A recent evaluation by The Deep Knowledge Group, a consortium of companies and nonprofits owned by Deep Knowledge Ventures, ranked Switzerland the number one safest country in the world right now for COVID-19. Published in early June, the ranking takes into account factors such as monitoring and detection capacity, quarantine and government efficiency, healthcare and emergency readiness. Additionally, Switzerland Tourism, along with other industry associations, has launched a “Clean & Safe” campaign to strengthen the confidence of travelers. When visiting tourism establishments and infrastructures, the label shows guests that those businesses have made a conscious commitment to comply with protection plans. In its transitional phase from lockdown to gradual relaxation of its rules, Switzerland is slowly returning to some semblance of normal. On June 6, the country reopened facilities such as restaurants and bars, theaters, botanical gardens, and swimming pools and allowed mountain transport services to reopen.
La Réserve Eden au Lac Zurich began welcoming back guests on May 12. The property opened on January 8, 2020 following a two-year restoration project helmed by Philippe Starck, joining hotelier Michel Reybier’s La Réserve
Design
The French Empire-style building dates back to 1909 and houses the only luxury hotel located on Lac Zurich. The majority of the 40 rooms and suites have views of the lake and many have their own private balcony or terrace. Taking inspiration from the location, Starck wanted to give guests the feeling of being on a yacht. He lent his signature contemporary touch with neutral tones and sleek metal accents, while honoring the building’s historical elements, revealing the original exposed red brick, marble and hardwood floors, and keeping the iconic blue-and-white-striped awnings that adorn the lake-facing façade.
Guest rooms make the most of the space, with glass walls separating the living area from the bathroom and natural light pouring in from the large windows. Quirky nautical touches include wooden oars, paintings of sailboats and room numbers printed as if they were on a racing sail.
The lobby’s original wooden staircase and iron elevator have been preserved; the latter re-imagined with a glass enclosure for a mix of modernity and timelessness that epitomizes the property’s new look and feel. Another focal point is the stained-glass windows by artist Ara Starck (daughter of Philippe) depicting landscapes that evolve throughout the day as the sunlight streams through them.
Dining
The ground-floor Eden Kitchen & Bar features an open kitchen and large bay windows overlooking the lake and serves globally inspired dishes and Swiss classics like sautéed veal and potato rosti. The sixth-floor rooftop restaurant, La Muña, has a Peruvian-
Location
Located blocks from the Opera House, the Bell Époque hotel is sandwiched among a row of historic buildings. La Réserve’s
Why Zurich
Despite being Switzerland’s banking capital, Zurich is fondly referred to as a ’boutique city’ and for years has been ranked among the world’s top places in terms of its quality of life. Bureaucratic barriers that have hindered innovation in the past have given way to a government that is nurturing students and entrepreneurs through its universities and incubators, recalling a Zurich of the past that was a hotbed of dissent. It was here that the Protestant Revolution began in the 16th century and the Dada movement was established in 1916 at the Cabaret Voltaire.
The city is once again being recognized as a culture hub as it was in the mid-20th century when Picasso and Chagall roamed its streets. Guests of La Réserve receive city passes granting complimentary access to public transportation and discounts at the city’s world-class museums, the majority of which reopened in May. The Brutalist Swiss National Museum is now completing a multi-phase expansion helmed by Swiss architects Christ & Gantenbein. In 2021, the veil will be lifted on a David Chipperfield-designed extension to the Kunsthaus art museum, home to the world’s largest collection of Dada art. The project is part of a development plan for the city to create an ‘education mile’ where the museums together with the Schauspielhaus theater
Guidelines for Travelers as of June 15
As of June 15, Switzerland has lifted restrictions for travelers from other Schengen countries, but the Swiss government has not yet announced a date when the country will lift the current entry restrictions for U.S. citizens. Prior to COVID-19, two new direct flights from the U.S. were scheduled to launch: United’s first nonstop flight from Chicago-O’Hare to Zurich and Swiss Air’s new direct flight from Washington DC (IAD). It remains to be known if those routes will resume. When flights from the U.S. do begin again, travelers can expect measures such as temperature checks upon arrival. The country reserved the right to conduct health-related measures on arrival for people traveling from countries with high numbers of new infections. As of June 15, passengers arriving on direct flights from Sweden are having their temperature taken and those with signs of a high temperature will be given medical examination and, if necessary, be tested for COVID-19. The government is still urging citizens and visitors to follow social distancing and hygiene recommendations. There is no requirement to wear face masks in public, but the government says people should wear a mask if they can’t keep a distance of five feet.