Hotel Alex, Lake Zurich

Text and Photography by Mart Engelen

Alex, a new Campbell Gray hotel, opened last summer and is remarkable for its state-of-the-art stone and glass Modernist architecture. Almost all of the rooms have views over Lake Zurich and the Swiss Alps towards the Gold Coast, where those with serious money reside in their well-hidden premises. What I like about Alex is that you can catch the hotel’s motorboat and within 10 to 15 minutes be in Zurich’s Altstadt for your meetings or leisure time before returning to the hotel’s laid-back environment to enjoy a wonderful dinner with spectacular views. It is the best of both worlds. This new luxury boutique hotel offers 44 modern studios and penthouses with kitchens, making it perfect for short or extended stays. It has a great cocktail bar and restaurant with a terrace. It will be no surprise that the restaurant is a magnet for both hotel guests and locals. Alex’s manager, Olivier Gerber, with his exceptional worldwide experience, and the friendly staff ensure that every guest immediately feels at home at this wonderful property. For me it’s a really unique place to stay when I have to be in Zurich or, like this time, when I am starting my ‘Tour of the Alps’.