La Réserve Eden au Lac Zurich: A Love Letter to Lake Zurich

For a city that’s celebrated for its precision, La Réserve Eden au Lac feels wonderfully unexpected. 

Set on Zurich’s lakefront in the elegant Seefeld district, La Réserve Eden au Lac occupies one of the city’s most coveted waterfront addresses – next to the Opera House and Bellevue Square. Originally opened in 1909 and thoughtfully reimagined by one of the most famous interior architects of our time, Philippe Starck, the historic hotel pairs the grandeur of a Belle Époque landmark with the playfulness of an imaginary yacht club. 

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The Vibe

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Morning swims in the lake. Coffee from the balcony as you watch the sailboats drift by. There’s a sense of escapism that runs through La Réserve Zurich.

 
 

Morning swims in the lake. Coffee from the balcony as you watch the sailboats drift by. Long lunches that stretch into aperitivos as the sun sets behind the Alps – there’s a sense of escapism that runs through La Réserve Zurich. 

In keeping with its waterfront surroundings, there are subtle nautical influences throughout the hotel. Think polished mahogany, crisp white canvas sails, brass detailing and maritime references, all balanced with playful touches that keeps the hotel feeling fresh. We particularly loved the tailored Panama hats and Swiss chocolate elephants left for all guests on arrival. 

Hidden behind a grand façade, the hotel feels like an exclusive yacht club throughout its collection of curated spaces, which range from private terraces overlooking the lake to a hidden cigar lounge tucked below ground. The result is undeniably chic and contemporary, giving the sense that every room has a story to tell. La Réserve Zurich draws a stylish mix of locals and international guests, creating an energy that is both lively and effortlessly understated.

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The Rooms

Floor-to-ceiling windows give each room a view of the sparkling Lake Zurich, which gives a particularly peaceful effect. The rooms have been designed as ‘onshore sailors’ cabins’ – a mix of sleek mahogany softened with billowing linen curtains, tan leather and brushed metallic lighting. Adorned with carefully curated accent pieces – from vintage yachting photography and coffee table books to rich wooden furnishings – decor brings the imagined yacht club to life. The larger suites, wrapped in elegant wrought-iron balconies overlooking the lake, feel more like private apartments than traditional hotel rooms, with generous living spaces and beautifully crafted interiors.

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The larger suites, wrapped in elegant wrought-iron balconies overlooking the lake, feel more like private apartments than traditional hotel rooms.

 
 

Open plan bathrooms feel equally elevated with thick-lipped freestanding bathtubs, sculptural stone basins and walk-in rainforest showers creating a calming retreat. From them, French doors open onto balconies overlooking the lake – the perfect place to watch boats drift by. 

La Réserve Zurich has just 40 rooms and suites in total, all designed to retain the intimacy of a private residence. Rooms and suites can be combined, with entire corridors transformed into private floors for families and groups.

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The Food + Drink

With three very different settings in its repertoire, from Michelin-starred Eden Kitchen to rooftop restaurant La Muña and the effortlessly chic Eden Bar, La Réserve Zurich offers some of Zurich’s most sought-after tables. There is perhaps no better place to spend a summer evening than one of the two rooftop terraces at La Muña, where Peruvian-Japanese dishes are crafted with precision and designed to share. Standout dishes include the crispy wagyu gyoza, delicate seabass ceviche and sushi that easily ranks among the best we’ve tried. 

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Michelin-starred Eden Kitchen is equally memorable. Led by Executive Chef Marco Ortolani, the open kitchen celebrates seasonal Mediterranean cooking with Italian influences and a commitment to minimal food waste. In an open kitchen, the team of chefs here create and curate a menu of twenty dishes, cooked to perfection, in addition to a number of daily specials. Highlights include the grilled beef filet with a truffle sauce, morels stuffed with foie gras, vin-jaune emulsion and chamomile, plus the indulgent and delicious torta di rose. 

The Spa

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Rather than retreating to a traditional spa, La Réserve Zurich encourages guests to embrace Zurich’s greatest natural wellness offering: the hotel has partnered with its neighbour, the historic Seebad Utoquai (Zurich’s best outdoor swim club) for complimentary day passes. Making the most of Zurich’s great outdoors, the lake takes the place of a traditional hotel pool, and guests who visit are given chic branded beach bags, towels and water for days spent beside it. For a more immersive way to experience the lake, as a hotel guest you’ll have stand-up paddleboards at your disposal during the summer months, as well as Otter water e-bikes to enjoy the lake at your own pace. Completing the hotel’s wellness offering are in-room treatments by expert therapists and complimentary access to state-of-the-art gym Fitnesspark Stadelhofen. 

The Little Extras

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It’s the thoughtful details that make La Réserve Zurich so memorable. Swiss chocolates are replenished during the evening turndown service and, paired with sumptuously soft bedding, low lighting and an immaculately prepared room, returning after dinner feels like a ritual in itself. At breakfast, an elegant selection of complimentary pastries is brought to the table before you’ve even ordered, and from the moment you arrive, the doormen greet you by name with warmth. 

The To-Do List

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For one of Zurich’s most memorable wellness experiences, head to the iconic Saunaboot. Part floating sauna, part private spa, this wood-fired sanctuary on Lake Zurich allows you to warm up in the heat before plunging into the water below. 

For chocolate lovers, the magical Lindt Home of Chocolate is a must. The museum reveals how cocoa beans are turned into a delicious Lindt chocolate bar, while tracing 5,000 years of chocolate history and exploring how Switzerland became a country of chocolatiers. Highlights include the nine-metre chocolate fountain, hands-on chocolate courses, the chocolate café and the world’s largest Lindt shop.

Finally, just a stone’s throw from La Réserve Zurich, the Zurich Opera House is one of Europe’s leading cultural institutions. Visit after dinner at the hotel’s Eden Kitchen – there’s no better (or more elegant) way to spend an evening in the city.