EMA House Hotel Suites

Built in 1996, the EMA House Hotel Suites was renovated and refurbished in 2015, and has a sharp style that borrows from minimalist and vintage sensibilities. Geared toward self-catering guests, the modern building lacks most of the facilities and common areas of hotels, but it has a small reception area and lobby. Polished gray-marble tiles decorate a sleek entryway, which opens onto a lounge with a front desk beside floor-to-ceiling windows. A boxy sectional and some retro leather scoop chairs are scattered around the minimalist-style space, and refreshments and a bowl of fruit are left out on a table as a welcoming touch. The suites are well-suited to business travelers, especially those on extended stays, and to families looking for large, more-private units in which they can prepare meals.

The hotel is located just north of Zurich's city center, near the east bank of the Limmat River but not overlooking it. The city's quaint Old Town (Altsadt) is about a 10-minute walk from the hotel, and a nearby bridge crosses to the pleasant green space of Platzspitz, where the river splits. It's a 10-minute walk to Zurich's main Hauptbahnhof Station and the Swiss National Museum. Trains connect to the airport from Hauptbahnhof in 10 minutes, and otherwise the airport is a 15- to 20-minute drive from the hotel. Expect a 10-minute drive to the lakefront and the Zurich Opera House.

The EMA House Hotel Suites has 23 units, which include studios and one- and two-bedroom suites with sharp, contemporary decor. All have open floor plans with marble-tile entryways that open onto minimalist-style spaces with designer furnishings. Chic, spherical copper or white lamps, although attached to the walls, can be cleverly detached and repositioned. Plain, neutral floors and walls are warmed by shag throws and decorative square wood panels on ceilings or walls. All suites have sitting areas with sofa beds, huge work desks, and dining tables. Free Wi-Fi is standard, along with 40-inch smart TVs, iPod docks, Nespresso machines, and BluRay players. Junior Suites have kitchenettes with mini-fridges and microwaves, while one- and two bedroom suites add full kitchens with dishwashers and washer/dryers. Some have private balconies with city and distant mountain views. Daily housekeeping is included with all room categories. Bathrooms are done in white marble and have contemporary fixtures plus shower/tub combos and generous counter space. The EMA also has serviced apartments with full kitchens and washer/dryers available at other locations in the city. 

An all-suite hotel geared to self-catering guests, the EMA doesn't have a restaurant or breakfast room, though an in-room breakfast is included in rates. Common laundry facilities are available for guests in suites without washer/dryers. Well-suited to business travelers, the hotel has three small but modern meeting rooms and a multi-purpose hall that can accommodate up to 60 people, along with a small internet corner and a printer. Wi-Fi is free throughout.