a wealthy country noted for its outstanding hospitality industry, the intimate Widder Hotel delivers one of Switzerland’s most satisfying guest experiences.  Located in the centre of Zurich’s atmospheric Old Town, Widder Hotel is for guests who do not need to impress anyone except themselves.  The hotel impresses you in a private cocoon of stylish luxury and attentive service.

Widder Hotel Suite 312 living room.

What began as a series of historical houses interconnected to create Widder has been supplemented by even more exclusive apartments just across the pedestrianised street from the hotel’s main entrance.  The four residences are self-contained apartments with full kitchens suitable for long-term stays.  They are highly sought after by executives and visiting VIPs in town for medical treatment or other activities that require extended periods in Zurich; the full range of services available within the hotel is just a phone call away.

It is unnecessary to stay in an apartment to find spacious accommodation at Widder; expansive suites with exquisite interiors are found throughout the hotel, each different.  The historical suites are particularly noteworthy, with their massive beams overhead and centuries-old stencil art on the walls now appreciated more than ever. However, the contemporary design of the furnishings also has its ardent admirers.

Widder Hotel Suite 312 bedroom.

The crowning glory of Widder’s 49 rooms and suites is the splendid Penthouse Suite, which has a fireplace in the living room and a rooftop deck where private dinners can be enjoyed with views over the city. Back at ground level, Widder’s lovely garden provides a rare private outdoor space in a city where real estate is at a premium.

Drinking and dining experiences are integral to the Widder experience. The hotel has ingeniously incorporated several food and beverage outlets into the property without affecting the ambience of the tranquil environment enjoyed by in-house guests.  Thanks to the access points of the various houses, it is possible to enter the brilliant Boucherie August directly from the street.

However, Widder guests can enter discreetly from the hotel on the other side of this restaurant, showcasing Swiss meats and traditional accompaniments in homage to the butcher shop previously located on these premises in times gone by.  The accompaniments include Switzerland’s excellent wines, which are virtually unknown outside the country because they drink them all.

The stylish Widder Bar.

Before dinner, in Boucherie August or the exclusive Widder Restaurant, where award-winning chef Stefan Heilemann has earned two Michelin stars, a cocktail in the Widder Bar, another establishment within Widder’s walls, is a must if for no other reason than to flip through a three-dimensional ram’s head statue concealing the drinks menu, as extravagant as it is creative. As elsewhere in the world of Widder, the friendly bar staff are exceptionally professional.

The Widder Restaurant is where breakfast is served, and its hushed environment is ideal for a soft beginning to a day of meetings or sightseeing.  Widder’s convenient location within short walking distance of Bahnhofstrasse shopping and Zurich central train station makes it a perfect base for exploring Zurich as well as the many places in Switzerland and nearby in France, Germany, and Austria that can be visited on day trips thanks to the country’s outstanding rail network. Australia’s Rail Europe can provide travellers with Swiss Travel Passes for exploration within Switzerland and Eurail Passes for travel beyond appealing destinations across the European continent.

Written by: Robert La Bua – Global Travel Connoisseur

=====================================