Baur au Lac

It doesn’t get much grander than a 19th-century palace hotel in Europe’s banking capital. Baur au Lac, a Zurich institution since 1844, played host to pretty much anyone who was anyone, from royalty and heads of state to artists and Alfred Nobel. It’s kept itself in fine shape, and its antique-strewn opulence is a chastening reminder that today’s design hotels might not age quite so gracefully.

That’s not to say time here has stood still. Today, following a massive renovation, there’s a rooftop fitness center with an extraordinary view of the lake; the suites are bigger than ever, and all rooms come equipped with the latest gadgetry. But it hasn’t lost touch with its roots, and many of Baur au Lac’s greatest charms are timeless and low-tech, the domain not of digital innovations but of time-tested hospitality arts.

This is the kind of hotel that becomes a hub for its city’s social life. Among its restaurant offerings are Marguita, a Mediterranean restaurant right at the water’s edge, as well as the classic brasserie-style Baur’s. Meanwhile the Marguita Terrace, serving drinks with a view of Lake Zurich and the Alps, reminds you why you came to Switzerland in the first place.