Park Hotel, Winterthur review

If you’re looking for a bright, modern place to stay in Switzerland’s sixth biggest city, then you need to know all about my recent stay at the Park Hotel in Winterthur! 

Conveniently located under ten minutes’ walk from the train station, this four star property offers stylish and soundproofed rooms and suites, delicious dining at the restaurant or via room service, plus amenities including guest parking, bike storage, a bar and lounge, a small gym, and a sauna. 

This review of the Park Hotel shares everything you could possibly want to know before you go – including, of course, my honest opinion of this Winterthur hotel. 

About Park Hotel Winterthur

Reflecting its location perfectly, Park Hotel is set beside attractive manicured grounds, with the low-rise bloom restaurant adjoining the main, five floor building. Both are painted a fresh, inviting shade of white. 

In the past, the property was known as the Garden Hotel – or Garten Hotel. It was built at a time when Winterthur was flourishing fast, and opened to great acclaim in April 1957.

The timing of this was quite deliberate, as spring flowers were by then blooming in the garden. The Garden Hotel became the Park Hotel in 2005, when the restaurant name also changed from Ellipse to bloom. 

Today the hotel has 73 rooms spread over five floors. Room types range from a classic single (with or without a balcony) to the signature Art and Park Suites.

All Deluxe Rooms and every suite can accommodate a child as well as two adults, and the Park Suite has sufficient space for a family of four or two couples. Pets are welcome, too, and beds and bowls can be provided on request. 

Every room or suite has a fridge and a free mini bar stocked with non-alcoholic drinks. Some come equipped with Nespresso coffee machines, too. Complimentary WiFi is available throughout the hotel and there are smart TVs in every room. 

Accommodation here is squeaky clean and comfortable, with bright white linens contrasting against darker furnishings and neutral walls and carpets. The more spacious suites also feature pops of rich colours such as teal, purple, and hot pink. 

Hotel facilities

If you enjoy a peaceful park-like setting and also want to be close to the city’s appealing array of cultural attractions, Park Hotel Winterthur is the perfect fit. 

Whether you’re exploring Switzerland by bike or by car, you can store your wheels on site as the hotel has both a secure bike storage room and a limited number of parking spaces. 

Other hotel facilities include bloom restaurant, offering creative, contemporary cuisine within a relaxing garden setting. There’s an outdoor terrace here for dining outdoors during summer.

The restaurant is open for both lunch and dinner, while the bar is a popular local meeting place, serving both elegant cocktails and a laid-back bar menu. 

Numerous art works are displayed throughout the hotel, including in the bedrooms.  The works, by artists Marius Siedlitz, Stefan Durrer and Mario Comensoli, are a unique and colourful addition to the rooms and public areas.

On each floor, cosy sitting areas offer views through floor-to-ceiling windows of the Old Town or the park.  An elevator whisks guests quickly between floors or you can get your daily step count up by using the impressive spiral staircase.

If you want to keep up with your fitness schedule while visiting Winterthur, then you can make use of the modern machines in the hotel’s small but well-equipped gym. There’s also a sauna where your mind can unwind while the heat gets to work on cleansing and relaxing your body. 

For those visiting on business, there are Business Rooms you can stay in, plus a selection of conference and meeting rooms available for booking.

Our room

Deluxe Room

Our smart, comfortable room at the Park Hotel in Winterthur was a Deluxe Room on the third floor. 

There were park views from our room, and all the perfectly manicured greenery made for a very pleasant outlook. Some of the hotel’s Deluxe Rooms, meanwhile, offer city views. 

A large bed and plenty of storage made the room look tidy and feel spacious, while the soundproofing ensured a restful night’s sleep.

A coffee machine, mini bar, smart TV, safe, and work desk were also provided within the 20m² room. 

The modern bathroom was a good size with a large shower, WC, and luxury vanity unit. There was ample storage, fluffy towels, plus deluxe toiletries, cosy bathrobes, and comfortable slippers. 

A couple of unique touches that I loved were a cheery note written on the bathroom mirror by the housekeeping staff, and a small calico bag left on the end of the bed.  Accompanying the bag was a note saying ‘You don’t need housekeeping today? Hang the bag in front of your door and let us surprise you!’

Food and Beverages

We really enjoyed the food at Park Hotel – from the great spread available at breakfast each morning to a la carte dining at the restaurant in the evening. 

Breakfast

The breakfast buffet selection really was very good indeed, offering almost everything you could possibly wish for. Choices included cereals, yoghurt, bread, pastries, cheeses, eggs, and cold meats.  Tea and coffee was served at the table.

Breakfast is included in all room rates at the Park Hotel in Winterthur. 

bloom – lunch and dinner

bloom, the hotel’s restaurant, is housed inside a white low-rise building adjacent to the five floor hotel, and has a lovely outlook over the gardens. Large, leafy plants dotted around the interior also complement the greenery visible from the big windows, which let in lots of natural light. 

You can expect crisp, white table linen and shining glassware, plus polished wood flooring, comfortable seating, and dark accents for contrast. The restaurant is open for lunch Monday to Friday, for brunch on Sundays, and for dinner from Monday to Saturday.

The lunch menu features the likes of salads, burgers, fish, steaks, and pasta dishes, and options available can change daily. For dinner, you can choose between the Art and the a la carte menus. Look forward to yummy starters like Waldorf in the Park and beefsteak tartare, or a soup or “cold bowl.” 

Mains are inspired by international favourites, and can include the likes of a mezze platter, sea bass, ratatouille, and a duo of Swiss lamb. You can finish with a chocolatey or fruity dessert, or order a cheese platter or flavoured coffee if you prefer. 

During my stay at Park Hotel Winterthur, we dined in bloom restaurant one evening and enjoyed a delicious meal. 

I chose the bloom salad, followed by Ratatouille bloom style whilst my husband dined on the Waldorf in the park salad and Swiss beef fillet ‘surf and turf’.  We finished by sharing a rhubarb and strawberry compote – every dish was mouthwateringly tasty.

The waitstaff were very knowledgeable about the wine list and helped us to choose the perfect wine to accompany our meal.  The white wine from Winterthur that was recommended to me was an excellent choice.

Bar dining and drinks

If you fancy an after-dinner drink or just want to unwind after a busy day, the bar at bloom is open daily from 6.30pm, closing at midnight most days and at 1 am on weekends. 

With plenty of comfortable seating areas, it’s a great spot to relax or chat with friends. It’s also perfect if you’d prefer a lighter or more casual meal. Typical menu options include burgers, soups, salads, and sandwiches, as well as tapas dishes and various versions of tarte flambee. 

In-room dining

If you prefer to kick back and relax in your room or suite, room service is also available.

Other hotel benefits

Hotel guests are issued with a complimentary public transport pass, giving you a hassle-free way to discover the area during each day of your stay.  With a bus stop right outside the hotel, it’s easy to catch a bus to the train station or to other parts of the city.

A same-day laundry service is available at Park Hotel Winterthur, with the lowest prices I have seen in Switzerland.

Where is Park Hotel, Winterthur?

Winterthur lies close to the German border, northeast of Zürich. The city is in northern Switzerland, in the canton of Zürich. The Töss River is to the west of Winterthur. 

Park Hotel is under half a mile (or one kilometre) from the train station. Other local restaurants, shops, and attractions are even closer, including many of the city’s museums. 

How to get to Winterthur by car and public transport

Winterthur is only about 15 miles (or 24 kilometres) from Zürich. It takes around 30 to 40 minutes to drive from Zürich airport or the city to Winterthur, via the A1 and A4. 

Zürich airport has a train station, and you can get to Winterthur by rail in around 15 minutes from here. If you’re travelling from Zürich city centre, allow an extra five to ten minutes for your journey. 

You can also reach Winterthur by rail and road from all over Switzerland, via various destinations including Zürich. From Geneva, for example, you can drive to Winterthur in around 3.5 hours, and the trip by train takes around the same length of time.

Some parking is available at the hotel however, due to limited spaces, I recommend contacting the property ahead of your arrival to ensure a spot. If not, staff can arrange off-site parking for a fee. 

What to do in Winterthur

Winterthur is renowned as a cultural destination, and has a choice of 15 museums to visit. These include the Kunst Museum, which showcases art from the 17th century to contemporary times. 

There’s also The Reinhart Collection of art, housed in Oskar Reinhart’s former home, and the Fotomuseum for photography fans. 

Winterthur also has a charming Old Town and is home to Switzerland’s largest connected pedestrian zone. It’s a delight to wander the character-packed streets, which are lined with colourful homes, lovely local shops, cosy cafes, and pretty fountains. 

Surrounding the Old Town is a ring of villas and gardens you can explore, too. 

As you might expect, Winterthur is abundant in pretty parks. You can also wander up to the Rosengarten for sweeping city views from among the fragrant flowers. 

There are some wonderful family-friendly venues to visit in Winterthur, including the Swiss Science Center Technorama, and Wildpark Bruderhaus. 

The latter is home to bison, deer, horses, lynx, wild boar, and more, which live in big, purpose-built enclosures. Here you’ll find forest trails, mini golf, play parks, and a cafe to keep the kids busy all day long. 

For shopping, head to Marktgasse for the largest selection of stores – from unique boutiques to big department stores. 

Winterthur is also an ideal base from which to explore some of the surrounding towns and attractions including Schaffhausen, the stunning Rhine Falls, Stein am Rhein, Lake Constance, historic Zyborg Castle, or the bustling metropolis of Zurich. 

My verdict

I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at the Park Hotel in Winterthur.  It was my first visit to Winterthur and, in my opinion, the city really is one of Switzerland’s hidden gems.

With plenty to do for lovers of art, science, architecture, and nature, Winterthur has plenty to occupy people of all ages.

With its close proximity to Zürich airport, staying at Park Hotel Winterthur is an excellent alternative to staying in Zürich.  The hotel is a tranquil oasis on the edge of the city with friendly, welcoming staff and lower accommodation rates than similar 4-star hotels in Zürich.

I highly recommend the 4-star Park Hotel Winterthur and will definitely return for the excellent hospitality and to explore more of Winterthur and surroundings.

SPECIAL READER OFFER – Park Hotel Winterthur have generously offered our readers 15% off any room category if you quote the promo code HTSWISS when booking on the hotel’s website.

The author was a guest of Park Hotel Winterthur but this in no way influenced my opinion of the hotel.