Grand Hotel National Luzern

Character and identity

Set directly on Lake Lucerne with the Alps mirrored in the water, Grand Hotel National Luzern is a Belle Époque survivor, originally shaped by César Ritz and Auguste Escoffier in the 19th century. Expect soaring ceilings, crystal chandeliers, gilded period details and polished marble, softened by individually styled rooms with plush textiles and the occasional private balcony over lake, city or mountains. Dining runs deep for a hotel of this scale: French brasserie cooking at Sharing Brasserie Juliette, Chinese at Jialu, Italian at Ristorante Salvatore, plus Café César and the mahogany-panelled National Bar. Service is polished, warm and personal by your second night.

Who's it for

Bottom line

What sets this hotel apart is the combination of an unbeatable lakefront position and a genuine Ritz-and-Escoffier pedigree still legible in the architecture and the cooking. Worth the spend for couples on a Lucerne city-and-lake trip; book a lake-view room with balcony, or the gilded Ritz Suite for a special occasion, and plan breakfast on the water.