Park Hyatt Zurich Review – Top Notch, But Is It Worth the Price?

Review: Park Hyatt Zurich Junior Suite

The Hyatt life is where it’s at, at least when you’re staying at a Park Hyatt. It’s Hyatt’s “flagship” brand, and the pinnacle of luxury hotels. It’d been years since I’ve stayed at any Park Hyatt property, so I was eagerly awaiting my Park Hyatt Zurich stay. I figured it’d be a great way to enjoy my first visit to Switzerland and use my Category 1-7 free night certificate. Plus, Hyatt would soon be raising the award category. 

Overview & Pricing

The Park Hyatt Zurich is expensive. Even in the off-season, rates were nearly $700 USD per night. At the time it was a Category 7 property, which means a standard award night cost 30,000 points. I conveniently had a Category 1-7 free night certificate, earned upon hitting 60 elite nights last year. So, for my two-night stay, I paid 30,000 points for the first night and used the certificate for the second.

Unfortunately, in their annual changes to award categories, Hyatt moved the Park Hyatt Zurich up to a Category 8 property. Given the rates it commands, it makes sense. But it still hurts, especially since Hyatt first introduced that category on only SLH properties, but has since snuck a number of hotel up to that stratospheric level of 40,000 points per night.

I meant to message my concierge to see if she could apply a suite night award that would hopefully carry over to the second night. But I completely spaced before I embarked on the trip. But the Park Hyatt Zurich still hooked me up with an upgrade.

Location

The Park Hyatt Zurich is located in close proximity to the old town, just a couple blocks north of the Zurichsee. It’s a 15-20 minute walk to the bahnhof, a walk I made several times and didn’t mind at all. If you don’t want to walk, it’s an easy tram ride. Catch the Line 13 tram and step off at Stockerstrasse. The Line 6 and Line 7 are options from the stop on the south side of the train station as well.

I found the location to be excellent. Zurich is extremely walkable, and the tram system is great as well.

Lobby & Check-In Experience

I arrived in the evening, after flying into Zurich in SWISS business class. The Park Hyatt Zurich is rather unassuming from the outside. It’s a normal-looking modern building, no taller than others around it. You could easily walk by and not realize it’s a 5-star accommodation.

I entered into a large lobby with a inviting lounge area off to one side. The first few staff I encountered were all friendly and welcoming. If there’s one thing Park Hyatt consistently pulls off, it is understated luxury. I feel out of place, but not as out of place as when I walked into the InterContinental Carlton Cannes or other places that feel even more over-the-top.

The lady at the front desk welcomed me warmly. She invited me to talk to the concierge after finding out it was my first visit to Switzerland. Check-in was smooth, and she walked me to the elevator.

I’d been upgraded to a Park Junior Suite. Both the Park Junior Suite and Park Suite are considered standard suites for the purpose of using suite awards. Room 304 would be my accommodation for the two nights.

Park Hyatt Zurich Junior Suite

My room was top-notch. A Park Junior Suite at the Park Hyatt Zurich offers space, even if it isn’t a “full” suite. It splits the difference between a 36-square-meter standard room and the full Park Suite that is twice that size. The room is nicely laid out, with the living area across from the king bed. The in-room coffee and minibar is easily accessible in the corner. I initially wondered if the TV was stuck in place, but it swings out from where its stowed so you can watch from the bed—it’s a nice design.

TV swings out so you can watch from the bed.

I appreciated the welcome gift of chocolates. It’s a great touch. The handwritten card is a great touch. It really is the small gestures that take a good stay to truly great. Hyatt tends to come through with these. 

When you’re jetlagged and can’t sleep at 3:30 AM, having an in-room espresso machine is a huge selling point. I started both mornings with an espresso (or two) and a long, hot shower. You can also pick from the minibar beverages and the couple snacks on the shelf. But only the coffee, tea, and water are complimentary.

I was very glad the Parkhuus restaurant opens at 6:30 AM. The note left in the room details the other restaurant hours and spa hours.

The power bank in the living room table was unique. I didn’t have the correct adapter that fit a Swiss outlet, so having a U.S. outlet was super helpful. The outlets next to the beds are the typical Swiss type, which is a bit different than the rest of Europe.

The bathroom is lovely. The sink has plenty of counter space on either side, plus a shelf above. You have a deep tub as well, with doors that slide back so you can look out the living area. Or someone can look in. Take your pick. 

There’s also a makeup table at one end, with a second door that connects the bathroom with the rest of the room. The shower was fantastic, with an overhead design and great water pressure.

 

Housekeeping came by while I was at dinner the first night and provided turndown service. I’d totally forgotten this is a thing. I returned to find the covers pulled down, mats were placed at each side of the bed, and a chocolate on each night stand. In addition, housekeeping staff restocked the coffee pods and water bottles, took the dirty dishes and towels, drew the shades, and replaced bath amenities. Top notch service. 

I only had two complaints. First, the view. It’s nothing to write about. Moving on.

The second is the temperature. I found the room a hair warm when I arrived and set the thermostat to 19C (66 F), which should be cool. It cooled a bit, but not much. I turned it down to 18C (64.5 F), the lowest it would go. It never got that cool, sadly, but it was better than when I arrived.  I think I would have slept a bit better had the room cooled down more, as I woke up sweating in the middle of the night. 

Overall, the room layout, style, and amenities are fantastic. I loved the Park Hyatt Zurich Junior Suite. The only real blemish was the AC issue, sadly.

Hotel Amenities

While the Park Hyatt Zurich doesn’t have a pool, the hotel does offer a small gym. It’s open 24 hours, and has the essentials. Without a lot of space to work with, though, you may be out of luck if others are using it, which was the case when I headed down my second morning. The free weight area was already occupied. 

Alongside the gym on the 2nd floor is the spa. It’s open daily from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM. I didn’t use it. Spas aren’t my thing. The closest I’ve gotten is a Turkish hammam, which was a cool cultural experience. I’m sure the Park Hyatt Zurich spa is lovely. And expensive.

Food & Drink

Now we get to a key feature: breakfast. It’s offered daily at the stellar Parkhuus restaurant. 

Breakfast hours run from 6:30 to 10:30 AM. I was up early, as is typical during my first few days in Europe, so I arrived at 6:30 on the dot. The waiter was cordial and professional and provided excellent service. I gave him my room number before being seated, and he addressed me by name during every interaction thereafter. Again, it’s the small things.

If there is one thing I love about World of Hyatt Globalist status, it’s the breakfast benefit. You can enjoy the Parkhuus restaurant buffet, plus order any of the dishes off the a la carte menu. It’s all included for Hyatt’s top tier elites. It’s not every day I get breakfast that would have cost $80 completely free.

At that price, one expects excellent food. And the Park Hyatt Zurich didn’t disappoint. I enjoyed their Eggs Benedict Royal, followed by a plate of assorted cheeses and cold cuts, then a plate of fruit and pastries. There may been some bacon and pastries added in there somewhere. I lost track. One needs calories before heading out walking and hiking all day. Everything i tried was excellent. 

The second morning I gave the avocado toast a try. It was good, but the benedict is better.

The buffet has a great variety of options, and the presentation is superb. Whether it’s the fruit, the pastries, the yogurt, the cheese, or the cold cuts, there’s plenty to choose from.

In addition to the Parkhuus restaurant, the Park Hyatt Zurich offers both a lobby bar and the Onyx bar. Onyx wasn’t open the first night I was in Zurich, as it’s only open Tuesdays through Saturdays. But I did snap a photo. The space is straight class. 

Instead, I hung out in the staffed lobby lounge, reading a book and winding down my first evening. I don’t know what the full menu is, but they do offer both food and drink. It’s a pleasant space, with warm lighting and soothing jazz music.

Zurich

Ironically, although I stayed at the Park Hyatt Zurich, I ended up spending less time in Zurich than I originally anticipated. I’d thought I’d spend a day in the city and take one day trip, but I ended up taking two day trips, leaving myself only a few hours at the end of my second day.

In that time I was able to see a couple of the churches, walk the streets of the old city, and walk down to the Zurichsee. Hope to see more next time.

Park Hyatt Zurich Review: Final Thoughts

The Park Hyatt Zurich is a top-notch hotel. I was impressed by the staff and service most of all, followed by the excellent breakfast. My Park Junior Suite was quite comfortable, the temperature being the only miss. I don’t regret burning my free night here for sure. Yet I likely won’t be back, as the new 40,000-points-per-night cost is eye-watering. Glad I got to stay here before the price change.