Hotel Schweizerhof Bern is a Juliet-balcony-studded grande dame with welcoming but snazzy interiors. It is steps from the main train station, has views of the Swiss parliament and Alps, lays claim to Bern’s only central spa and rooftop bar – and does Switzerland’s best wiener schnitzel. In situ since 1857, the Schweizerhof occupies one of the best locations in Bern. Bern’s famous stone arcades, which house some excellent independent fashion and art boutiques, and Bärenplatz’s extensive food market are five minutes’ walk away. If the golden stone façade is imposing in scale, the mood inside is boutique. The low-lit lobby-cum-bar – a decorous arrangement of Patrician portraits, Murano glass installations and snug seating areas – bustles with the chatter of locals. Along olive-toned corridors linger Art Nouveau-style velvet seating, oversized orchids and arty canvases depicting shots of the city.
