One of the top luxury hotels in Switzerland plus 2-star Michelin dining at Anne-Sophie Pic Restaurant:

As a matter of fact, Lausanne on Lake Geneva was not on the list when my husband and I were preparing our trip through our home country’s western area (see my summary post).  Not that it would not be a great location for leisure travel, but we had been to this city in Switzerland’s French-speaking part not long ago (see my posts about a great luxury hotel and a worthy vineyard walk in the region). Yet, we went back because of the Beau-Rivage Palace Lausanne, one of the top luxury hotels in Switzerland. And a place that had been on our bucket list for some time now.

Of course we have had high expectations when checking-in here. And imagine, they were even more than met! This hotel jewel exudes luxury and old world charm yet also moves with the times. And it offers a guest experience that is hard to beat!

Staying at this grand old dame, a top luxury hotel in Switzerland

Location/History/Renovation

The five-star superior Beau-Rivage Palace is within 4 hectares (10 acres) of gardens, just by the lake (separated by a road). It is a member of the The Leading Hotels of the World, amongst others. The original hotel building (on the right side, seen from the lake) was opened in 1861.

In 1908, it was joined by a second building (Palace).

This extension makes it quite an extraordinary mix of neoclassical (Beau-Rivage) and neo-Baroque. Some years ago, a 27 million SFR/US$ renovation was started to update the grand old dame, to ensure its position as Lausanne’s top luxury hotel. At the moment, the last rooms in the Beau-Rivage part – out of the 168 ones in total – are undergoing a renewal.

Facilities

The offer here is impressive: four restaurants plus two more in the adjacent sister hotels, a 1,500 sqm spa including two swimming pools,

splendid public areas and wonderfully redone guest rooms. On our recent stay, my husband and I dined at the signature restaurant and at the Japanese place (more to it further below). And we spent quite some time just walking around and admiring the utterly beautiful indoors, for instance La Rotonde that connects the two hotel wings

or the stairwell in the Palace part.

Superior Double Room with Lake & Alps View

And of course we also spent considerable time in our room, a dream in mint and mirrors.

We had chosen a Superior Double Room with Lake & Alps View

and found it formidable. It was spacious (35 sqm) with an oversized bathroom

and a balcony.

The mirrors illuminate the space and reflect light from Lake Geneva, a nice effect! And the design is tasteful and underlines the character of the house.

In the mornings, we savored excellent breakfasts, accompanied by a service quality that is hard to surpass. Short, we had a great time here and would return in a heart beat. Pricewise, we made use of a (belated) Easter rate (off season and mid-week). It was no wallet breaker at 540 SFR/US$ per day and room with breakfast. Be prepared to pay much more at other times!

If you want to dine at the Beau Rivage Palace’s gastronomic restaurant however, this is anything but a bargain! Find in the following a dining overview and more information on the dining-spots we went to.

Dining at Hotel Beau-Rivage Palace

On site you find following dining opportunities: Anne-Sophie Pic (Michelin two stars/18 points Gault Millau, creative cuisine) Cafe Beau-Rivage (14 points Gault Millau, international cuisine), Miyako (Michelin The Plate, 13 points Gault Millau, Japanese cuisine), Lobby Lounge (small bites, healthy choices). In the two adjoining sister hotels you find L’Accademia (Michelin The Plate, 14 points Gault Millau, Italian cuisine) and 57° (13 points Gault Millau, barbecue).

Restaurant Anne-Sophie Pic at Beau-Rivage Palace, 2 stars Michelin

As it was by husband’s birthday, we wanted to splurge. So we opted for the hotel’s signature restaurant, Anne-Sophie Pic at Beau-Rivage Palace. Actually, Anne-Sophie Pic cooks in Valence, she is the only female chef in France holding three Michelin stars! In Lausanne, she installed a “trustee”, Kevin Vaubourg, the former second. He took over from his former boss, Paolo Boscaro, who left a short time ago.

What can you expect when dining here?

To the experience here, what shall I say? It was one hell of an evening! But it had to be, at these prices. On offer here is a creative cuisine, grounded in traditional French tradition but inspired by modern flavors.

There is a tasting menu only, either the whole she-bang, eight courses, or the stripped down version with two courses less. This cost you 360 resp. 270 SFR/US$! It was easily the most expensive meal we ever had – but also one of the best! At least I can assure you that you get value for it. And they were not stingy when it came to the produce offered (only the best) and this in sufficient quantity!

And the dining venue is a beauty of a space

plus the service is impeccable. Now to what we got.

8-course tasting menu (360 SFR/US$)

Snacks and an amuse bouche paved the way to a memorable meal,

followed by freshly caught fish from Lake Geneva. It lied on a bed of beetroot tartare and was accompanied by a milky vinaigrette with mint oil.

Next was a single white local asparagus, aromatized with curry, orange blossom and citron.

Then it was the turn of the berlingots, a signature Anne-Sophie Pic pasta dish. Ravioli, in the form of the typical French candy in a pyramidal form, were filled with cheese fondue, scented with Nikka whisky. Ground ivy, watercress and nasturtium jus completed the picture.

The dinner proceeded with blue lobster – in good quantity – in unison with a lobster head consommé, infused with camomile, and root vegetable.

The fish course consisted of line caught turbot with a jus out of saffron, lovage and marigold and paired with rhubarb variations.

Swiss Black Angus Veal – aged for 30 days – was the main player for the meat dish. It was marinated with sake and came in a combination with morels and green peas as well as a wild garlic and ginger leaf jus.

Then it was time for an extraordinary cheese course, on the one hand Tomme as original, on the other hand processed in ice cream together with spicy caramel and dried fruits.

For dessert we had a choice out of three options, my husband went for the white millefeuille combined with Tahitian vanilla cream, jasmine jelly and Voatsiperifery pepper foam. I had the citrus tart, a light cream made of fir bud, yuzu and buddha hand citrus accompanied by Green Chartreuse (naturally green liqueur) confit.

And the fabulous dinner came to an end with a birthday cake (cheese cake) and an after dessert plus snacks.

The cake was a complete surprise to us as we had not informed the restaurant about the celebration (we only told the reservations desk, where we ordered a Paris Brest cake for the occasion to our room amounting to 36 SFR/US$, which was heavenly by the way).

Restaurant Miyako, 13 points Gault Millau

The next day, at my husband’s actual birthday, we had made a reservation at the Japanese place. Here they serve Japanese food, from sushi (made in an open cuisine in a glass cubicle) to other specialities (yakitori, shabu-shabu and tempura) and teppanyaki (behind a counter with seats).

My husband opted for the Detox Menu (85 SFR/US$), tuna tartare with mango and avocado, black cod with yuzu and ginger, miso soup as well as mango and pineapple salad with green tea ice cream.

I had the sushi menu (68 SFR/US$), crab and avocado salad, sushi assortment, miso soup and green tea ice cream.

It is an unpretentious spot with a laid-back atmosphere, amiable service and reasonable prices. Everything we had was of good quality and nicely done. For me it was an upscale Japanese eatery “European style”, not as authentic as you get it in Japan. But you rarely encounter those in our latitudes anyway.

Overall

There are maybe a dozen truly top luxury hotels in Switzerland, and the Beau-Rivage Palace in Lausanne is certainly part of this list! Not only are the hotel buildings of a timeless beauty – and masterfully updated – , but “all of that around” is just perfect. That said, my husband and I had not the chance to try out the all spa facilities as parts of it were still under renovation. And the prices for staying here at certain times and the use of some services (for instance dining at the Anne-Sophie Pic Restaurant) are on the high side for sure!

Date of stay: April 2021

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