Beau-Rivage Palace

Since opening in 1861, the Beau-Rivage Palace has reigned as the crown jewel of Lausanne, with ancient cedar trees and stylish lounge furniture on 10 acres of manicured gardens that overlook the French Alps and Lake Geneva. The hotel has had its share of eminent guests, from Coco Chanel to Nelson Mandela. The five-floor property is made up of two adjoining palaces that were designed by Achille de la Harpe and Jean-Baptiste Bartholoni. The original grandeur has been preserved and stylishly merged with modern luxuries that attract primarily couples and business travelers, but also families. A skylight in the lobby shines down on four floors of intricate iron railings, with lamp posts and stone columns on the ground floor where gleaming marble and glass chandeliers abound.

Nestled in a beautiful residential area of Ouchy, the hotel overlooks Lake Geneva and the Alps from behind a tree-lined waterfront promenade that’s dotted with benches. Lausanne is the Olympic Capital and the Olympic Museum is a short walk from the property. The hotel is also close to the Lausanne-Port and the Ouchy bus stop that’s surrounded by shops, cafes, and restaurants. Old Town Lausanne -- with the Lausanne Cathedral, Palais de Rumine, tons of cafes, theaters, restaurants, and shops -- is a 10-minute car trip or 15-minute bus ride away. Chillon Castle is a 40-minute drive or one-hour train trip. Old Town Geneva is an hour away by train and the Geneva International Airport also takes an hour by car.

Grand interior designs and picturesque views create a stately atmosphere in these lavish rooms and suites, which feature rich textiles, tall ceilings, gold light fixtures, and artwork. Rooms overlook the lake, Alps, gardens, or town. All rooms have flat-screen TVs, minibars, electronic safes, and free Wi-Fi, and most have balconies and whirlpool tubs. Superior Rooms are the smallest, while the larger Deluxe Rooms have sitting areas. Suites offer separate living rooms, loaner iPads, Nespresso machines, valet parking, breakfast, and guaranteed spa reservations. Suites range in size and include two-bedroom duplexes, three-bedroom units with roof terraces, kitchens, and saunas, and a Spa Suite with a hammam, two massage tables, and a wine refrigerator. Marble bathrooms have high-end toiletries, bathrobes, slippers, heated towel racks, showers, and/or whirlpool tubs or freestanding bathtubs. 

The hotel offers four fine-dining and casual restaurants with terraces, including the informal Cafe Beau-Rivage and La Terrasse breakfast restaurant. Renowned French chef Anne-Sophie Pic heads the main restaurant, her namesake, which has been awarded two Michelin stars. Japanese cuisine is served at the Miyako restaurant and there's also a restaurant in the spa. In the summer, steamboat dinners on Le Montreux can be arranged. The Bar offers live performances, cigars, a year-round terrace, and cocktail mixing classes, and the hotel's wine cellar is one of the largest in Europe with over 3,000 wines and 75,000 bottles. 

The luxurious Cinq Mondes Spa features eight treatment rooms, separate men’s and women’s hammams, a sauna, and a hair salon. The outdoor pool is surrounded by lawns and a deck with umbrellas and patio furniture that face the lake. There is an indoor pool as well with lounge chairs, a hot tub, and an outdoor swim passage. The wooden-floored gym features floor-to-ceiling windows and modern equipment. Two well-maintained tennis courts and a seasonal ice rink are also in the gardens. 

The hotel has 12 air-conditioned conference rooms that fit up to 600 people. The ballroom, which hosted the Treaty of Lausanne negotiations, and the La Rotonde feature beautiful frescoes and grand designs. Modern audiovisual equipment and meeting supplies are offered. For guests traveling with children, there is the Kids are Kings program, treasure hunts, a shipwreck playground, and an outdoor oversized chessboard.