Emmen Center

Lovely hotel and restaurant on the outskirts of Zurich. Having arrived later than planned and not knowing the area, we dined in the restaurant, which was a nice surprise and may be an even bigger draw than the hotel itself. The dishes were made with care and reasonably priced for the region. The staff were hospitable and efficient. As a renovated older building, the room was spacious and characterful, with exposed wood beams and other preserved details. It was also well appointed and clean. The recurring lion motif, appropriate given the name, is either cute or kitsch depending on one’s taste, but is completely in line with the pride (so to speak) and historical connections of the city itself; look up the coat of arms, the Venetian alliance, the sculptor Urs Eggenschwyler, and of course the hockey team. As a family, we actually much preferred staying here to central Zurich.

This is a great hotel in the downtown area, near the lakefront and river. Lots of restaurants, shops and parks nearby. The staff were very friendly and helpful, and everything in the hotel was clean and well maintained.