The Dolder Grand

The Dolder Grand sits on the Zürichberg, on Adlisberg hill about 2 kilometres from central Zurich, about 200 metres above the city centre, with views across Zurich, the lake and the Alps. It opened on 10 May 1899 as the Dolder Grand Hotel and Curhaus, designed by the Basel architect Jacques Gros for the restaurateur Heinrich Hürlimann, and the historic building remains at the heart of the complex. The hotel closed in 2004 for a renovation and extension led by Norman Foster, which cost 440 million francs, and reopened on 3 April 2008.

There are 175 rooms and suites across the historic building and the modern wings. The setting feels more like a resort than a city hotel, and the spa is one of its main attractions, covering 4,000 square metres. The hotel also displays a collection of more than 100 works of art, with pieces by artists including Takashi Murakami and Salvador Dalí in the public spaces.

Food is a major draw. The Restaurant, under chef Heiko Nieder, holds two Michelin stars and 19 GaultMillau points and also offers a chef's table. MIKURIYA serves an omakase menu and holds 16 GaultMillau points, while Saltz, a more relaxed modern restaurant with a bar, and Blooms, a garden restaurant, hold 15 points each. The Canvas Bar, Le Club Riviera and a brunch round out the options.

This is the place for a special occasion, a spa break or a stay where peace and space matter more than being in the middle of the action. Couples, wellness travellers and anyone attending a business event at the hotel are well served. Rates are among the highest in Zurich; book well ahead for weekends and the summer.

According to Zürich Tourism, the hotel is 2.6 kilometres from the main station and about 9 kilometres from the airport. Getting into the centre is easy: the hotel runs a free shuttle, offers a limousine service, and the Dolderbahn rack railway, whose upper station is next to the hotel complex, links it with the city. Zoo Zürich is also on the Zürichberg, and the Old Town is a short ride downhill.