Just 50 miles from Geneva set on the lake, Lausanne is both home to the International Olympic Committee and offers a fantastic old city with beautiful architecture. Its top hotels and suites are the subject of this week’s issue as we continue our Swiss tour following stops in Lugano and Gstaad.
1. Lausanne Palace
2. Beau-Rivage Palace
3. Hotel Royal Savoy Lausanne
4. Château d’Ouchy
5. Hotel Angleterre
1. Lausanne Palace
Michelin Guide writes, “This monument of a hotel stands high on Lausanne’s terraced hillside streets, with the city-center financial district just out the front door and spectacular views of Lake Geneva and the mountains out the back. The Lausanne Palace and Spa is a classic, but it’s managed to keep itself up to date as well. It’s neither a museum piece nor a pale modern recreation — much of the 19th-century grandeur remains, especially in the stately marbled public spaces, but many of the guest rooms are more contemporary in style, and the functional underpinnings of the hotel are state-of-the-art. Book a rear-facing room if you’re particular about the view — most have private balconies overlooking the lake and the cascading rooftops of Lausanne. The hotel’s two-Michelin-Star restaurant is a favorite meeting place of the local business community, while the expansive Aveda spa and wellness center offers total leisure indulgence.”
The Telegraph adds, “This place has had more than a century to refine its luxury hospitality, and it’s nailed it. With some of the best food and drink in town, plus an outstanding spa, there’s little need to step outside and explore the city on its doorstep.”
Coco Channel Suite
The 1,850 sq. ft. suite pays homage to famous designer who frequented the hotel. It features a large living room with decorative marble fireplace and a dining table for dinners and receptions. An adjoining office can be used for work, while a large dressing room covering 275 sq. ft. and featuring an English shower completes the features.
More suites at Lausanne Palace.
2. Beau-Rivage Palace
Forbes Travel Guide reports, “Set along the peaceful shores of Lake Geneva, Beau-Rivage Palace in Lausanne is where classic Swiss elegance meets modern luxury. With a history dating back to 1861, this iconic hotel blends Old World charm with all the comforts modern travelers would expect from a luxurious lakeside getaway. From the moment you arrive, the attentive staff makes you feel like royalty, offering a warm welcome that sets the tone for your stay. Beau-Rivage Palace’s 168 rooms masterfully toe the line between elegant and comforting. Cozy quilts, matching wallpaper you’d find in a 19th-century manor and dangling chandeliers add classical charm, while contemporary tones of gray, robin’s egg blue and minty green soften the overall appearance.”
The Telegraph adds, “The best-known luxury hotel in Lausanne, the Beau-Rivage was built in 1861 and a second connected building, bringing Palace to the name, was added in 1908. The two buildings retain many of their original features and an accompanying sense of elegant grandeur, without being ostentatious. The ground floor features marble flooring and stately columns, wrought iron banisters and huge chandeliers. The largest of its many function rooms, the Salle Sandoz, is a palatial ballroom that wows with its detailed frescos and intricate marble decoration under a stained-glass cupola. From the foyer, a stylish central atrium leads to the upper floors, complete with streetlamp-style lights that were originally gas lit when the hotel had no electricity. Since there was no lift back then, the largest suites are on the lower floors while smaller rooms, once intended for domestic staff, are at the top.”
Imperial Suite
Facing the lake, the 1,575 sq. ft. Imperial Suite offers a 750 sq. ft. terrace overlooking the lake.
More suites at Beau-Rivage Palace.
3. Hotel Royal Savoy Lausanne
Michelin Guide says, “Boasting an ideal location between the lake and the city, this luxury hotel now has a new wing in addition to its historic building and garden. Luxury and modernity go hand in hand here, from the chic, comfortable guest rooms to the 16,500-sq.ft. spa with both an indoor and outdoor pool.”
The Telegraph adds, “Dating from 1909, this grand, turreted hotel is like a fairytale castle surrounded by the ugly sisters. Its beautifully-tended grounds boast centuries-old trees, and its balconied rooms look out over Lake Geneva and the Alps – it’s just a shame that several nondescript office blocks interrupt the view. Inside, the hotel has mastered understated glamour, with elegant communal spaces that combine past and present: original features and gilt-edged paintings sit alongside contemporary chandeliers lit up in red and purple. A whole new wing was created when the hotel was extensively renovated in 2015, adding 95 rooms and bumping the total to 196. Though it doesn’t have the exterior charm of the original building, the rooms are equally classy, and it’s here where you’ll find the capacious spa.”
Penthouse Suite
The three-bedroom Penthouse spans 3,850 sq. ft.. with a 3,950 sq. ft. terrace. Amenities include a Hammam, sauna and a gym. There’s a staff kitchen and private dining seating for 10.
More suites at Hotel Royal Savoy Lausanne.
4. Château d’Ouchy
Michelin Guide writes, “The mere mention of Switzerland might conjure images of pristine alpine lakes, soaring summits with majestic rocky peaks, and stately castles that seem plucked straight from a fairytale. And as whimsical as those images seem, they aren’t pure fantasy; in fact, you can find this picturesque postcard world at Château d’Ouchy. Nestled on the shores of Lake Geneva in Lausanne, this spectacular lakeside castle hotel can trace its roots to the year 1117 — and now, nearly a thousand years later, it’s recognized as a Swiss cultural heritage site. The interior accommodations reflect the castle’s majestic and storied history. Rooms are spacious and feature massive floor-to-ceiling windows framed by ornately patterned curtains. Some feature views of Lake Geneva and the Alps or show off the castle’s ancient exposed-brick walls. The four suites are on another level entirely — each has a unique look and feel, but many feature gorgeous 19th-century neo-gothic revival furniture, shining hardwood floors, and in at least one case, 360-degree panoramic views of Lake Geneva’s shores and the surrounding mountains.”
Terrace Suite
This 750 sq. ft. suite embraces castle living. The largest private terrace of the hotel allows you to enjoy a unique view of Ouchy harbor. The bespoke designer furniture gives the suite a well-balanced, contemporary touch.
More suites at Chateau d’Ouchy.
5. Hotel Angleterre
The Telegraph says, “The hotel consists of a collection of buildings grouped around a peaceful garden and pool in Lausanne’s upmarket lakeside district of Ouchy. One building housed the world’s first hospitality school back in 1893; now L’Accademia restaurant displays the classy service and attention to detail it once taught.”
Junior Suite
The Junior Suites overlook the lake or the gardens and feature a sophisticated interior design. Some rooms come with their own terraces and interconnecting room options.
More suites at Hotel Angleterre.
