The Hotel AMERON Zurich Bellerive au Lac, forged from the collaborative efforts of interior design firm Monoplan AG and other cutting-edge design firms, bills itself as a celebration of the 1920s and ‘30s aesthetic. The story behind it is compelling as the building dates to 1928 and has connections with the early days of Switzerland’s movie industry. However, there are several fun Mid-Century Modern and late 20^th-century design touches in the public and private areas. Clearly, it’s going for the “modern luxury” vibe Millennial and Gen-X business and leisure travelers look for when seeking a quality smaller property with a great location.

There are some things at this AMERON property that need a bit more polish so it can live up to its 4-star rating. The buffet breakfast at this stage feels a tad too similar to higher-end business Marriotts, Sheratons and Hiltons in the States. The bathroom lighting in the vanity area was almost non-existent in our deluxe room, though we enjoyed the luxury bathroom amenities, rain shower, comfy bedding, Lavazza machine and storage design of the armoire. While hotel manager Mattias Larsson was astute and personable, the young-seeming staff may need to spend more time following his example of poise and professionalism.

That said, there are many reasons to check in to the AMERON Zurich as some of these issues are rectified. While it has a small, properly equipped gym, guests have Lake Zurich outside its front doors. Therefore, why settle for a virtual run, ride or swim when you’ve got the real deal right across the street, along with people watching and gorgeous scenery a machine could never duplicate. It also offers meeting spaces with beautiful views, an atmospheric restaurant when the regular menu is available, and various offers that take full advantage of its central location.

Some offers include a three-day Zürich pass providing unlimited rides on public transportation, including easy access to an airport train you can pick up at Stadelhofen station four blocks away to avoid crowds at the main train station or booking a cab or rideshare. Given that Bellvueplatz — with access to most of the city’s main tram lines —and Opera is also a quick walk from the front door, the three-day pass pays for itself (and is also definitely worth the money if you end up buying it a la carte). It also includes free or reduced-price admission to nearly 50 cultural attractions, restaurant specials and free admission aboard the city’s leisurely boat cruises around Lake Zurich.

If you enjoy upscale, eclectic shopping, restaurants and bars, Hotel AMERON is the perfect home base. Walk 10 or 15 minutes in any direction, and you’ll find an appealing mix of retailers on both sides of the Limmat River. At the top of main street Bahnhofstrasse, there’s Burkliplatz, home to a wonderful farmer’s market Tuesdays and Fridays and a vintage clothing flea market with surprising finds on Saturdays. Altstadt’s shopping streets feature a mix of international and European chains, independent boutiques and art galleries. However, come Saturdays between March and November, the Rosenhof Market emerges. While the new-age boho mini-festival features live music, food vendors and wares from Asia and Africa, go for the local jewelry artisans, selling handcrafted silver and gemstone jewelry, some which rival the pieces in some of the posh shops. If the Rosenhof Market is not taking place, head to Shahirazad, two minutes from AMERON’s front door. The owners are lovely, down-to-earth people who clearly enjoy helping you pick the right hand-crafted piece.

AMERON Zürich Bellerive au Lac
Utoquai 47
8008 Zürich
tel 41 0 44 244 42 42