As is well known, holidays in Switzerland are back in high demand. On the one hand because there are hardly any other possibilities at the moment, but also because many people have rediscovered the beauty of our country. And last but not least, because a lot has happened in the hotel industry in recent years. Especially in the segment of small boutique hotels with and without stars with a maximum of 30 rooms, some hoteliers have developed true pearls with innovation and taste.
NZZ Bellevue has distilled out the 50 best Swiss hotels in a comprehensive rating. First the experience of the editorial staff and external experts was evaluated and a list of nominated hotels was drawn up. These then received a questionnaire. An external jury then evaluated the preliminary selection. In a next step, “the hotels, inns and lodges were visited and evaluated – from the approach and reception to the kitchen, wine cellar and cachet of the rooms” writes NZZ Bellevue.
First place in the overall ranking: the Whitepod Hotel in Les Giettes.
The 50 best small hotels are divided into four categories: City hotels, country and mountain hotels, gourmet hotels and 5-star hotels. In the overall ranking, the Hotel Whitepod in Les Giettes, the Hotel Glacier in Grindelwald and the Kräuterhotel Edelweiss on Riga Kaltbad are in the top three places.
In second place overall: the Hotel Glacier in Grindelwald.
The best small city hotels
The winner in the category of small city hotels is Lucerne’s Beau Séjour.
The winner in the category of small city hotels is Lucerne’s Beau Séjour. This hotel has withstood the characterisation as a small grand hotel during the review, the jury wrote, also and especially in comparison with all the noble hotels in the immediate vicinity. The Hotel Baseltor in Solothurn came second. The Hotel Spedition in Thun received the bronze medal in this category.
The Hotel Spedition in Thun receives the bronze medal in this category.
The best small country and mountain hotels
Among the best small country and mountain hotels, the Unique Hotel Post in Zermatt ranks third.
Together with the overall podium, the valaisan Hotel Whitepod in Les Giettes is also in first place in this category, followed by the Hotel Glacier in Grindelwald and the Unique Hotel Post in Zermatt in third place. The centrally located building does not look like it was gutted and redesigned a few years ago. High-quality materials have been used in the rooms, the small spa area is tasteful and the service has family charm.
The best small gourmet hotels
With the promise in its name, the Kräuterhotel Edelweiss in Rigi Kaltbad has won gold here. The Regina Montium restaurant belonging to it, with 15 Gault-Millau points and one Michelin star, deserves this ranking thanks to its original, unique concept. The kitchen uses exclusively Swiss products, if possible from the region, according to the appreciation of the culinary arts.
Bei den besten kleinen Gourmet-Hotels landet das Schloss Wartegg in Rorschach auf Platz zwei.
Second place went to Hotel Schloss Wartegg in Rorschach. The 25 rooms are comfortably furnished, and in the restaurant, which has 13 Gault Millau points, Sandro Zimmermann cooks a varied cuisine with fresh, regional organic products and specialities from the castle garden, writes NZZ Bellevue. Also in eastern Switzerland is the third in the bunch: Gasthaus zum Gupf in Rehetobel, Appenzell.
The best small 5-star hotels
The Omina Hotel in Zermatt took first place in this category. The NZZ editorial team believes that the hotel is deserving of this award because “the architecture of the building, which stands on a rock and offers an overwhelming view of the famous village and the even more famous Matterhorn, is daring and eccentric.”
In the category of the best small 5-star hotels, The Omina in Zermatt took first place.
Hotel Villa Honegg in Ennetbürgen comes in second place: it is not given to provide all the comforts of a five-star superior hotel for 23 rooms and suites: a spa with indoor and outdoor pool, conference facilities, a 14-point restaurant and a la carte breakfast. A hotel in Ticino comes in third place: the Hotel Villa Orselina in Locarno. The Villa is the perfect place for a relaxed holiday away from the hectic pace of everyday life. Everything that the discerning guest expects is offered, the jury said.
All rankings can be found in the mentioned article by NZZ Bellevue.
