Mandarin Oriental Savoy, Zurich

Inside a heritage building that was Zurich’s first “grand hotel,” the new Mandarin Oriental Savoy, Zurich is the only five-star property on Bahnhofstrasse.

• The location on Paradeplatz, ideal for shopping and close to major historic sites like Fraumünster as well as the river and lake
• The little touches in the room that just work—storage in the closets and bathrooms; intuitive lighting; extra glassware etc.
• The rooftop views from the 1838 bar, open spring through fall

Zurich, indeed all of Switzerland, has a fondness for quiet luxury, which is remarkably on view at the new Mandarin Oriental Savoy, Zurich. The hotel—which dates back to 1838—reopened under Mandarin Oriental in December 2023 following two years of renovations. For starters, the hotel entrance: the building itself fronts Paradeplatz, one of Zurich’s most important squares (and the most expensive lot in Monopoly’s Swiss edition), but guests enter via a set of sliding glass doors on Poststrasse, a quiet side street. Passersby heading up posh Bahnhofstrasse—one of the world’s great shopping streets for high fashion—may not even notice the golden fan icon, placed near the top of the hotel’s northern facade.

Once inside, that sense of quiet luxury continues, thanks to Paris-based designer Tristan Auer’s thoughtful, subdued interiors. Public spaces and guest rooms have a color palette that pulls from Zurich’s own hues, with creamy walls accented by soothing blues from the lake, forest green from the surrounding hills and grays and honeys from the city’s architecture, plus plenty of wooden furnishings.

There are 80 rooms, including 36 suites, spread across floors three through five (the second floor is all events space, including a meticulously restored private dining room that has hosted Zurich’s shoemaker guild meetings since the 19th century). Most entry-level rooms face an internal courtyard, so it’s recommended to book a level up if you want to see anything. Many suites offer private balconies or terraces. Across room categories, there are plenty of connecting options for families, and the hotel’s suites are among the largest in town. Spacious bathrooms feature Paris-based Diptyque (in a sublime, subtle peach scent) with walk-in, stone-floored showers, and also tubs in all suites. For in-room lounging, there are both plush terry cloth robes as well as traditional Asian robes available. The lighting controls are intuitive and easy to find, and a convenient alcove near the door has a leather tray for storing room keys, wallets etc.—a little touch that’s surprisingly helpful. There is virtually no hint of the bustling trams and city outside, thanks to soundproofed windows.

Service is warm and gracious, and the young concierge team is eager to assist with recommendations and reservations at in-the-know, locals-only spots.

There is a large fitness center in the basement, though frequent Mandarin Oriental guests may be surprised to discover there is no spa. In-room treatments can be arranged however, and the hotel can recommend several indulgent day spas in the neighborhood.

For dining and drinks, Savoy Brasserie & Bar is the all-day restaurant that serves breakfast in the morning (a small but well-stocked buffet offers various pastries, cheeses, charcuterie and traditional Swiss treats like birchermuesli) and brasserie classics for lunch and dinner. Adjacent to Savoy is the reborn Orsini, a fine-dining Italian restaurant that’s been an institution at this hotel since the 1880s. There is also a small lobby lounge area. Throughout the day and well into the evening, Zurich’s professional set and well-heeled shoppers pop in through the lobby for meals or drinks, filling the lounge, bar and restaurants with a near-constant hum, mostly in Swiss German. And in warmer months, the rooftop bar 1838 offers Asian cuisine paired with 360-views over Zurich.

The bar’s name is a reference to the year Austrian baker-turned-hotelier Johannes Baur first opened the hotel. At the time, the Greek Revival structure fronted the town market. That market would evolve into Paradeplatz, a global financial hub surrounded by Switzerland’s banking titans (and Sprüngli, an historic chocolate confectionery, bakery and restaurant).

The hotel, too, has evolved: A 1908 expansion saw it become the Savoy Baur en Ville, and in the 1970s the entire building was torn down and then rebuilt stone by stone (and retrofitted with Disco-era interiors). Now under Mandarin Oriental, the hotel is once again one of Zurich’s premier properties and a top option for travelers.

Mandarin Oriental fans, and anyone in Zurich seeking clean, timeless elegance and five-star service in a central location. Families will appreciate the multiple connecting-room options and chocolate lovers will be dangerously close to Sprüngli, the city’s top confectioner.