Best Western Premier Hotel Glockenhof
Many more exquisite surprises than you probably expect...
The inside and the outside of the Best Western Premier Hotel Glockenhof reflect the beauty and charm of Zurich. Sitting astride the River Limmat, Zurich is home to a delightful old town that makes a substantial part of the city centre.
The extraordinary is that, though in the very center of the alps, you are boarding a beautiful lake and may walk on quays or ride a boat to visit islands. In pure Helvetic tradition, the historic buildings of Zurich have been lovingly preserved, and all new construction fits into perfectly to the décor.
Strolling through the narrow streets, it is easy to forget that you are in Switzerland's most prosperous and industrial city. The factories in the suburbs run on electricity, keeping the Alpine air pure. And the city's serious commercial side has always been kept in check by the liberal thinkers and scholars, such as Lenin, Jung and Joyce, who have called this city home at one time or another.
The Best Western Premier Hotel Glockenhof is the perfect example of what makes Zurich special. After all, Hugo Ball, Tristan Tzara, Jean Arp have founded dadaism in Zurich which reminds us that the city may prove to be most creative. The hotel does propose fantasy elegant details, perhaps unexpected, such as wonderful Murano lusters and pieces of artwork.
The hotel was built in the late 19th century on the site of a foundry that for 13 generations made bells and cannons. Even though it may seem paradoxical, it is a fact that the best cannon workers have always been bell foundry workers and the most powerful military countries have long been the ones which had the most beautiful and rich churches. The Füssli family's bells can be found in thousands of church steeples and town halls throughout Switzerland and southern Germany.
As you push open the double glass doors in the entrance take a second to admire the beautiful bell, hotel's emblem, etched in the glass. If the outside of the hotel is pure old-town Zurich, the inside is a tribute to Swiss design and efficiency. The expansive lobby leads into a network of wonderful public spaces enlightened by beautifully crafted wooden windows. Private lounges are located off the sides of the lobby. There is also a lounge on the mezzanine that gives you bird's eye view of the hotel's central foyer.
The hotel is home to two wonderful restaurants, the traditional Glogge Egge and the contemporary Conrad, and what is probably Zurich's most beautiful summer garden. An oasis in what is already a surprising quiet city, it is the ideal place to bask in the sun or sit under the shade of the verdant canopies. The restaurants are among the best in the city, attracting gourmets from far and wide alike.
And the surprises continue on the upper floors. All the hotel's guestrooms have been recently renovated. Wonderfully spacious, they are impeccably maintained by the hotel's meticulous staff. Bright and airy, the rooms break the rules of the hotel trade by incorporating the bathroom directly in the living space, separate only by floor to ceiling glass panels. A closer look reveals plenty of little details that make a huge difference when travelling, including complimentary water and chocolates and a desk fitted with a wide array of electrical outlets - just what the weary traveller who forgets his adapter needs.
The next time you are in Zurich, make your way to the hotel's summer garden. Close your eyes and listen closely. The bells you hear tolling gently in the distance may have been made where you are sitting, hundreds of years ago. Are they ringing in praise at what their home has become?
| Best Western Premier Hotel Glockenhof |
| Sihlstrasse 31, Zurich, CH, Zurich, Switzerland - CH-8001 |
| Phone: +41 (0) 44 225 91 91 Fax: +41 (0) 44 225 92 92 |