Widder Hotel

Frommer's Review

This is Zurich's most up-to-date deluxe hotel, rivaled in the neighborhood only by the superior Baur au Lac, but ahead of the Savoy in overall tranquillity and comfort. In the early 1990s the Union Bank of Switzerland managed to acquire 10 interconnected buildings -- some associated with the city's medieval butchers' guild -- clustered around a central courtyard in the capital's historic core. The well-respected architect they hired, Tilla Theus, successfully emphasized, rather than diminished, the buildings' individual differences when they were combined into this sophisticated international hotel, creating an architectural ensemble that is praised by architects and cultural authorities.

During the renovations, great care was used to retain the original stone walls, murals, frescos, and ceilings. The result is a unique hotel where every room is different -- sometimes radically so -- from its neighbors, and where the color scheme (pastel beige, pink, blue, or yellow) reflects the color of the exterior of whichever of the 10 buildings you happen to be in. Interior furnishings range from the metallic, minimalist, and very modern to the traditional. Views from the bedrooms extend out over the Rennweg, the Augustinergasse, or the buildings' inner courtyard, and some enjoy vistas of the stately Augustinerkirche nearby.

Facilities:
Restaurant; bar; health club; business center; room service; babysitting; laundry service/dry cleaning

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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