29 April, 2016
We know what you're thinking, if you're in Zurich it's either as a ski stop-over or for business, but a new hotel renovation may change how you feel about the Swiss city. After undergoing an extensive two-year renovation, the Marktgasse Hotel in Zurich's Old Town is now a sleek and minimalist 39-room boutique residence that attracts a mix of stylish Swiss and international travellers. Located in the centre of the Old Town, Marktgasse is the perfect base for museum browsing and restaurant hopping. There's no better time to be in Zurich than now, as this June they put on the Manifesta Biennial to celebrate the centenary of the Dadaist art movement that the city lays claim to.
It's hard to say what a typical room is like in the Marktgasse, as each of the 39 rooms in this boutique hotel is completely unique, but for the most part the design sticks to Scandi minimalism with pops of colour. We stayed in the 'cosy' suite, which had a beautiful black-tiled bathroom, beautiful windows with blackout curtains and lush Schramm mattresses. Prices start at about £147 for a single room and run up to around £338 for a master suite.
Is served in delish Café from 6:30 to 11AM. The breakfast menu features classics like eggs Benedict and porridge with cinnamon sugar. Pull up a stool at the counter and watch the busy square out front.
Baltho Küche is Marktgasse's buzzing restaurant serving traditional Swiss dishes as well as international fusion. Be sure to try the bang bang chicken - a Baltho bestseller - the bizarre but delicious asparagus vanilla soup and the salty and crunchy fried hummus sticks. Dinner is also served at Delish café as well as lunch - think salads, sandwiches and small plates.
Baltho Bar, just up the steps from Baltho Küche, is the perfect place to grab pre or post-dinner drinks. The menu offers a variety of aromatic and spicy cocktails, as well as a Marktgasse twist on some classics. Be sure to try the Baltho spritz, a mix of Aperol, beat and vermouth infusion, and Crémant de Limoux.
The rooms are equipped with flat screen TVs, complimentary wifi and bathrooms are stocked with Aēsop products. Make sure you spend some time in the beautifully designed library full of art books downstairs. Depending on your room, you could end up with a bathtub, a balcony or a rooftop terrace.
Zurich has more to offer than you think. Take the concierge's recommendations and explore.
The quirky Cabaret Voltaire where the Dadaist art movement began: a centre of books, Dadaist art events and a trendy and somewhat industrial bar/café upstairs with live jazz performances and a large stock of absinthe. The Kindli Hotel restaurant is just down the street, and offers a more traditional Swiss menu that is very loved in Zurich. The Kunsthaus Museum nearby is home to an immense collection of Dadaist works and Swiss paintings. Only about ten percent of the collection is on display due to size, so expect something different every time you make a trip back to Zurich.
