Mandarin Oriental Palace, Luzern
Lucerne, Switzerland
Vibe
Guests gather beneath restored Belle Époque mouldings and coral scagliola pillars as paddle steamers glide past on Lake Lucerne.
“Belle Époque lakeside salon”
Attentive multilingual concierges, evening turndown service, and custom suites appointed with Diptyque amenities overlooking Lake Lucerne.
Restored stucco ceilings and oak parquet meet contemporary brass chandeliers, custom Italian furnishings, and modern Swiss artworks.
A 1906 Belle Époque palace featuring restored checkerboard marble floors, scagliola pillars, and the historic Salon Alpine.
On Haldenstrasse along the Lake Lucerne promenade, a scenic walk from the old town.
“this lakeside stunner is an authentic Belle Époque landmark, renovated and restored to its 1906 glory.”
Rooms
Bedrooms pair Swiss oak parquet and Tisca wool rugs with subtle neutral panelling and private balconies facing Mount Pilatus.
“Original features, such as checkerboard marble floors, pink-hued scagliola pillars and pale stucco walls, were restored to their former glory”
Wellness
Spa Bellefontaine features tailored skincare therapies alongside a thermal circuit with a Finnish sauna, steam bath, and experiential showers.
“A Belle Epoque palace has been given an astonishing makeover, making it the grandest dame in Switzerland right now.”
Backstory
Swiss hotel pioneer Franz Josef Bucher built the palace in 1906, envisioning a Mediterranean-inspired retreat on the shores of Lake Lucerne.
Eat & drink
Dining spans French haute cuisine at Colonnade, an intimate omakase counter at Minamo, and cocktails around MOzern's circular central bar.
The neighborhood
Set along the lakeside promenade on Haldenstrasse, the hotel sits a ten-minute stroll from the medieval bridges of Lucerne's Old Town.
The app
This is one hotel. The app has every one we rate, in your pocket, for the whole trip.
Our shorthand
What makes a hotel special, how well they pull it off, and what it feels like outside the door.
How well they pull it off
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
They did this well. You’ll notice.
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Architecture and interiors lead. There’s a creative vision at work.
The guest is conspicuously well cared for. Requests met before they’re made.
Rooted in place. Local character runs through the whole stay.
Energy and scene. Where the city goes out, whether or not it’s sleeping here.
A building with history. The story of the place is part of the stay.
Built around feeling better. Rest, sweat, soak, spa.
A hotel the city grew up with. Same rituals, same regulars.
A world of its own. No reason to leave the property.
Scene — what’s outside the door
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
A place apart: the property is the destination.