BACKGROUND
Starwood Hotels opened the Sheraton Zurich in January. It’s the second Sheraton in the Swiss city, joining the Sheraton Zurich Neues Schloss, and the sixth Starwood hotel in Switzerland.
WHAT’S IT LIKE?
The 197-room property is housed in a 24-storey new-build that looks smart, if fairly unremarkable, from the outside. The hotel occupies the building up to the tenth floor, while floors 11 to 24 are residential.
On arrival, I received a friendly welcome and the service remained positive throughout my stay. Off the lobby to one side is café-bar Nuovo, and to the other is a peaceful lounge with sofas, armchairs, a fireplace and newspapers.
Walk through here and you arrive at the Link@Sheraton area, which has a flatscreen TV and four PCs with free internet access. Beyond that is the Route 26 grill restaurant.
On the tenth floor, the Sheraton Club Lounge is open to guests of Executive rooms and suites, and Starwood Preferred Guest Elite members. It offers great views, free breakfast, wine, beer and soft drinks and several computers.
WHERE IS IT?
In Zurich West, the district around the once-industrial hub of Hardturm-Areal that has undergone extensive renovation in recent years. Most of its former factories are home to cultural venues and office buildings featuring cutting-edge architecture and design.
Unsurprisingly, this once undesirable area now attracts a cosmopolitan crowd. The Old Town is 15 minutes away on tram line four, which has a stop outside the hotel, while Zurich airport is a 20-minute drive.
ROOM FACILITIES
Categories range from the 31 sqm Sheraton room to the 74 sqm Executive suite.?My tenth-floor Executive room (38 sqm) featured a neutral colour scheme and had a comfortable king-size bed with the brand’s signature “Sweet Sleeper” mattress. There was also a flatscreen TV, a desk with five EU plug sockets and a wired internet port, robes, an iron/ironing board and a safe.
A window seat offered amazing views across the city. On the desk when I arrived were complimentary bottles of Valser sparkling and still water. There was also a Nespresso machine. The minibar included items such as juice, beer and Pringles. Wifi costs SFr 19 (£13) per 24 hours (free in Club rooms and public areas).
The smart black-and-white bathroom had a spacious walk-in rainshower. A glass wall separated the bathroom from the bedroom with the option of closing a sliding wooden panel for privacy. Sheraton-branded toiletries and a razor blade with James Gent shaving cream were also provided.
The room was very quiet, despite overlooking a busy road and railway track. The air conditioning couldn’t get the room cool enough for my liking, but the window did open.
RESTAURANTS AND BARS
Nuovo is a convenient place to grab a quick drink and snack – I had a tasty club sandwich here.
The main restaurant, Route 26, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. An open-plan kitchen next to the dining area lends it an informal atmosphere. I ate here one evening and had a delicious
pork main course followed by chocolate cake with ice cream and espresso sauce.
BUSINESS AND MEETING FACILITIES
There are eight meeting rooms in total, split between the first and second floors. They range in size from 30 sqm to 260 sqm, holding 240 people in the largest space.
LEISURE FACILITIES
The third-floor gym contains Technogym equipment and looks out over Zurich West.
VERDICT
A smart, comfortable hotel in the heart of cosmopolitan Zurich West. The plentiful transport links make it an ideal choice for business travellers.
FACT FILE
- HOW MANY ROOMS? 197 – 96 Sheraton, 32 Executive, 28 Sheraton Club, nine Executive Club, 24 Junior suite, 4 Junior Club suites and four Executive suites.
- HIGHLIGHTS The smart, uncluttered interiors and the magnificent view over the city that extends to Lake Zurich.?
- PRICE Internet rates for a flexible midweek stay in September started from SFr 329 (£218)for a Sheraton room.
- CONTACT Sheraton Zurich, Pfingstweidstrasse 100; tel +41 44 285 4000; starwoodhotels.com
Graham Smith
