The Place
This purpose-built hotel, dating from 1978, caters mainly to business travellers and conference guests. From the driveway, only the roof of the top storey is visible; the other two are set into the hillside. This slopes down towards the distant shore of Lake Zurich, which stretches away to the right and left as if seen through a wide-angled camera lens.
Outside, gardens, statues and fountains soften the modern lines of the building, while inside, furnishings are more city than country, particularly in the bar with its stylish polished marble and granite.
There are three restaurants, ranging from the formal to the casual and these host special events; our inspector arrived during Chinese week, for example. This sort of variety is part of the careful planning that impressed our reporter, who noted that the conference hall occasionally stages musical evenings.
If you don’t feel like culture, then retire to the two traditional bowling alleys in the lower level. Bedrooms are decorated in low-key colours and although quite large, our reporter advises paying just a bit more to upgrade lo the spacious junior suites. Staff are very hospitable; ‘none of your paid-for smiles here’.