Krafft Basel

How’s this for a literary pedigree: Hesse began Steppenwolf here in the mid-Twenties; room 4.1, to be precise. This building has operated continuously as a hotel since 1873, when Ernst Krafft (its first owner) lent his surname. Any way you look at it, Hotel Krafft Basel doesn’t pull its historical punches — quite fitting for a Kleinbasel heavyweight, just across the Rhine from Altstadt’s ceremonious, half-timbered façades, and firmly ensconced in the neighborhood’s walkable, lively streets. Indeed, the renowned Mittlere Brücke (“middle bridge”) straddles the even more renowned river right outside the front door.

The hotel’s 60 rooms are split between the central building and an opposing annex. Old-world details abound in the carefully preserved interiors, a heady compote of parquet flooring, restored tiles, original radiators, wainscoting, and chandeliers suffused with with gentle Swiss light. A delightful array of lamps, by turns whimsical and sleek, sustain that light in the rooms themselves, colluding with mid-century Typenmöbel furniture for a retro-futurist vibe. Grab a double room facing the river for the spaciousness and the gratifying view of the Rhine from the distinctive arcade balcony. Inside, thankfully, they’ve updated the fixtures since the 19th century, incorporating flatscreens, complimentary wi-fi, docking stations, Moka Efti coffee, and L’Occitane bath amenities.

Silvio Wieland’s team serves lunch and dinner daily (try the trout en papillote or the veal fillet with tuna salsa) from an imperially gorgeous dining room or, weather permitting, on the terrace. There’s also a downstairs lounge called Schnooggeloch, which should be just fine if it’s half as fun to dine in as it is to pronounce. Right next door is Consum, a wine bar specializing in charcuterie and cheese boards; wander further at your leisure, as you’re liable to stumble upon some true curiosities in such a magical neighborhood.