We recently stayed in Zurich for two nights before the 2015 Swiss Travel Mart and discovered new hot spots that you must visit next time you're in the city.
We spent our nights at the Park Hyatt Zurich, which is ideally located just a short walk from Lake Zurich -- a popular swimming area in the summer. The hotel has 15 suites and just two months ago renovated five park suites. The other suites are slowly being renovated as well. We suggest that guests ask for room 414, which is one of the updated suites with ample space, an energized color scheme and side street view. The standard rooms are also an impressive option. The best part of our standard room was its intuitive design. The guestroom was much larger than we expected and had a tub that looked into the bedroom, but a screen could also be pulled across to add privacy. We also greatly enjoyed the air shaft that each room has. These air shafts act as open windows and let the fresh Swiss air fill the bedroom.
For groups or large families staying at this Virtuoso property, we suggest opting for dinner at the Chef's Table. This dining option can seat 20 and is the perfect place to enjoy one of the 3,000 bottles of wine the hotel owns. And don't forget while you're walking around the hotel to admire the 92 pieces of art that the hotel has collected.
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| Frau Gerolds Garten |
After dinner at the hotel, a night out in Zurich is the obvious next step. Head to Zurich West, the hip, artsy district 5. Tip: To reach Zurich West take tram 13 from the Park Hyatt. Once in this fun neighborhood, head to either Hive nightclub (look for the hanging umbrellas). Or for a more relaxed drink among locals, go straight to Frau Gerolds Garten. This place is a mix between an American beer garden and dive bar. The structure is made out of old train container cars and plush pillows. There is a lot of outdoor seating here, and there are even tables up a few flights of stairs with a view of the area. The best part of this place is you are a local for the night, order a local Bugel beer and relax.
Looking for a more sophisticated experience? We suggest a visit to Schiffbau- an industrial building where steamboats were originally built. Inside there is more fine dining at Lasalle, a posh bar with leather seating and a theatre.
If you plan on visiting this district during the day, go on Saturday. The area will be lively and the boutiques will be open, offering excellent shopping (you can buy Freitag bags). There is also an outdoor park, bike rentals, and a market hall, which is the perfect place for large groups to grab a bite.