AMERON Zurich Bellerive au Lac

The Köln-based Althoff hotel group is responsible for the Ameron brand, a collection of stylish-yet-sensible high-end boutique hotels across Germany and Switzerland. And in the Ameron Zürich Bellerive au Lac they’re responsible for one of the most finely balanced boutique hotels in town. Neither a member of the conservative old guard nor a flamboyant ultra-modern design experiment, this hotel provides the sort of backdrop that just about any traveler can appreciate: stylish Art Deco-accented interiors, up-to-date traveler-friendly services and comforts, and a glamorous restaurant and lounge set right on the shores of the lake.

The rooms are handsome in their navy-and-neutrals color scheme, and the Deco influence is filtered through a modern sensibility; these interiors are contemporary classics, not period pieces. Many of them look directly out at the lake, and some of the suites, including the Tower Suite, take in a complete panorama of the city. The restaurant, Studio Bellerive, is named after the famous Swiss television studio, and presents a picture of Zürich as a vibrant, creative place — it’s a lively setting for a fine brasserie-style menu, and a meeting place for locals and travelers alike.