Widder Hotel
Two Michelin Keys
Hotel Details
Location
Widder Hotel · Zurich, Switzerland
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Key Highlights
- ✓Guests consistently laud the Widder Hotel for several outstanding features:
- ✓Service & Staff: The staff are frequently described as "exceptional," "delightful and efficient," "very helpful," and "professional," providing "unflappable Swiss hospitality."
- ✓Breakfast: The daily breakfast, which can be continental or buffet, is often praised as "delicious," "great," and "fantastic." It costs 50 CHF per person if not included in the room rate.
- ✓The Widder Hotel boasts an "excellent" and "superb" location in the quiet Augustiner quarter, nestled within Zurich's Old Town. It's ideal for both business and leisure travelers, being:
Expert Review: Widder Hotel
The Widder Hotel in Zurich, a distinguished Michelin Two-Key property, consistently garners exceptional praise for its unique blend of historic charm and cutting-edge design, coupled with impeccable service and a prime Old Town location.
1. Overall Rating & Sentiment
The general consensus among guests is overwhelmingly positive, with many describing their stay as "exceptional," "wonderful," and "top-notch from start to finish." Review scores often rate the hotel in the "Superb" category, with high marks for cleanliness (9.7), comfort (9.7), and especially location (9.9) and staff (9.8). The hotel is considered a "5-star oasis of luxury and elegance" and a "luxury hideaway" that defies stereotypes of Zurich.
2. Key Highlights
Guests consistently laud the Widder Hotel for several outstanding features:
- Location: Its unparalleled position in the heart of Zurich's Old Town allows easy access to cobbled streets, the lake, Bahnhofstrasse (for shopping), and the financial district.
- Design & Character: The hotel is praised for its "strikingly inventive design," combining nine medieval townhouses into a "49-room sanctuary" where modernism meets medieval history. Each room is unique, featuring original woodwork, stone finishes, and a mix of antiques with modern designer furnishings. This creates a distinct, "funky," and "unique luxury establishment."
- Service & Staff: The staff are frequently described as "exceptional," "delightful and efficient," "very helpful," and "professional," providing "unflappable Swiss hospitality."
- Amenities: Highlights include a stone-walled library with leather sofas, a gym, and a charming cobbled outside terrace. A complimentary minibar in rooms is also a noted plus.
3. Room Quality
The 49 rooms and suites at Widder Hotel are universally described as unique, beautiful, and comfortable. No two rooms are alike, offering diverse design elements and color schemes. Many rooms integrate original oak beams, old murals, and stone walls with sleek, modern elements like glass and chrome.
Comfort is a priority, with "cloud-like beds" and adjustable mattresses. Standard amenities include Bang & Olufsen stereos, Nespresso machines, and minibars stocked with Swiss chocolates and complimentary drinks. Bathrooms are often spacious, featuring black marble, enormous walk-in showers or bathtubs, and special Widder-branded toiletries, including night cream, foot cream, and lip balm. Some rooms also boast fireplaces and separate living areas, while top-floor suites offer terraces with city, lake, and even Alps views.
4. Dining Experience
The Widder Hotel offers a distinguished dining experience with multiple venues:
- Widder Restaurant: This fine dining establishment, recognized with two Michelin Stars and 18 GaultMillau points, is helmed by Chef Stefan Heilemann. It offers French-inspired haute cuisine with exotic influences, focusing on perfect craftsmanship and high-quality local products. Guests can enjoy four- to six-course tasting menus or a business lunch, with an open kitchen and Chef's Table experience.
- Boucherie AuGust: This more casual brasserie and bistro is hugely popular with locals for lunch and dinner and serves traditional Swiss dishes. Guests enjoy delicious buffet breakfasts here, including Bircher muesli, fruits, pastries, pancakes, meats, and smoked salmon, with à la carte options like perfectly cooked Eggs Florentine also available.
- Widder Bar: Known historically as a jazz bar, it continues to offer live piano music and a vast selection of spirits.
- Breakfast: The daily breakfast, which can be continental or buffet, is often praised as "delicious," "great," and "fantastic." It costs 50 CHF per person if not included in the room rate.
5. Service & Staff
The service at Widder Hotel consistently receives glowing reviews. Staff are described as "outstanding," "thoughtful, friendly, but not overbearing," and "incredibly good." They are noted for being attentive, efficient, and helpful with requests, from special breakfast accommodations for children to restaurant reservations. The personalized concierge service is dedicated to exceeding expectations in a discreet atmosphere. Guests appreciate touches like a pillow menu and turn-down service with an apple and bottled water.
6. Location & Accessibility
The Widder Hotel boasts an "excellent" and "superb" location in the quiet Augustiner quarter, nestled within Zurich's Old Town. It's ideal for both business and leisure travelers, being:
- Approximately a 5-minute walk to Zurich HB Main Station.
- Around a 2-minute walk to the lakeside and a 1-minute walk to Bahnhofstrasse, a prominent shopping street.
- Close to attractions such as Lindenhof hill, Fraumünster Church, and the Limmat River.
Public transportation is easily accessible, with Rennweg and Rathaus Tram Stops just a 3-minute walk away. Zurich Airport (ZRH) is approximately 12-13 km away, about a 20-22 minute taxi ride, or accessible by public transport.
7. Value & Pricing
The Widder Hotel is a luxury property, and its pricing reflects that. While specific current rates fluctuate, historical data suggests rooms can start from approximately $480-$565 USD for Design Double Rooms, with suites ranging from $1,090-$1,419 USD, and the Penthouse Suite commanding around CHF 4,000. Despite the higher price point compared to Zurich's average hotel room, many guests find the "unparalleled experience" and "quality service" to be well worth the cost, rating its value for money at 8.4 out of 10.
8. Common Complaints
While overall complaints are minimal given the high satisfaction, some minor issues have been noted:
- Breakfast Timing: One guest mentioned that the buffet was cleared promptly at 10:30 AM without asking if they desired more, and refills were not provided.
- Room Allocation: A few instances of guests booking a specific room type only to be assigned a different one, even when the desired room appeared available online, have been reported.
- Welcome Amenities: One guest felt the welcome amenities (two small water bottles and chocolates) were "a bit poor."
- Room Lighting: While rooms are generally well-designed, some are noted to be darker than others.
- Family Suitability: While accommodating, the hotel might not be as ideal for families with very young children compared to properties like the Dolder Grand.
Sources
- booking.com
- booking.com
- agoda.com
- tablethotels.com
- michelin.com
- luxurytraveldiary.com
- fathomaway.com
- afar.com
- expedia.com
- luxury-executive.com
- youtube.com
- widderhotel.com
- hotels-zurich.org
- travelweekly.com
- lhw.com
- widderhotel.com
- theworlds50best.com
- hotels.com
- widderhotel.com
- besthotelszurich.com
- trip.com
- kayak.com
- trip.com
Points to Consider
- •While overall complaints are minimal given the high satisfaction, some minor issues have been noted:
- •Welcome Amenities: One guest felt the welcome amenities (two small water bottles and chocolates) were "a bit poor."
Google Reviews
972 reviews
Recent Guest Reviews
Roy Shell
Superb. The Widder Hotel is one of those rare institutions that pays close attention to detail and operates at standards that go far beyond conventional luxury. I have been a regular guest here for several years, and what consistently sets Widder apart is the coherence of the experience - service, gastronomy and atmosphere - all work together at an exceptionally high level, without any sense of s...
Response from the owner
Dear Mr. Shell,<br><br>Thank you so much for your heartfelt and comprehensive review. We are truly honored to have been your chosen place of stay over the years and are immensely grateful for your con...
Suzan Von Hor
Great location. Short walk from the railway station. So much is easily accessible and within walking distance. This was one of 8 locations during our “roam around Europe trip. It was the best. Warm and friendly staff. Our room was lovely. Plenty of space, good light and a view of autumn from my window. The restaurant and bar were packed but as Hotel guests, we were quickly accommodated and the ...
Response from the owner
Dear Suzan Von Hor,<br><br>Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We are hrilled to hear that your stay with us was the highlight of your trip. Our location truly is one of our strengths, and we...
David Gabadadze
We stayed at Widder Hotel in Zurich and had an outstanding experience. The hotel perfectly combines history and modern luxury — a beautiful medieval building thoughtfully transformed into a stylish, elegant, and very comfortable space👍 Despite its high-end, boutique atmosphere, the hotel felt surprisingly cozy and suitable for a family stay. Everything was refined, calm, and extremely pleasant🙌...
Response from the owner
Dear David Gabadadze,<br><br>Thank you so much for your kind words and for taking the time to share your experience at the Widder Hotel. We are absolutely thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the blend o...
Lawrence Lavery
My wife and I stayed at the Widder during the first weekend of the Zurich Film Festival, and we had an excellent time. We celebrated our anniversary there, and they made it very special for us. We were even so lucky to have won a competition to attend the premiere of the film “Splitsville”. It just added an extra sparkle to the experience. The room was excellent. The bed and bedding were great....
Response from the owner
Dear Lawrence Lavery<br><br>Thank you very much for your wonderful review and for choosing the Widder Hotel to celebrate such a special occasion. <br><br>We are truly delighted to hear that you and yo...
Monk Monk
Love the hotel. My only point deducted would be the size. Although I understand that hotel at that caliber in the center of the city, of course we can’t expect an extra size room but would love for it to be a bit more spacious. The concierge were extremely helpful. The location, can’t be better. Right in the center but that also mean that car access is not an option. The restaurant in the ho...
Response from the owner
Dear Monk Monk, <br> <br>Thank you so much for your kind words and for rating your stay with us so highly. We’re thrilled to hear that you loved your time at the Widder Hotel, from our central locatio...
mike buchholz
This is a wonderful property. The location is amazing, the service even better. The restaurants and bars off the charts. The rooms are so unique and beautiful. We loved every minute of this hotel. We found it thru American Express portal! Thanks Amex! When we come back to Zurich I will stay again!
Response from the owner
Dear Mr Buchholz <br> <br>Thank you so much for your fantastic feedback! We're thrilled to hear that you had such an enjoyable stay with us at the Widder Hotel. It's wonderful to know that you appreci...
About Two Michelin Keys
Two Michelin Keys recognize hotels that provide an excellent stay experience. These properties stand out for their remarkable quality, distinctive character, and superior service that goes above and beyond expectations.
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