A bastion of old school glamour, this is the Zürich hotel of choice for visiting heads of state, CEOs and other bigwigs – although hoteliers Manfred and Christine Hörger are far too discreet to tell any tales from their 30 plus years at the helm.

Founded by hotel entrepreneur Johannes Baur in 1838 (the same Baur family as the Baur au Lac), the hotel has been continually refurbished to keep it the acme of hotel luxe. A symphony of pale limestone, elegant yellows, greys and golds throughout, the rooms have Art Deco furnishings, with pale stucco Veneziano walls and stunning black and white handpainted wallpaper depicting Italian scenes. Interesting artworks adorn the rooms and halls, including suite 230’s registered copy of a Monet water lilies painting. The latter is a particularly charming room with cream leather furniture and a decked terrace.

An elegant presence on Paradeplaz, the hotel is as central as it’s possible to be, with easy access to smart Zürich, financial Zürich and charming Zürich. For those who don’t fancy leaving the confines of the hotel, it houses a smart Italian restaurant, Orisini, restaurant Baur and a stylishly traditional bar.