- Villa Florhof, a historic mansion in the centre of Zurich, is becoming the very first Lalique boutique hotel: just 13 rooms and suites, designed by Lalique Hospitality.
- Behind the project are two heavyweights of the Swiss economy: Silvio Denz, owner of Lalique, and Peter Spuhler, head of Stadler Rail, who purchased the house in the summer of 2022.
- The brasserie is entrusted to three-Michelin-starred chef Christian Jürgens, whose menu was unanimously praised during initial trials.
- The opening of the brasserie has, however, been delayed by a few days following the resignation of two cooks, an episode the management is addressing with rare transparency.
In Zurich, everyone is talking about it. A stone’s throw from the Kunsthaus, Villa Florhof, one of the city’s most beautiful mansions, is preparing to reopen after an exceptionally demanding renovation, transformed into the first boutique hotel in Lalique’s history. A sanctuary of just 13 rooms and suites, where the French crystal maker is applying its art of living to urban hospitality for the first time. But just days before the premiere, an unforeseen event has disrupted the launch of its brasserie, already considered the most anticipated dining destination in Switzerland.
A mansion transformed into a Lalique showcase
The story began in the summer of 2022, when Silvio Denz, owner of Lalique and several major wine estates, partnered with Peter Spuhler, head of the railway giant Stadler, to acquire this former silk merchant’s house in the heart of Zurich. Several years of meticulous work followed: hand-restored stucco, preserved original materials, and a restored historic vaulted cellar. The result is worthy of the patience involved: an architectural jewel where a Damien Hirst artwork now welcomes visitors, a symbol of the dialogue between heritage and contemporary creation desired by the two owners.
Christian Jürgens at the helm of a soon-to-be-cult brasserie
For its restaurant, the house has made a bold move by securing the services of Christian Jürgens, a three-Michelin-starred chef and one of the highest-rated cooks in Europe. His brasserie menu is ready, and the first privileged guests to taste it have been won over: Red Caesar, Green Pasta, a revisited grilled sausage, or cockerel sit alongside a cellar that draws from Silvio Denz’s wine world. The goal is clear: to offer Zurich a luxury hotel brasserie that is relaxed in style and three-star in its execution.
Two kitchen departures, a delayed premiere
Just days before the inauguration of the brasserie, two cooks handed in their aprons, forcing the house to postpone the debut. There is no crisis, however: General Manager Tanja Wegmann is playing it transparent, acknowledging “some internal turbulence” that has been entrusted to an external consultant to be resolved calmly. Above all, she dismisses any rumours of a falling out with her star chef, whose “sensational” dishes she continues to praise. Opening a week earlier or later does not change the ambition: to aim straight for the pinnacle of the Zurich gastronomic scene.
Zurich, the new playground for Swiss luxury
The arrival of Villa Florhof confirms the vibrancy of the high-end Swiss hotel industry, which has long been concentrated on the alpine palaces of Saint-Moritz, Zermatt or Gstaad. With this first urban Lalique hotel, Zurich gains an intimate address capable of competing with the great European boutique hotel capitals. The opening is imminent, and Christian Jürgens’ brasserie should not keep us waiting much longer.
