Hotel Review: FIVE Zurich, Switzerland

Switzerland’s reborn and rebranded party hotel in the hills

Key selling points: 

• Seven bars and restaurants
• An eclectic art collection
• Easy access to the hiking trails of Uetliberg mountain
• Outdoor pool with mountain views
• Luxury spa with indoor pool
• Panoramic views of Zurich

Overview
The third FIVE hotel, following two already established in Dubai, marks the brand's first European property, a complete rebrand of an existing hotel in Switzerland. FIVE Zurich is an eclectic 87-key boutique hotel dedicated to hedonism, nestled in nature, with easy access to well-kept hiking trails. Detox in the hills or in the luxury spa after joining the party in one of FIVE's buzzing restaurants and bars, which include a rooftop nightclub and buzzing pool bar. Preened and enhanced, the affluent fashion- and body-conscious clientele are here for a good time. The dress code is flirtatious. Pack designer swimwear and dancing shoes. Night owls can find their tribe here.

It’s not uncommon to see patrons wearing party gear at the breakfast buffet

Location
FIVE Zurich is located on the foothills of the Uetliberg mountain, which is laced with scenic walking trails and picnic spots from which to enjoy panoramic views of the city and lovely Lake Zurich. Sandwiched between fields of goats wearing tinkling collar bells and verdant allotments, the hotel feels remote but is just a 15-minute drive from Zurich’s main attractions, clustered around the old town. Highlights include walking alongside or swimming in the Limmat river, which commences at the outfall of Lake Zurich at the southern end of the city, and eating cheese at one of the many traditional raclette and fondue restaurants.

Hotel Adler’s Swiss Chuchi restaurant has been serving Swiss heritage dishes since 1953 in an idyllically rustic setting with tables topped with red gingham tablecloths spilling out into the quaint cobbled street. Raclette Factory offers a more modern, urban take on serving up Switzerland’s favourite cheese with an all-you-can-eat option on the menu. For fine dining, there’s Pavillon, a two Michelin-starred restaurant helmed by chef Laurent Eperon serving eye-wateringly expensive French haute cuisine.

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Rooms
FIVE Zurich has 45 suites and 42 rooms, all modern and luxurious with city skyline or mountain views. Four suites can be connected to create one lavish four-bed suite spanning 211 square metres, ideal for group bookings.

Guest room

Neutral interiors have navy accents and faux fur throws and cushions, ideal for Zurich’s winter months. Marble en-suite bathrooms feature a separate tub and rain shower, and a designer sink. Toiletries are by rituals. Most rooms have balconies with comfy recliners. Mod cons include a widescreen TV, kettle, iron and ironing board. Art adorning the walls has been created by students from the local university. 

Coffee table tomes include Stefan Imielski’s Nude in Nature, a hint at the hotel’s hedonistic nature

Food and Drink
Guests may be a 25-minute drive from the town centre, but they never need to leave the hotel with its packed portfolio of restaurants and bars. Breakfast is served in the colourful Tune In lobby lounge, a harmonious jumble of sofas, armchairs and dining tables. Tasty creations include hummus and feta toast and salmon, egg and hollandaise sauce-filled bagels. 

Soul St

Decorated with scenes from the Kama Sutra and specialising in elevated street food from Asia, India, Arabia and Latin America, Soul St’s menu is divided into small and big bites, from king prawn skewers to Wagyu beef lettuce cups. Reserve the campervan booth for a cute Instagram moment. Maiden Shanghai is great for a hot date, serving Chinese favourites from dim sum to mapo tofu, with sparkling skyline views from its outdoor terrace. 

The Penthouse

The Penthouse has a wraparound terrace benefiting from the same vista and seductive red interiors, fashionable and flavoursome Japanese cuisine and music curated by the resident DJ. The Bathroom Bar next door is an extension of the unisex bathrooms, which are furnished with sofas for social gatherings in the loo and the Vault Wine Bar is an elegant space with a cigar lounge. 

An intimate little nightclub will open soon on the top floor

Facilities 
The spa is utterly fabulous. There’s a roomy sauna, steam bath, and an ice scrub, alongside a powerful whirlpool and heated indoor swimming pool, while during summer most guests prefer to model their designer swimwear around the outdoor pools served by the Social Pool Bar. Spa treatments include massages and facials. Top tip: Opt for a facial as the massage beds leave very defined rings around the face that take some time to disappear.

Indoor pool

For more information, visit zurich.fivehotelsandresorts.com