Have a peek inside the new a-ja Zürich City Resort

Hands down, Zürich is one of my favorite cities in Switzerland - and in Europe.

You will often hear the Swiss accusing Zürich of being too busy. But after living in London and Milan, I find that Zürich has that just right amount of chaos. The distances are not too big, and everyone can find plenty of activities according to their preferences. Some will enjoy the variety of shops, while others will explore the history. And the nature lovers will surely love the lake promenade, the rivers and the beautiful parks.

Whatever suits your fancy, at the end of the day you want to relax and slow down. During my latest visit to Zürich, my little family and I stayed at the newly opened a-ja Zürich City Resort. It is located in a formerly industrial part right by the Zürich Altstetten train station, some 10 minutes by public transport from the city center. The hotel also provides parking spaces for those arriving by car.

Our cozy deluxe double room at the a-ja Zürich City Resort

The design of the hotel is very Swiss. It is simple, clean yet with a few unexpected twists. From the moment we walked in, I felt very comfortable and welcomed. It has this sort of "at home" feel to it. The room is a good size, with a very comfortable bed, an LED TV, a desk and a sofa.

The twist is in the huge windows, from which you can see the panorama of business buildings and even the mountains in the background. Another eye-catcher is the glass wall of the bathroom. (For privacy, it can be covered with a curtain.)

As a mother traveling with a baby, I must point out the attentiveness of the hotel staff. When we arrived, the baby cot had been provided without any reminding - and it was a pretty comfortable one, too. Here is what the deluxe double room looks like:

(Photograph copyright Christopher Tiess/a-ja Resort und Hotel GmbH)

The DELIcious Restaurant is... delicious!

After a long and tiring day, it was nice to have the option to go downstairs and dine at the hotel's DELIcious restaurant. The concept is to serve traditional food but also to make it more healthy. There is a possibility of choosing the fixed price buffet option or to go à la carte.

(Photograph copyright a-ja Resort und Hotel GmbH)

We chose à la carte and welcomed the recommendations by the staff members. For starters, we ordered salad and soup, then proceeded with a nice perch fillet and a beef entrecôte for my husband. As for our little one, he was taken care of as well: the soup was apparently so tasty, he proceeded to finish it all! Confession: I was so full that I had to cancel my dessert - this almost never happens!

If you are a health freak and a fitness guru, you won't need to put your routine on pause - the hotel has its own small but well equipped gym. Can you spot me?

And one of the best features that allows this hotel the "city resort" designation is its spa area.

It consists of a bar at the entrance, three types of saunas and a relax zone. The saunas are divided into different temperatures and styles, so you will surely find something that suits you best!

Despite being Russian, I do not like very high temperatures. The steam sauna was just perfect for my taste in terms of temps, though. Alternatively, you may choose among a 65-degree bio sauna - or you may get into the real deal with the 95-degree Finnish sauna. The latter can be accessed through the open rooftop terrace. In any case, for cooling down, look out for the ice fountain!

(Photograph copyright Christopher Tiess/a-ja Resort und Hotel GmbH)

Without a doubt, my most favorite part of the day is breakfast.

I simply believe that it is the most important meal of a day. Alas, I am a very picky customer when it comes to my first indulgence of the day. The breakfast at the a-ja Zürich City Resort did not disappoint me. In fact, it was just right with a good variety of cold and hot food, a large selection of coffees and teas, as well as some nice juices.

I like that they consider everyone, so you can easily find lactose free products, as well as choices for vegans and vegetarians. You do not often come across this in Switzerland, but I think it is important for hotels and restaurants to have a wide variety of choices.

Do you want to know a secret? Try the waffles! They might look modest and simple (and I almost did not try them), but they were some of the best waffles I have ever tasted! Those in a rush or who do not want to sit down for breakfast are taken care of, too. There is a 24-hour shop next to the reception. And in the morning, you can find some fresh croissants and all types of snacks, as well as Starbucks brews.

My conclusion after spending a weekend at the a-ja Zürich City Resort: I think this hotel will surprise those looking for good quality for a bit less. It offers everything you need for a comfortable stay and allows you to relax after a long day of exploration or meetings.

a-ja Zürich City Resort
Vulkanstrassee 108b
8048 Zürich
Phone +41 43 523 1200
Email: info.zuerich@ajaresorts.ch

(Photograph copyright Christopher Tiess/a-ja Resort und Hotel GmbH)