Switzerland, December 2016: Less than a year since it re-opened following an extensive refurbishment, Atlantis by Giardino, popular with every great musician from Freddie Mercury to Rihanna (who posted Snapchat pictures of herself by the pool in the summer), has raced up the TripAdvisor charts and is now the number one hotel in Zurich.

Additionally, hotel guests have given Atlantis by Giardino an “Exceptional” score on Booking.com, with the property achieving a score of 9.7 out of 10. One guest summed up the high regard in which Atlantis by Giardino is held by writing a review that simply said, “The first time, I came to Zurich and visited the Atlantis; now, I come to the Atlantis and visit Zurich”.

It is not just the hotel that is being feted. The hotel's gourmet restaurant Ecco Zurich was awarded two Michelin stars last month from a standing start, an outstanding achievement given that it opened its doors less than a year ago. It means that all three Ecco restaurants located in Giardino hotels – in Ascona, St. Moritz and Zurich –now hold two stars each.

Styled as an urban retreat, the 95-room Atlantis by Giardino offers a unique alternative to staying in the heart of the city. Situated in the western part of Zurich, Atlantis by Giardino is just a15-minute drive from the city's famous Bahnhofstrasse and within a stone's throw of the countryside, thanks to its location on the edge of a forest at the foot of the Üetliberg mountains.

In many ways, the hotel is a reflection of the city: an urban heart close to the rhythmic pulse of nature. The state-of-the-art infrastructure, meeting rooms and the proximity of Zurich's city buzz make it attractive to business travellers, while the location close to the countryside appeals to those looking to escape the stresses of a hard-working day, as well as those travelling purely for leisure.

A Y-shaped building with three wings, the hotel is set in its own extensive grounds and has a 25-metre heated outdoor pool, as well as an indoor pool and generously proportioned spa, alongside two restaurants (Hide & Seek is less formal than Ecco and serves up European, Middle Eastern and Asian favourites) and two bars. Three flexible meeting and event spaces easily accommodate as few as eight for a board meeting or as many as 200 for a cocktail event.

Built between 1968 and 1970, Atlantis by Giardino is recognised as an important example of post-war Modernist architecture, with parts of its façade and a spiral staircase being listed. In its heyday, Steve McQueen stayed, Freddie Mercury gave an impromptu performance in the bar, Shirley MacLaine flirted with an employee and Muhammad Ali prepared for a fight in the hotel.

In October 2004, the hotel closed and became a popular venue for Zurich's artistic community, before being bought in 2012 by the existing owners who appointed London-based HBA, the world's leading hospitality design firm, to oversee its extensive refurbishment programme. A year on from its re-opening, it seems the glory days are back!

Rates start from CHF 450 (approx £360) per room per night, including breakfast, wifi and (non-alcoholic) minibar drinks. For more information and to book, please visit http://atlantisbygiardino.ch

***

Notes for Editors

The Swiss-based Giardino Group manages four hotels in the country, as follows:

• Giardino Ascona
• Giardino Lago
• Giardino Mountain
• Atlantis by Giardino

FAST FACTS

5* superior hotel

Rooms

95 rooms and suites, all with Nespresso coffee and Belmondo tea facilities, dipiù spa amenities in bathrooms, bathrobes & slippers, most rooms have balconies

• Generous rooms (34 to 35 m2)
• Luxe rooms (37 to 40 m2)
• Junior suites (41 to 44 m2)
• Senior suites (41 to 56 m2)
• Suite Metropol (206 to 250 m2)

Rates start from CHF549 and include breakfast buffet, Wifi , (non-alcoholic) minibar, daily newspaper and city shuttle.

Bars & Restaurants

Hide & Seek: cosmopolitan atmosphere where signature fusion drinks & local beers are served

Ocean Bar: poolside for al fresco cocktails served in a casual urban setting

Hide & Seek: casual dining – serving a contemporary take on international fusion cuisine

Ecco Zurich: fine dining – a multi-award-winning restaurant concept, already seen in Ascona and St Moritz, where the restaurants have 2 Michelin stars each

Meetings & Events

Three flexible meeting spaces, accommodating between 8 and 200 people

Tide: boardroom meeting space (accommodating between 8 and 22 people)

Drift: meeting & banqueting room (accommodating up to 40 people)

Wave: event hall (accommodating between 80 and 200 people)

dipiù Spa
Indoor & outdoor pool, steam & sauna zone, relaxation areas, Technogym fitness centre, yoga/Pilates studio, massage and beauty treatments (including nail bar), signature dipiù cosmetic line complemented by Aveda products, hair salon

Activites

Panoramic hiking trail from the hotel into the Uetliberg mountains
Lively local neighbourhood

Myriad shopping and entertainment opportunities in the city

Boat trips and sailing on Lake Zurich

Cultural visits to theatres and arts centres

Walks through the historic old town and museum visits

Location

From                                      By car                        By train

Zurich rail station               15 minutes    20 minutes              

Zurich airport                      25 minutes    30 minutes

***

For more information, hi res images and/or to organise a review visit, please contact:

Sue Heady
Heady Communications
T: 01608 651 692
E: sue@headycommunications.com