Hotel Baur au Lac, Zurich, Switzerland

One of Europe’s luxury hotels Baur au Lac has been owned by the same family since opening in 1844, giving it unique continuity of service. Facing the lake with views of the Alps and set in its own parkland-like garden, Baur au Lac soon attracted the cream of European society. After enlargements to its present size in 1898, the Baur au Lac played host to Austria’s Empress Elisabeth, the Russian Tsarina, the German Emperor Wilhelm II and countless aristocrats.

Artists followed, invited by wealthy guests. Wagner gave his first performance of The Valkyrie here, accompanied by his father-in-law Franz Liszt on the piano. Marc Chagall stayed here as did Joan Miró and Henry Moore. It was also here that Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel was persuaded of the importance of setting up an international peace prize.

The facilities

The Baur au Lac is still a favourite with the world’s movers and shakers, and the luxury hotel’s famous discretion is one of its many attractions. This is the model of an old-fashioned European luxury hotel. The staircase sweeps into the lobby, ancient doormen know equally ancient guests by name, matrons strut out to drink coffee in the garden draped in furs, businessmen from all over the world are accompanied by elegant wives wearing discreetly chic clothes, Arab sheikhs with wives and kids in tow arrive in the luxury hotel’s new Rolls Royce Phantom… you could people-watch in the lobby for hours, lingering over tea.

For all its grandness, the service is superlative and welcoming with a nice personal touch. This is the kind of place where they will remember you by name on your second visit. There are several restaurants and bars and even a nightclub as well a private member’s club next door. Don’t sleep through breakfast, as they are famously the best in town (perhaps the country) and served up in the wonderfully light Le Pavilion which overlooks the luxury hotel’s park.

The rooms

Upstairs the 124 rooms, 24 junior suites and 18 suites are again the height of discreet luxury. Pleasantly traditional, each room has a different decorative style, be it art deco, Louis XVI or English Regency, but regardless, they are all very spacious, with superb marble bathrooms and the absolute top of the range in everything, from sheets to the in-room technology.