When it comes to five-star hotels in Zurich, it can’t get any better than Five Zurich. Newly opened in 2022, FIVE Zurich is a 5-star lifestyle hotel in Switzerland’s largest city, renowned for both entertainment and fine dining.
I was invited recently to spend a weekend at Five Zurich and I can only describe it as a heavenly. If you know anything about me, you know that I seriously struggle to just switch off and relax, but this was the most luxurious place to just unwind. Read more for my full review of our weekend escapade!
About Five Zurich
Five Zurich opened in June 2022, and is the first hotel establishment in Europe from Five Hotels and Resorts based in Dubai.
This remarkable hotel also enjoys a prime location, perched atop Zurich’s Uetliberg plateau, affording captivating views of the city center. It is conveniently situated within a 10-minute drive to the heart of Zurich with immediate access to public transportation just a short 2-minute walk away.
Notably, this was the same premises resided by the former Atlantis Hotel. While retaining its distinct 1960s exterior, Five Zurich complete refurbished the interiors and transformed them into swanky hotel rooms and grandiose lounges and restaurants, with bespoke, captivating art installations by local artists. One thing remains the same: the hotel positions itself as the ultimate destination for a hedonistic hillside getaway.
Check-In
Right at the entrance, just before stepping into the trendy Tune In lounge, guests are welcomed by striking floor-to-ceiling murals featuring iconic figures like Mohammed Ali, Elton John, and Rihanna, underscoring the rich history of esteemed guests who’ve graced the former Atlantis Hotel. We also spotted numerous sleek Porsches, Jaguars and new Tesla models parked at the foyer, perhaps a good signal of the level of profile of guests residing at the hotel.
Rooms at Five Zurich
Five Zurich offers an impressive array of 45 opulent suites, 42 generously-sized lifestyle rooms, and 62 ‘Amazing Rooms’ with breathtaking vistas of the sparkling city skyline or majestic mountains.
I stayed in the Generous Room with Balcony and absolute loved it! I must say, although it was classified as a “Room”, it actually felt more like a suite. The room was extremely spacious, featuring a large TV/ lounge area, a private terrace overlooking the pool, a luxurious King sized bed with a pillow menu, complimentary coffee and tea, a generously stocked mini bar, and a beautiful bathroom with rain shower and a bath-tub. All include high speed Wi-Fi and luxury bathroom amenities.
Looking to splurge, or hosting a party stayover with friends? You have no lack of larger, grander options, with the elegant Luxe or Luxe XL Suites, the vibrant FIVE Suite, the striking 78-square-meter Come Play Suite with a bold retro vibe that’s designed for a rockstar, a spacious two-bedroom Epic Suite with eight balconies, or interconnecting suites with the potential for up to four bedrooms. No matter the categories, every room in Five features exclusive art pieces, king-size beds, well-appointed living areas, and luxurious toiletries.
Personalised touches like welcome notes addressed with your name and a platter of pastries and chocolates made us feel so special. The attention to detail is just incredible here.
As dog owners, we love bringing our dog whenever we are on our travels, and it was great that Five Zurich is also a pet-friendly establishment, which meant Kaya could tag along us everywhere we go (except for the spa and gym). Beds are provided for dogs of any size, along with water and food bowls.
Where to Dine at Five Zurich
At Five Zurich, endless distinct dining experiences await. First, there’s the energetic Soul Street, a bustling fusion street food haven with a lively atmosphere. Then there is the Penthouse, a Japanese rooftop bar, lounge and midnight club with paranomic views of Zurich’s city skylines. The Vault Wine Bar boasts the largest international and local wine selections in Zurich, while for those seeking an afternoon coffee break or light bites, the Tune In Cafe is your go-to spot. Finally, there’s The Social Pool, perfect for sipping cocktails and enjoying light bites while basking in the sunshine during summer (which was not open during our time of visit).
During our visit we had the opportunity to try out all the different restaurants. Here’s our take on each of them:
Breakfast
Breakfast at Five Zurich is a real treat with a buffet style breakfast as well as an la carte menu. I don’t know about you, but me, I love having savory food for breakfast and the selections here did not disappoint with all my usual favorites: Belgian waffles, hash browns, sausages and bacon.
At the time of our visit, the breakfast buffet was held at the Maiden Shanghai, which has since been closed, very much to our disappointment. We had heard alot about its award-winning Chinese cuisinen and were looking forward to tasting it. Nevertheless, it will be replaced with a new Italian dining concept.
The Vault Winebar & Cigar Lounge
This was the only spot that was open during the afternoon apart from the Tune-In Cafe, so we headed here for our lunch. The cuisine offered here was more Italian/international. We had the beef tartare, pasta and rib-eye steak here coupled with some savoury sites like truffle fries and calamaris. While the food was great, the experience remain forgettable and did not stood out. But only because the other restaurants within the hotel were much more outstanding in terms of the aesthetics, vibe and unique concepts.
Then again, perhaps we should have taken time to visit the wine bar during the evening!
Pent-House
Located at the top floor, the Penthouse is a posh, edgy Japanese restaurant, lounge and terrace connected to the nightclub, featuring jaw-dropping panoramic views of the Zurich’s city sky.
Dishes here are specially curated by Chef Frederic Faucheux. There isa wide range of modern Japanese grilled dishes and main courses, and best of all, all in shareable portions. We particularly enjoyed the wide assortment of sushi and sashimi, which beautifully plated and most importantly, fresh. I have also nothing but heaps of praises for their signature Antartic White codfish with miso, which was so tender and deliciously marinated and reminded me of comfort-style Asian cooking back home.
For desserts, I couldn’t resist ordering this mousse cake that came in the form of a bathroom duck, it was so wickedly cute! The Penthouse cheese cake was a classic delicacy too.
Prices are steep here, even for Zurich standards (40-50CHF for mains, 20CHF for alcohol), but that is to be expected since you’re at one of the city’s most high-end and premium rooftop bars.
I’m not much of a party animal and didn’t stay till late for the late-hour partying, but they always bring in great international DJs that knows how to pump out great music, and there’s also numerous upcoming events hosted like the Jazz Night Club on Thursdays, and the Halloween weekend party.
Soul Street
This was my favourite restaurant out of all that we’d tried during our stay!
Soul Street at Five Zurich is an international fusion street food restaurant, and the moment you step through the door you feel the restaurant oozing with so much fun, energetic vibes with neon lights and bold street art with Indian, Mexican and Japanese influences. We were seriously spoilt for choice pouring over the diverse array of menu options and eventually decided on Mexian tapas for starters and Indian favourites like Chicken Tikka Masala, Samosas Chaat, coupled with wine and martinis, of course!
I usually am not confident of restaurants serving foreign cuisines but was pleasantly surprised that all the dishes retained authentic flavours. The Chicken Tikka Masala for example was exactly what I would have expected from a local indian restaurant. That was when I found out that the chefs working at the restaurant originated from India!
ReFive Spa
Access to the Refive Spa facilities is included for all residents of the hotel. Of course the first thing I did after reaching the hotel do was whip off my clothes and get into my swimsuit and cosy robe and slippers to enjoy some pampering. However, Vince found it a little too small for his liking. He’s a big tall giant after all, and could only do a few laps in the pool!
On our second day, we were invited to experience the 60 minute Massage with Lava Shells as a couple.
After sipping our hot mugs of tea, we were invited into the couple’s massage room with dimmed lighting, soft, soothing music, and a warm, inviting ambiance.
The Lava shells are the star of this treatment. These are specially prepared, heated seashells filled with a blend of minerals and are known for their ability to retain heat, making them ideal for a warm massage. With long, flowing strokes and firm pressure, our therapists glided the lava shells over all all the tense muscles, knots in my body, and I felt my stress ebbing away with each stroke, and fell asleep in no time too.
It felt romantic to be able to enjoy the massage alongside Vince. The proximity of the massage tables allowed us to enjoy the treatment together, creating a deeper connection and shared serenity.
Verdict:
Five Zurich is definitely a pricey hotel for Swiss standards. but our verdict was that was 100% worth every penny. It is a real treat especially for a special occasion: A birthday, an anniversary, a bachelor or bachelorette’s night out. I honestly could not find anything to fault in our entire stay. We were hoping for an indulgent and memorable stay, and all our expectations were exceeded.
Five Zurich
Döltschiweg 234, 8055 Zürich
www.zurich.fivehotelsandresort.com
fivezurich@fivehotelsandresorts.com
+41 44 456 55 55
This post was made in collaboration with Five Zurich. I was invited for a 3D2N stay in exchange for an independent review.
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