Plattenstrasse 26, 8032 Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland | (618) 248-8274
In a quiet neighborhood near University of Zurich, walking distance to museums
A 15-minute walk to Zurich's Altstadt
Modern rooms filled with designer furnishings
Italian restaurant has a seasonal garden terrace
Lounge bar with cocktails and an espresso machine
Modern meeting room and Samsung tablets on request
Free breakfast buffet with continental options
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Smoking allowed in some rooms (a pro for some)
Rooms are small and lack mini-fridges, coffeemakers, and air-conditioning
Fee for self-parking (in a garage)
The Plattenhof Hotel is a small, stylish boutique hotel in a quiet neighborhood near the University of Zurich and several museums. Its rooms are small too, but modern, and benefit from sleek designer furnishings and locally produced art. The 37 contemporary rooms feature flat-screen TVs and iPod docks, but there's no air-conditioning. Guests get a free buffet breakfast and there's an Italian restaurant with a great seasonal garden patio, along with a lobby lounge bar. While it's a pleasant 15-minute stroll to the Altstadt, travelers looking to be closer to the city center's shopping and dining, should compare with Hotel St. Josef, though it has a more traditional style and somewhat higher rates.
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Scene
Charming boutique hotel with an emphasis on local artists and designer furniture
Housed in an early 20th-century townhouse, the Plattenhof Hotel is a simple boutique with a design-heavy atmosphere. Art plays an integral part throughout its interiors, with rotating exhibitions (often featuring Swiss artists) displayed in the common halls, as well as in the restaurant and bar. Through the front entrance, a narrow hall leads to a wood-fronted reception desk, with just a few feet of space between it and the lobby bar, a glimpse of the kind of close quarters guests here should expect. Cushioned bench seating and red cube stools line one wall, with a pair of couches around the corner on the far side of the little bar. It's geared toward business travelers and creatives in town for work in the university neighborhood, as well as tourists and weekend leisure seekers (guests tend to be split evenly between the two groups).
Location
Next to the University of Zurich, near museums and a 15-minute walk to Altstadt
The hotel sits on the corner of a busy street in the relatively quiet university neighborhood, a block away from the University of Zurich. The area has a pleasant vibe, with lots of parks and students, along with plenty of restaurants and bars within walking distance. Attractions like the Schauspielhaus theater, the Zoological Museum, and the Kunsthaus (Zurich's biggest art museum) are under a 10-minute walk away. It's about a 15-minute walk to the picturesque Old Town area (Altstadt), which is filled with shopping and attractions. Expect a 20-minute drive to Zurich Airport.
Rooms
Contemporary and compact, with free Wi-Fi and iPod docks; tablets on request
The hotel's 37 rooms are furnished in a chic style with wood floors, colorful accent lighting, and decorative wall sculptures. The rooms are renovated in groups every few years, leading to a wide variety of designer furnishings from Artemide lamps to Barcelona chairs in different rooms. Most are small, with the largest topping out at only 247 square feet (23 square meters), facing either the side street or the garden. Standard Single and Double Rooms have just enough space for a small sitting area and desk, while upgraded rooms have extra space for coffee tables and stylish chairs. The premium Frette linens on the beds are a nice bonus. Free Wi-Fi comes standard, along with flat-screen TVs and iPod docks. Some rooms have PlayStations, and Samsung tablets are available upon request, but basic amenities like mini-fridges, air-conditioning, and coffeemakers are missing. Most of the contemporary bathrooms have walk-in showers, though a few have shower/tub combos. Smoking is allowed in first floor rooms. A few complaints about traffic noise have been made by previous guests, but most find this a quiet place.
Features
Italian restaurant, free breakfast buffet, and lobby bar
Features are simple and limited here, but the hotel's Restaurant Sento attracts locals with authentic Italian cuisine and an extensive wine list. It also benefits from a great seasonal outdoor garden terrace, along with a small streetside patio. The free breakfast buffet consists of mostly cold dishes, with boiled eggs, local cheeses, and homemade jams. There's also a lobby lounge bar that serves cocktails and coffee drinks from an espresso machine. The hotel also has a modern meeting room that can accommodate up to 16 people. Parking in an underground garage is available for a fee.
