Old Town / Weinplatz

Storchen Zurich

★★★★★

Few hotels anywhere can match the Storchen's position or its history. The Hus zum Storchen, the House of the Stork, on the Weinplatz on the west bank of the Limmat, was first mentioned in Zurich's tax books in 1357 and was recorded as a guesthouse about a century later; later it served as the guild house of the boatmen, and in the twentieth century it was rebuilt and transformed into the hotel it is today. It stands right on the river, in the middle of the Old Town, with the Grossmuenster across the water, the Fraumuenster and St. Peter a few steps away, and the Bahnhofstrasse and the lake within a short walk, so it is hard to imagine a better base for exploring Zurich on foot. The hotel calls itself a lifestyle boutique hotel, and it has 64 rooms and suites furnished in light tones, with a fresh, elegant style rather than heavy tradition. The best rooms look straight across the Limmat to the Old Town on the east bank, with the river flowing beneath the windows, and some suites add views of both the river and the square. Families are catered for with connecting and two-bedroom options. The restaurants and bars are a large part of the hotel's appeal. La Rotisserie, the gourmet restaurant, serves refined seasonal cooking, with a romantic terrace in the warmer months, and is one of the classic Zurich addresses for a special dinner. The Barchetta bar, under the arches by the river, is a favourite spot for an aperitif in summer, the Cigar Bar offers a quieter corner, the Piazza on the square is a casual meeting place, and The Nest, the rooftop bar, has a view over the Limmat to the lake and the Alps. Service is personal and attentive, in the style of a privately run house. Rates are high, as you would expect for this location, but below those of the grand lakeside hotels.

Choosing a room: pay the premium for a river view if you can; it is the reason to stay here, with the Grossmuenster and the guild houses of the Limmatquai floodlit at night across the water. Old Town view rooms look over the lanes and squares and are quieter in the evenings, when the Weinplatz can be lively in summer. Rooms are not huge, as befits a historic building, but they are bright, comfortable and well designed, with good bathrooms.

Eating and drinking: book a table at La Rotisserie for a dinner with a view, or ask for the terrace in summer; the restaurant is popular with locals, so reserve ahead. An aperitif at the Barchetta, with the river flowing past, is one of the nicest rituals in Zurich, and The Nest on the roof is the place for a sunset drink when it is open. Breakfast is served in the restaurant with river views.

Location and who it suits: the Storchen is ideal for first-time visitors who want to walk everywhere, couples on a city break and anyone who prefers a characterful, historic house to a large luxury hotel. Zurich main station is about ten minutes on foot or a short tram ride, and the lake boats at the Buerkliplatz are around the corner. There is no spa or pool, and the Old Town location means taxis cannot always stop at the door, but the setting more than makes up for it.