B2 Hotel Zurich

Mention European beer and most think of Germany, Belgium or the Czech Republic. But tiny Switzerland actually has the highest concentration of breweries per capita – so many breweries, in fact, that some of the older ones are being snapped up and restored for other uses, as in the case of the B2 Hotel Zürich. Located just minutes away from Zürich’s Hauptbahnhof, the city’s main train station, the hotel occupies the charmingly weathered industrial spaces of the 150-year-old Hürlimann brewery.

B2, should you be wondering, stands for “Bookmark + Boutique” – it’s the name of a small group of independent urban hotels that feature contemporary comforts within historic spaces. Indeed, the design at the Zurich location thoughtfully mixes old and new. The brewery’s airy layout and structure has been smartly preserved, the high arched windows retained, while the interiors have been stylishly revamped with modern, occasionally quirky furnishings. 51 guest rooms and one suite are located within the old mash house, with an additional eight duplex suites inside the former cold store. The look is contemporary: crisp white linens, leather ottomans, sculptural light fixtures, with executive rooms containing upgrades like parquet floors and king-sized beds. The top of the line is the Hürlimann Suite, of which there are eight: these striking duplexes feature separate living and dining areas, plus large bathtubs. In-room amenities are plentiful across all categories: complimentary minibars, flat-screen TVs, rain showers, Nespresso machines, sleek workstations.

Better suited to take advantage of the old brewery’s spacious dimensions, B2 Hotel Zürich’s public spaces are even more appealing than guest rooms. The Thermal Bath & Spa Zurich, for instance, is located in the brewery’s former barrel filling wing; the brick walls and vaulted cellars lend the spa a quiet atmosphere reminiscent of an old monastery. The eye-catching Library Lounge, with elegant windows and towering shelves housing 33,000 titles acquired from an antiquarian book shop, is a unique venue to sample Swiss-style tapas and, of course, the namesake Hürlimann beer. These books aren’t just for show – help yourself to the collection over breakfast.