After too long, I recently returned to one of my favorite cities to attend EBACE, the European Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition, which was held in-person for the first time in three years. It’s also a good time to catch up with the top suites and fine hotels of Geneva, including a new entrant. They are the subject of this week’s main feature.
1. Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues Geneva
2. Hotel d’Angleterre
3. Mandarin Oriental Geneva
4. The Woodard
5. Hotel President Wilson
6. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel de la Paix
7. Beau-Rivage Geneva
8. InterContinental Geneva
1. Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues Geneva
Top rated by Forbes Travel Guide with 5 stars, its inspectors say, “Geneva’s first hotel, the stately neoclassical Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues Geneva dates back to 1834. The building played host to the first assembly of the League of Nations and was once the headquarters of the French delegation. After a meticulous restoration, Hotel des Bergues debuted again to Swiss society as a Four Seasons property in 2005. Located in the heart of the city on the banks of Lake Geneva, the opulent hotel is traditionally French but has some unexpected (and welcomed) modern touches. A fine Italian restaurant, an ultra-luxurious spa, a sky-lit indoor infinity-edged pool and that famous Four Seasons service make this grand hotel one of the best in Geneva.”
Conde Nast Traveler adds of its top pick for the city, “It’s hard to imagine a more natural fit than Four Seasons and Geneva, which is why the Canadian chain’s renovation of the celebrated Hotel des Bergues on the banks of the Rhone makes so much sense. The Hotel des Bergues features 103 rooms and suites with floor-to-ceiling windows and a quietly elegant Anglo-Franco townhouse decor—think almond green, Wedgewood blue, and terra cotta color schemes and toile de Jouy motifs—by Paris decorator Pierre Yves Rochor. Built in 1834, this old-world charmer has been updated with a rooftop Japanese restaurant and a 24-hours fitness center.”
Royal Suite
Echoing the rich and elegant style of Versailles, the 1,300 sq.ft. Royal Suite impresses as every turn, with stunning French reproductions and tall windows overlooking Lake Geneva. There’s a formal foyer; private terrace, and office designed as a library.
More suites at Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues.
2. Hotel d’Angleterre
My personal favorite, Forbes Travel Guides says, “Located with postcard-perfect views of Geneva’s iconic Jet d’Eau and the French Alps glimmering across Lake Geneva, Hotel d’Angleterre is one of the most unusual properties in the city. That it reduced the number of rooms in 1995 from 60 to 45 speaks volumes of the hotel’s commitment to meeting the needs and desires of its guests, as does the two-to-one staff-to-guest ratio. Built in 1872, the historic building retains the feel on an old-school private club with its dark-walled hallways and decadent ornate furnishings, but it is decidedly unfussy. While the property isn’t grand in size, it does have all the amenities you’d want at a luxury hotel in Geneva, including a cigar lounge, a fine-dining restaurant with wow-factor views, two modest meeting rooms and a sexy little lounge for cocktails.”
Conde Nast Traveler adds of its pick for 10 best hotels in Switzerland, “Its guest rooms and six suites are decked out with plush fabrics, colorful furnishings, and eclectic artwork, and the hotel’s Window restaurant features classics like smoked salmon with caviar and foie gras. After dining, do a whisky tasting—there are over 50 kinds on offer—by the fireplace at the cozy Leopard Bar Room.”
Presidential Suite
The 1,184 sq.ft. Presidential Suite features a stunning view across Lake Geneva. Celebrities, diplomats, and heads of state choose it for its space, privacy, security, including bulletproof glass. Of course, the key is the ever-attentive butler service and private dining options.
More suites at Hotel d’Angleterre.
3. Mandarin Oriental Geneva
Forbes Travel Guide says, “Mandarin Oriental, Geneva is listed as one of the Swiss city’s Historical Heritage landmarks — it was originally the Hotel du Rhône, the first luxury hotel built after World War II. Designer Adam Tihany combined bold art deco features with Asian accents to create an elegant and modern feel in the public spaces, which include a sleek marble lobby, a trendy bar and a fine-dining Indian restaurant. Located on the right bank of Rhône River, it is ideally located within easy reach of Geneva’s shopping, cultural and business districts.”
The Telegraph, which is a fan with a 9 out 10-star rating adds, “The 189 rooms and suites feel effortlessly elegant, with warm earth tones, soft wool carpets and spacious Greek marble bathrooms, with walk-in rain showers and tubs. On the sixth floor, the Mandarin rooms come in palettes of fuchsia and silver, with tones of gold, and have two separate Italian marble bathrooms with Shanghai Tang amenities. The spacious Junior Terrace Suites and the ultra-luxurious Mandarin, Oriental and Presidential Suites are designed by Buz Design from Hong Kong, and all have terraces overlooking the river.”
Royal Penthouse
The 3,498 sq.ft. three-bedroom Royal Penthouse has full kitchen and a 1,950 sq.ft. private terrace. Located on the 7th and highest floor with spectacular views, this single-level suite offers views overlooking snow-capped mountains, the Rhône river and the Old Town.
More suites at Mandarin Oriental Geneva.
4. The Woodard
Travel + Leisure writes of the city’s newest luxury entrant, “The bar on luxury living in Geneva has been raised, thanks to the Sept. 1, 2021, opening of The Woodard, a 26-room all-suite hotel located on Quai Wilson, right on the shores of Lake Geneva with views of Mont Blanc…The elegance of the Belle Époque hotel starts with the wrought-iron door featuring hand-decorated gold-leaf trimmings. This leads into a lobby surrounded with Macassar ebony wood walls and lustrous carpets. The lounge has Rochon’s own sofas atop Nepalese carpets, French gilded mirrors, a Baccarat crystal chandelier, a Hervé Van der Straeten bronze table, and Ralph Lauren armchairs. There are also pieces by Yann Jallu, made of gypsum, which is so fragile it would usually crumble when touched.”
Conde Nast Traveler adds, “Each of which 26 ample spaces is decked out in glorious, richly textured style – parquet floors so lovely you hardly want to walk on them; hypnotic straw marquetry panels; silk wallpaper by Fromental; translucent mother-of-pearl drawer handles by Lalique that might wind up mysteriously disappearing like napkin rings from Annabel’s.”
Royal Suite
The 3,261 sq.ft. Royal Suite can be accessed directly by a private elevator. A large private dining room features seating for up to 10, a marble fireplace and two balconies overlooking Lake Geneva and the French Alps. The living room offers two additional lake-facing balconies, a fireplace, seating and a Baccarat crystal chandelier. Just off the living room is a kitchenette that includes a separate entry. The bedroom is reached through a long, walk-through dressing area and is designed with a writing desk by Nicolas Aubagnac, handmade marquetry wood panelling and an immense marble en-suite bathroom. The Royal Suite can be adjoined with the Executive Suite and Deluxe Suite.
More suites at The Woodard.
5. Hotel President Wilson
Forbes Travel Guide notes, “Competition for luxury dollars is fierce in Geneva, but Hotel President Wilson, A Luxury Collection Hotel holds its own and then some. The stoic concrete and glass exterior reflects the personality of President Woodrow Wilson, for whom the place was named — formidable yet accessible. Located on Geneva’s tony Quai du Mont-Blanc, which fronts Lake Geneva and the French Alps, this Marriott luxury property offers a level of luxury you would expect. The whole hotel feels like a loose post-modernist interpretation of the 1950s with compartmentalized, functional, and formal spaces.”
Five Star Alliance adds, “The 180 rooms and 48 suites of the renovated Hotel President Wilson, a Luxury Collection Hotel, are equipped with the latest technology : the highest quality Bang & Olufsen LCD screens providing 120 digital TV channels in high definition and free Internet access. This includes its superb leisure facilities and spa. With exceptional views of the lake, the hotel’s outdoor pool or Geneva city, the rooms give an overall impression of luxury and refinement.”
Royal Penthouse
Located on the entire eighth and top floor of the hotel with a panoramic terrace with view over the lake, the 18,083 sq.ft. Royal Penthouse Suite offers12 luxury bedrooms including marble bathrooms, and bath products by Hermès. There is a dining room that seats up to 26. It has hosted Bill Clinton, the King of Saudi Arabia, and Tony Blair, not at the same time, although there is plenty of space.
More suites at Hotel President Wilson.
6. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel de la Paix
The Telegraph says, “ Among the smaller lakeside hotels built in Geneva’s 19th century tourism boom and once a favorite of Hollywood princess Grace Kelly. But it isn’t stuck in the past: contemporary design now complements original features, and the Scandinavian-inspired flagship restaurant is right on trend. The mid-19th century property has been sympathetically revamped by Ritz Carlton to create a contemporary, trendy feel without sacrificing original features. The grand marble pillars, chandelier and checkered floor of the central atrium give way to modern Italian design in the Living Room restaurant, while the cocktail bar’s faded grandeur contrasts with the contemporary Scandi-cool feel in the Fiskebar.”
Rated 4-stars by Forbes, the Travel Guides inspectors were impressed: “When the property closed for a refresh and rebranding in 2016, the anticipation left many worried about the property’s prowess. But when The Ritz-Carlton Hotel de la Paix, Geneva debuted in fall 2017, doubters were silenced. While contemporary interiors replace dated furnishings, the hotel’s opulence and grander remain untouched, evidenced by a jaw-dropping, black-and-white tiled lobby that’s punctuated with a gigantic crystal chandelier.”
Grace Kelley Suite
The 1,131 sq.ft. Grace Kelley Suite offers a full view of the lake and Alps. There is a large separated living room with fireplace, dining room for six people, and furnished balcony.
More suites The Ritz-Carlton Hotel de la Paix.
7. Beau-Rivage Geneva
“Founded in 1865 and now run by the fifth generation of the Mayer family, this upscale, historic hotel has played host to celebrities ranging from Eleanor Roosevelt to Sting. It offers fabulous suites, faultless service, a Michelin-starred restaurant and one of the best lakeside locations in the city,” writes The Telegraph, which rates Beau-Rivage Geneva with 9 stars.
Forbes Travel Guide adds, “Elegant and tasteful décor, a warm welcome and attention to detail all urge you to feel as if you are entering a grand private home, not a large city hotel. Guests come here to feel part of Geneva and participate of the living history that the hotel represents. Here, Empress Elisabeth of Austria took her last breath after being attacked nearby in 1898, Czechoslovakia was signed into presence inside the hotel’s salon and Sotheby’s auctioned off the Duchess of Windsor’s jewelry collection.”
Presidential Suite
The 1,850 sq.ft. Presidential Suite pays tribute to the last King of Italy, a loyal guest at Beau-Rivage. There are several living areas, a large bedroom, an office, a living room with kitchenette and an oversize walk-in closet, It also offers connecting room options. There is also a private outdoor terrace.
More suites at Beau-Rivage Geneva.
8. InterContinental Geneva
Forbes Travel Guide writes, “Placed between the United Nations square and Lake Geneva, the 18-story InterContinental Geneva has been part of the city’s history since 1964. Because of the hotel’s proximity to the United Nations building, it’s no surprise that it’s a choice spot for heads of state and ambassadors, but movie stars and renowned athletes like Roger Federer also flock to InterContinental Geneva for one reason: the privacy. Of course, there are other attributes, such as attentive service, high design and first-class cocktails, that make it a desirable place to stay. Hidden behind a bamboo framed exterior, this oasis is full of calm and privacy in the middle of one of the most international cities in the world.”
Presidential Residence
The 1,292 sq.ft. two-bedroom Presidential Residence is located in the East Wing of the hotel’s top floor and features floor-to-ceiling windows with spectacular views of the city, the lake and Mont Blanc. There’s a fully equipped kitchen, massage room, and hammam. It can also be connected to other rooms on the 18th floor. The entire floor, including an additional eight Superior Rooms and one Executive Room, can be made completely private.
