Central Plaza Hotel

My only real complaint from a 13-day work trip was how tight the single room felt for a longer stay. That's common in Zurich, and the consistent cleanliness, comfort, and quality helped make up for it. The hotel was excellent in every other way, and I'd gladly return for business or a personal visit. The location by Zurich HB, across the street from the Old Town, was unbeatable. Meetings, exploring, and nearby dinners were all within walking distance. Front desk staff were warm and helpful, and the downstairs bar and restaurant had great food and drinks, a welcome place to unwind after work. I grew up in Nepal, and around Tihar, or Diwali, I usually miss home when I'm in the U.S., with its lights, laughter, and festival warmth. This time, sitting in Zurich halfway around the world, I realized I was missing America too. It was a lovely irony, missing one home while far from both, and Zurich felt like a quiet middle ground connecting the two. One evening, a large Diwali party in the hotel lobby, full of bright lights, Indian sweets, music, and laughter, brought a comforting sense of nostalgia and gratitude. It felt like a bit of home had found me. A couple of practical notes: the gym is across the street. Leave your room key at reception for a gym band, cross over, climb the stairs, and take the elevator. Hotel guests use the public gym free. For a locker key, you deposit the gym band, a very Swiss arrangement. At checkout, minibar use needs to be marked on a paper slip for the front desk. I found it cheaper to get drinks, snacks, and essentials at Migrolino, a one-minute walk away. My rating is four stars, held back only by room size.

The shower setup was my one real gripe. You have to step high into the tub, whose base is raised, then climb back out with about a three-foot drop to the floor and nothing to hold. I had to back out carefully and grip tight. Our previous hotel in Interlaken had the same odd design. Our Junior Suite, room 317, had wonderful views of the river and street from two windows. It had been renovated in recent years, and I liked the bathroom lights that dim. The bed was very comfortable, and the room stayed quiet at night despite the nearby street. Two TVs felt excessive, and the remote sometimes struggled to choose which one, though we weren't in Zurich to watch television. The Central Plaza Hotel is in a great spot. The train station and COOP market are across the river bridge, about a two-minute walk, and Old Town Zurich with its bars and restaurants is right there. The city gets going slowly, with Starbucks opening at 8am and smaller coffee spots at 9am, but the station has earlier options if you need coffee at 7am. We didn't dine at the hotel or use room service. We had excellent Bloody Marys at the bar one late morning. Christina's service was outstanding, warm, attentive, and fun to chat with. She's a great employee. Front desk staff were friendly and capable, and arranged our airport taxi without trouble.

We booked 14 nights, and after eight of them everything has been good, with no complaints. The Hotel Limo service has been excellent, and there are plenty of restaurants nearby. I'll book again on my next Zurich trip.

The location deserves five stars, with shops, restaurants, and the train all close by. Restaurant staff were also very attentive and welcoming. I'm not sure whether they're part of the hotel team, but the hotel staff could use the same etiquette training. At check-in, hospitality was worth two stars: the staff were rude, and I wouldn't expect more than the bare minimum. Cleanliness gets three stars. There was visible dust along trim throughout the walls, and the rooms looked worn and could use fresh paint. To me, this is a three-star hotel at best. I don't usually write reviews, but this felt warranted.