Park Hyatt Zurich

Opened in 2004, the Park Hyatt Zurich was the city's first purpose-built luxury hotel and still holds the position of one of the finest properties in the city. Its glass facade is sleek and contemporary, setting the tone for much of the rest of this impeccably presented property. The reception area is a lofty and hushed, though relaxing, space finished in warm tones with a striking bamboo garden, polished granite floors, and an impressive Ingo Maurer centerpiece chandelier. The open-concept lobby also extends to the hotel's breakfast room, and the Zen-like hallways are spacious and bright, with polished wooden floors. The hotel takes its art seriously, with over 90 pieces of original work by a raft of renowned international artists dotted around the hotel. The clientele includes many higher-end business guests as well as a spattering of well-heeled tourists and couples splashing out for a special occasion.

The hotel is located in the center of Zurich’s main commercial and financial district. The famous Bahnhofstrasse -- one of the world's most expensive and exclusive shopping streets -- is just a few minutes' walk away as is the north side of Lake Zurich, with its pleasant quayside promenade. Zurich's quaint Old Town (Altstadt) is around 10 minutes away on foot and there's plenty in the way of bars and restaurant in the surrounding area. The Stockerstrasse tram stop is a few minutes' walk from the hotel, while Zurich's main Hauptbahnhof station is a five-minute taxi ride away. From here, travelers can reach the airport in around 10 minutes on the train.

The hotel's 142 rooms are some of the largest in Zurich and feature floor-to-ceiling windows, Italian furniture, and chic, understated decor. High-end amenities include Nespresso machines, free high-speed Wi-Fi, and Bang & Olufsen TVs with satellite channels, on-demand movies, and DVD players. Other nice touches include daily fruit baskets, fresh flowers, and free mineral water, while marble bathrooms come with fluffy bathrobes, Grohe rainfall showers, separate soaking tubs, and luxury Laura Tonatto toiletries. Excellent double-glazing prevents all but minimal street noise, and windows have shafts that can be opened to let in fresh air. Beds are topped with Italian linen and hypo-allergenic pillows.

The Park Hyatt certainly excels with its eating and drinking options, starting with the impressive breakfast service in The Lobby Lounge, which also offers a particularly healthy and nutritious menu throughout the day. The Parkhuus restaurant has floor-to-ceiling windows and an open show kitchen, while Cafe Z offers delicatessen-inspired eating. The hotel’s attractive Onyx Bar is popular with locals and gets lively on weekends. There's also a  two-floor wine library with a collection of more than 3,000 wines. The on-site spa and health club is equipped with a modern gym (cardio machines have individual TVs), separate men's and women's areas with saunas and steam baths, and treatment rooms. However, there's no pool, unusual for such a high-end property; though hotel pools aren't exceptionally common in Zurich, the cheaper Swissotel does have one.