By
Ruth Tertilt
on
21st June 2022
The Doldergrand in Zurich felt like an architectural juxtaposition between traditional and the uber modern.
Swerving up onto the hill where The Doldergrand is perched up on, it was the panoramic mountain views against the backdrop of the hotel that made it stand out for us. Art is a major feature throughout the hotel with original works from Takashi Muramaki and Salvador Dali as well as other prominent artists whose works feature in various places. With a history spanning since 1899, The Doldergrand has without a doubt become a prominent address not just for overnight guests but a true social hub where guests come together to wine and dine, to see and be seen, and to just enjoy the act of socialising in style. Though it may seem like an enormous hotel, which it is, given there are 175 rooms and suites on site, the service is impeccable as is the discretion. What drew us to the hotel and what made it even more pleasant for us especially as we were travelling with our children, was the convenience and location of The Doldergrand.
The juxtaposition isn’t just obvious in the architectural design but the way in which the hotel is located. Within a matter of minutes one can reach the city centre either by private shuttle service which the hotel offers every hour, or via the public tram which we highly recommend. The private tram is accessed beneath The Doldergrand through a private pathway that leads directly to the tram’s platform. The tram offers a short scenic journey down the hill and because it is so convenient, it makes for a very pleasant stroll into downtown Zurich with family and friends.
We stayed in one of the junior suites which was perfect for our family of two adults and two young children. Plenty of space with extraordinary views of Zurich, the room felt comfortable and contemporary. The standout feature for us was the bathroom located behind the main bedroom. The way the bathroom was laid out with the whirlpool tub directly facing the panoramic views just gave us a real sense of downtime. The other standout feature for us besides the comfortable beds was that everything in the room was functioning properly - from the automated shutters, the whirlpool tub, the walk-in shower featuring what felt like 6 different nozzles,to the in-room temperature - there was nothing to complain about. Though you’re also surrounded by neighbouring rooms, extensive balconies parallel to your room as well as parallel facing windows, we still felt we were in a private setting and undisturbed by anyone else which we quite liked. In terms of beds, the junior suite offers a king-size bed and to the corner, twin beds can be set up if you’re coming with children. A cot can also be provided should you be travelling with an infant. In terms of in-room amenities, glass bottled waters are offered as well as tea and coffee but as with most hotels, snacks in the minibar are charged for. Turndown service commences each evening and little fun perks are The Doldergrand mini chocolates that you’ll find near your bed each evening spent at the hotel.
Activities and experiences are quite pronounced at The Doldergrand but as we were travelling with our children we mostly made use of the Kids Room, the Spa and the Shuttle Service. The kids room, we felt, could have been more obvious in terms of it being a part of what The Doldergrand offers to its guests that come with children. The kids room was hard to locate at the beginning as there aren’t very many signs pointing to the room. It did feel like an afterthought with the room located at the back and almost like a makeshift kids room as the room itself used to be one of the guest rooms. Don’t get us wrong however, the wonderful toys and the childcare which is available to look after your kids for a minimum of three hours at an extra charge, was relieving for us parents. Testament to this was when we left one of our children for a few hours to come back, finding that they were still happily playing with the toys available. This also meant that it gave us time to make use of the spa which was a piece of sanctuary. We made use of the Aqua Zone, which is where the indoor pool and whirlpools are located. The outdoor area is just as peaceful especially when the weather is kind. We didn’t get to undergo any of the spa treatments but as the spa is a prominent part of what makes The Doldgergrand what it is, we have no doubt that the treatments are sublime.
Dining at The Doldgergrand is another highlight and we can see why guests that aren’t staying guests of the hotel, come here to enjoy the culinary experience. We mainly dined at the Saltz Restaurant which is the hotel’s main all day dining restaurant serving up a mixture of dishes. We highly recommend going for what we went for should it still be on the menu when you have the opportunity to stay at The Doldergrand. The Black Cod which is one of their signature dishes was full of flavour and cooked very well. Not usually a fan of white fish just because of the way it is cooked and oftentimes finding it bland, the Black Cod at The Doldergrand was soft to the bite and full of miso flavour. Breakfast is also served at Salz every morning between 7am to 10:30am and is another wonderful experience especially if you’re a breakfast person. The Swiss know their pastries, and various croissants are baked each morning fresh with the waiters coming over to your table offering you a selection. Besides the buffet, one can order a variety of eggs, pancakes and juices from the menu.
Should you find yourself in Zurich and want something convenient but quiet and discreet with a five-star touch and rich heritage then The Doldergrand ticks all of those boxes. A clean, luxurious and grand hotel full of style and character with great dining options and a dedicated spa to boot, this is the perfect escape in Zurich.
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