“Life is grand,” proclaims a bold sign outside the 2015-opened Kameha Grand Zurich hotel — and it’s a fitting motto for this opulent Swiss stay.
Located in Glattpark some 2 miles from the airport and 5 miles from the city center, this 245-room, amenity-packed property stands out among its no-frills surroundings of office buildings and apartments with a striking glass exterior, and a bold interior design set off with rococo flourishes. If you’re among those who think of Zurich as a boring banking hub, this inspired destination could help change your mind, allowing you to discover the “real” Zurich, from its beautiful lake to the cultural melting pot of its cafe-filled medieval Old Town.
WHY: You’ll be wowed by the environment, especially the glitzy Marcel Wanders-designed interiors. At ground level, for instance, a grand lobby flows into plush sitting areas — a chic smoker’s lounge with black leather furniture and a fireplace, housing a selection of Cuban and Dominican cigars; a shisha lounge, where guests gather on comfy sofas to puff from hookahs — and a spacious bar, the walls of which sparkle with gold-colored ornaments. But it’s not just the hotel’s modern aesthetics that make it a must-see: It also offers two restaurants and an enormous spa, ensuring that guests can both chill and be entertained.
WORKING WELL: Among the rooms stand 11 playful theme suites, and we recommend booking one to add some pizazz to your stay. One of them, the sexy Burlesque Suite, features blood-red window curtains, jet-black furniture, and a kit with whips and handcuffs (from $698). But in a class of its own is the Michael Najjar-designed Kubrick-esque Space Suite, which sports moon-print carpets and ceilings, silver walls and Jetsons-style furnishings (from $1,555).
NEEDS WORK: It’s tough to fix this, but the hotel’s location is horribly bland. A walk outside will take you past some cafes, a park and nothing else of note. It might help if the hotel offered its own transportation into central Zurich, a roughly 20-minute ride on a city tram. Thankfully, several of them stop down the block from the hotel. But hey, why not stay put and take advantage of the hotel amenities on offer? Book a treatment at the spa, like a 50-minute aromatherapeutic body massage ($97) — or hang out in its two saunas, steamroom, or roof terrace with distant Alpine views.
MUST TRY: Bring your appetite; the Kameha Grand houses some great eateries. L’Unico serves up Italian fare — beef carpaccio, homemade pastas and a rich tiramisu among them. But prioritize a reservation at the Michelin-starred YOU — a French restaurant with Far Eastern influences — where selections include a braised eel entree dressed with beet root.
BOTTOM LINE: Given the hotel’s proximity to the airport, and little else around, it’s a great spot for travelers with overnight layovers. But for those who don’t mind separation from Zurich’s urban core, the Kameha Grand offers a luxury guest experience with easy access to the city.
DETAILS: From $456.
