Plattenhof Hotel

Housed in an early 20th-century townhouse, the Plattenhof Hotel is a simple boutique with a design-heavy atmosphere. Art plays an integral part throughout its interiors, with rotating exhibitions (often featuring Swiss artists) displayed in the common halls, as well as in the restaurant and bar. Through the front entrance, a narrow hall leads to a wood-fronted reception desk, with just a few feet of space between it and the lobby bar, a glimpse of the kind of close quarters guests here should expect. Cushioned bench seating and red cube stools line one wall, with a pair of couches around the corner on the far side of the little bar. It's geared toward business travelers and creatives in town for work in the university neighborhood, as well as tourists and weekend leisure seekers (guests tend to be split evenly between the two groups).

The hotel sits on the corner of a busy street in the relatively quiet university neighborhood, a block away from the University of Zurich. The area has a pleasant vibe, with lots of parks and students, along with plenty of restaurants and bars within walking distance. Attractions like the Schauspielhaus theater, the Zoological Museum, and the Kunsthaus (Zurich's biggest art museum) are under a 10-minute walk away. It's about a 15-minute walk to the picturesque Old Town area (Altstadt), which is filled with shopping and attractions. Expect a 20-minute drive to Zurich Airport.

The hotel's 37 rooms are furnished in a chic style with wood floors, colorful accent lighting, and decorative wall sculptures. The rooms are renovated in groups every few years, leading to a wide variety of designer furnishings from Artemide lamps to Barcelona chairs in different rooms. Most are small, with the largest topping out at only 247 square feet (23 square meters), facing either the side street or the garden. Standard Single and Double Rooms have just enough space for a small sitting area and desk, while upgraded rooms have extra space for coffee tables and stylish chairs. The premium Frette linens on the beds are a nice bonus. Free Wi-Fi comes standard, along with flat-screen TVs and iPod docks. Some rooms have PlayStations, and Samsung tablets are available upon request, but basic amenities like mini-fridges, air-conditioning, and coffeemakers are missing. Most of the contemporary bathrooms have walk-in showers, though a few have shower/tub combos. Smoking is allowed in first floor rooms. A few complaints about traffic noise have been made by previous guests, but most find this a quiet place.

Features are simple and limited here, but the hotel's Restaurant Sento attracts locals with authentic Italian cuisine and an extensive wine list. It also benefits from a great seasonal outdoor garden terrace, along with a small streetside patio. The free breakfast buffet consists of mostly cold dishes, with boiled eggs, local cheeses, and homemade jams. There's also a lobby lounge bar that serves cocktails and coffee drinks from an espresso machine. The hotel also has a modern meeting room that can accommodate up to 16 people. Parking in an underground garage is available for a fee.