Review: Storchen, Zurich – A quaint abode in the heart of the city


Zurich, one of the most liveable (and expensive!) cities in the world, attracts both business and holiday travelers. Usually it is very hard to mix business with pleasure, but there’s one hotel in Zurich that brings best of both these worlds together.

Storchen, the only hotel to be located on river Limmat, gives its guests a precious and rare luxury in Zurich – location, location, location. While most travelers have a stroll in the old town of Zurich and sitting on the banks of Limmat as a must-do part in their itinerary, Storchen lets you, quite literally, live this experience. Welcoming guests since 1357, the hotel is itself part of Zurich’s history, and the traditional Zurich hospitality transcends from the hotel building to its warm and friendly staff.

If staying in the heart of the most expensive city isn’t luxurious enough for you, then don’t worry; Storchen has a lot more to offer that will easily take your luxury quotient several notches higher.

To begin with, instead of the usual swanky big car pickup, Storchen lets you arrive in style with a 15-minute boat ride from the main station that ends right at the entrance gate of the hotel. On entering, you first pass through Storchen’s on the river bar – Barchetta. The bar is open from morning till past midnight, offering customized coffees, top-class cocktails, and fine food options. The bar lounge has a warm and cozy setting, letting you do some serious business while overlooking the river and the old town outside. The open area of the bar lures you to sit on the banks of the river and watch the world pass by while you sip your favorite wine.

Also read -  Review - The Reverie Saigon, gives a new meaning to opulence in the Far East

In conducive weather conditions, the bar extends to an outside open air café – Piazza. Here the guests can experience the old town hustle and bustle around and enjoy some Italian-inspired dishes and drinks.

Storchen’s has all 66 rooms and suites. The rooms offer a river, lake or the old town view. I was staying in the contemporary queen room with a river view. The overall design of the room was elegant. The metal and wood furniture and velvet sofa added some warm tones and gave a modern chic look to the room. A mix of warm beige and white palette also extended to the bathroom with marble wall and flooring combined with brass and wood fittings. All rooms come with modern amenities such as a Nespresso coffee machine, electronically adjustable beds, and a Samsung tablet that gives a pillow menu to choose from, the option to book an exercise bike or dumbbells, local information, etc. Other hotel facilities include two times daily chambermaid service, 24 hour business center, 24 hour concierge service, banquet rooms to host business or family events, etc.

To take the luxury quotient a step further, you can opt for the Riverside Signature Suite. Overlooking both the river and lake, the suite, admeasuring 83sqm, consists of a cozy living room, two spacious bedrooms, two bathrooms with a walk-in shower and bathtub, and a terrace that gives its guests a private view of the outside beauty. The suite is set in warm tones of mauve, beige, and ivory. The furniture and fittings design gives a feel of a home away from home. All the rooms of the suite give you a slice of the view outside, and that, combined with the neat comfy room settings, soothe your nerves and let you sink into the best quality living in Zurich.

Also read -  Review: The St Regis Dubai - Arabian warmth wrapped in European elegance

Storchen’s in-house restaurant – La Rotisserie is a favorite amongst locals. It overlooks the river and also has an option of outdoor terrace seating. The restaurant serves classic cuisine with a modern twist and has some vegan options. The hotel’s elaborate breakfast buffet is also served here, and the staff and chef were very receptive to my vegetarian fare demands and offered quite a few a-la-carte options. As a part of The Living Circle group of hotels, which states its hotels to be fed by nature, the restaurant’s sourcing is from the local farms that let it patrons have the luxury of savoring fresh quality produce. The hotel also has a very famous Cigar bar that boasts of having a collection of some finest cigars in the world.

So next time, if you are on a business trip but also want to enjoy a tourist life or to experience the luxury, high-quality Zurich lifestyle, Storchen is the place to stay. It will surely make your trip in the most liveable city a lot more likable.

Where: Storchen Zürich (A Member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts)
Weinpl. 2, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland
Phone: +41 44 227 27 27

Note: The critic was invited by Storchen Zürich, but all the opinions expressed herewith are her own

The luxe factor is

10 Location
7.5 Rooms
8 Service
8 Facilities
8 Breakfast
8.5 Dining
8.3
Tags from the story
,
Written By