La reserve Eden Au Lac Zurich
Anchored in Elegance,
Facing the Lake
Facing the Lake
by Anastasia Bluhm
For over a century, the majestic building at Utoquai 45 has watched sailboats glide across Lake Zurich. But since its 2020 rebirth under visionary designer Philippe Starck and Michel Reybier Hospitality, La Réserve Eden au Lac Zurich has transformed from a storied grand dame into a boutique masterpiece—a place where tradition pirouettes with avant-garde flair. As Starck himself mused, it’s “like dancing rock and roll with the Queen of England” . Having spent four unforgettable nights here, I can confirm: this hotel is a symphony of contrasts, and every note dazzles.
A Century-Old Legacy, Reimagined
Originally opened in the early 1900s, the hotel’s French Empire-style façade had faded into weary elegance by the 2010s—a backdrop fit for “a Le Carré spy novel,” as one journalist noted . In 2015, Michel Reybier (creator of the La Réserve collection) acquired the property. After a meticulous renovation, Starck deconstructed its past to rebuild it as an “imaginary yacht club,” preserving historic lions and balconies while injecting maritime whimsy and modernist lines . The 2020 reopening heralded a new era: 40 rooms and suites, now resembling chic ship cabins, where lacquered wood, leather, and brass echo the glamour of a vintage sailboat .
Originally opened in the early 1900s, the hotel’s French Empire-style façade had faded into weary elegance by the 2010s—a backdrop fit for “a Le Carré spy novel,” as one journalist noted . In 2015, Michel Reybier (creator of the La Réserve collection) acquired the property. After a meticulous renovation, Starck deconstructed its past to rebuild it as an “imaginary yacht club,” preserving historic lions and balconies while injecting maritime whimsy and modernist lines . The 2020 reopening heralded a new era: 40 rooms and suites, now resembling chic ship cabins, where lacquered wood, leather, and brass echo the glamour of a vintage sailboat .
Design: Nautical Dreams & Starck’s Rebellion
Starck’s genius permeates every space:
- The Lobby: A glass elevator ascends past floors adorned with hanging wooden boats and navigational maps, evoking a captain’s quarters. Evening DJ sets (a bold touch for Zurich) blend electro beats with the clink of cocktails .
- Rooms: My Lake View Suite (32 m²) featured a king bed angled toward floor-to-ceiling windows framing the lake and Alps. Design details—Nespresso machines in gold minibars, rain showers, and leather-accented desks—felt both luxurious and intuitive. Pro tip: Opt for Prestige Balcony or Lake View Suites to wake up to swans drifting past your window.
- Terraces: The sixth-floor La Muña restaurant’s tree-dotted terrace offers 360° views of Zurich’s spires and distant peaks. At sunset, with a pisco sour in hand, the city becomes a golden tableau .
Starck’s genius permeates every space:
- The Lobby: A glass elevator ascends past floors adorned with hanging wooden boats and navigational maps, evoking a captain’s quarters. Evening DJ sets (a bold touch for Zurich) blend electro beats with the clink of cocktails .
- Rooms: My Lake View Suite (32 m²) featured a king bed angled toward floor-to-ceiling windows framing the lake and Alps. Design details—Nespresso machines in gold minibars, rain showers, and leather-accented desks—felt both luxurious and intuitive. Pro tip: Opt for Prestige Balcony or Lake View Suites to wake up to swans drifting past your window.
- Terraces: The sixth-floor La Muña restaurant’s tree-dotted terrace offers 360° views of Zurich’s spires and distant peaks. At sunset, with a pisco sour in hand, the city becomes a golden tableau .
Reybier's establishments aim to create a "home away from home" feeling, offering a private, comfortable, and serene environment.
Sailing into Luxury
Culinary Anchors: Michelin Stars & Nikkei Flavors
Dining here rivals Zurich’s finest:
Eden Kitchen & Bar (Ground Floor): Awarded one Michelin star under chef Marco Ortolani, this venue merges open-kitchen theatre with Mediterranean-inspired artistry. Ortolani's cuisine is a masterful dialogue between Mediterranean warmth and Swiss terroir, executed with precision and artistry visible in the open kitchen's theatre. Signature dishes like the luminous Acquarello Risotto – kissed with lime and adorned with plump Lake Zurich shrimp – or the impeccably sourced Swiss Simmental Beef glazed with local herbs, showcase his philosophy of elevating pristine, regional ingredients through globally inspired techniques. Seasonal rotations are paramount, featuring Alpine herbs, foraged mushrooms, or spring's first edible blooms.
Dining here rivals Zurich’s finest:
Eden Kitchen & Bar (Ground Floor): Awarded one Michelin star under chef Marco Ortolani, this venue merges open-kitchen theatre with Mediterranean-inspired artistry. Ortolani's cuisine is a masterful dialogue between Mediterranean warmth and Swiss terroir, executed with precision and artistry visible in the open kitchen's theatre. Signature dishes like the luminous Acquarello Risotto – kissed with lime and adorned with plump Lake Zurich shrimp – or the impeccably sourced Swiss Simmental Beef glazed with local herbs, showcase his philosophy of elevating pristine, regional ingredients through globally inspired techniques. Seasonal rotations are paramount, featuring Alpine herbs, foraged mushrooms, or spring's first edible blooms.
The ambiance, crafted by Philippe Starck, immerses guests in the hotel's nautical narrative: think warm lacquered woods, gleaming brass accents reminiscent of a luxury yacht, plush leather banquettes, and expansive floor-to-ceiling windows framing the ever-changing lake panorama. A cornerstone of the experience is the expert wine pairing, featuring the exclusive Premier Cru Brut champagne from Michel Reybier's vineyards in Saint-Émilion – a velvety, complex Bordeaux blend crafted specifically for the La Réserve estates, offering a seamless harmony between plate and glass.
La Muña (Rooftop): Perched like a cozy treehouse, this Nikkei (Japanese-Peruvian) hideaway delivers a breathtaking 360° panorama of Lake Zurich, the Alps, and the city’s steepled skyline – accessible via a glass elevator rising through Philippe Starck’s nautical-themed lobby.
Helmed by Chef Domenico Zizzi (15 Gault Millau points), La Muña’s kitchen crafts inventive Nikkei (Japanese-Peruvian) cuisine, balancing delicate crudos with bold umami-rich hot plates. Signature dishes include miso-glazed black cod draped over edamame purée, wagyu tataki with Siam sauce, and vibrant ceviches like salmon tiradito in yuzu-tinged leche de tigre. Seasonal rotations spotlight local ingredients – think white asparagus with trout roe in spring or venison tiradito in autumn. Evenings hum with curated DJ sets and inventive cocktails (try the pisco sour with bergamot), while the wine list highlights organic European vintages.
Eden Bar & Cigar Lounge
Eden Bar reimagines mixology with artisanal twists on classics—swap the gin tonic for their yuzu-spiked pisco sour, blending Peruvian pisco with Japanese citrus and house-made lavender syrup. By evening, DJ-curated electro-jazz sets (6:00–10:00 PM) animate the room, while guests savor Mediterranean bar bites like truffle lobster rolls alongside curated organic wines.
Adjacent to the bar, the Eden Cigar Lounge offers a moodier retreat with velvet armchairs and humidor cabinets stocked with Cuban Cohibas and Dominican Arturo Fuentes. Expert sommeliers guide pairings of rare cognacs or Swiss single malts, best enjoyed on the lakeside terrace as sailboats drift across Zurich’s twilight waters.
Eden Bar reimagines mixology with artisanal twists on classics—swap the gin tonic for their yuzu-spiked pisco sour, blending Peruvian pisco with Japanese citrus and house-made lavender syrup. By evening, DJ-curated electro-jazz sets (6:00–10:00 PM) animate the room, while guests savor Mediterranean bar bites like truffle lobster rolls alongside curated organic wines.
Adjacent to the bar, the Eden Cigar Lounge offers a moodier retreat with velvet armchairs and humidor cabinets stocked with Cuban Cohibas and Dominican Arturo Fuentes. Expert sommeliers guide pairings of rare cognacs or Swiss single malts, best enjoyed on the lakeside terrace as sailboats drift across Zurich’s twilight waters.
La Réserve is known for its refined elegance, with large, luminous spaces and top-quality materials, creating an atmosphere of understated luxury.
The Verdict: Why This Hotel Resonates
La Réserve Eden au Lac isn’t just a stay—it’s immersion in a narrative where old Zurich meets Starck’s playful irreverence. From the gentle rock of boats outside your window to Ortolani’s Michelin-starred magic, every moment feels curated yet spontaneous. As I left, the concierge handed me a vintage postcard of a sailboat—a nod to the hotel’s dream of “great waters.” It now sits on my desk, a talisman calling me back to where the lake meets the sky.
La Réserve Eden au Lac isn’t just a stay—it’s immersion in a narrative where old Zurich meets Starck’s playful irreverence. From the gentle rock of boats outside your window to Ortolani’s Michelin-starred magic, every moment feels curated yet spontaneous. As I left, the concierge handed me a vintage postcard of a sailboat—a nod to the hotel’s dream of “great waters.” It now sits on my desk, a talisman calling me back to where the lake meets the sky.
