The Swiss city of Lausanne has three palace hotels that become especially festive during the holiday season, with incredible decorations and cozy, ephemeral cafés. These historic 5-star hotels—the Beau-Rivage Palace, Lausanne Palace and Royal Savoy Hotel, each have a unique program for the holiday season. They offer an opportunity for family and friends of all ages to come together for a hot chocolate, glass of champagne or cheese fondue, for example, in a very magical setting.

If you would like to experience one or all of these luxury hotels during the 2018 holiday season, here are some details to help you plan your visit.

Beau-Rivage Palace

Architectural Digest recently included the Beau Rivage Palace in its article about “Switzerland’s Most Jaw-Dropping Castle Hotels.” This hotel opened in 1861 and sits on a spacious 10-acre parcel overlooking Lac Léman. Its four onsite dining options includes Anne-Sophie Pic’s gastronomic restaurant, which has earned two Michelin stars.

During the holiday season, you can take advantage of the Beau Rivage Palace’s Winter Program full of special activities, such as the Bar à Bulles by Ruinart. Open until February 24, 2019, you will find this temporary café in a transparent cylindrical tent in the hotel’s garden. The menu has upscale dishes like caviar and smoked salmon designed to be paired with a glass of Ruinart champagne.

Opening hours – Bar à Bulles:
Wednesday, Thursday & Sunday: 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Friday & Saturday: 2:00 p.m. to midnight

Reservataions: lobbylounge@brp.ch or 021 613 34 32

Also in the back garden, the Beau Rivage Palace has installed a vintage merry-go-round with wooden horses. My children played on this for hours and loved roasting marshmallows over an open fire. Sit on the terrace with an herbal tea or something stronger like a “Grog Palace,” made with Havana Club rum, white tea, honey and cloves. 

Opening hours – Merry-go-round:
Until January 6, 2018
Wednesday & Saturday: 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Sunday: noon – 6:00 p.m.
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday: On request
Please note: During the school holidays, open every weekday from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 6:00 p.m.

Beau-Rivage Palace, Place du Port 17-19, 1006 Lausanne, +41 (0)21 613 33 33
info@brp.ch

Lausanne Palace

The elegant Lausanne Palace, which opened in 1915, has an impressive light display on its facade for the holiday season. This Belle Époque hotel has four restaurants, including the Michelin-starred La Table du Lausanne Palace. Among its 140 rooms is the “Coco Chanel Suite,” inspired by the French fashion designer who was a guest at the hotel for several years. 

Through December 29, 2018, at the Lausanne Palace, you can sip champagne inside the casually-chic Carnotzet. Sponsored by Krug Champagne, this high-end dining experience in a casual setting includes a bottle of bubbly with a generous selection of tapas from Chef Edgard Bovier or sushi from the hotel’s Sushi Zen Palace (cost: CHF 390 for two people).

Opening hours – Krug Carnotzet:
From Tuesday through Saturday from 7:00 p.m. through December 29, 2018.
Reservations recommended, +41 (0)21 331 39 99, restauration@lausanne-palace.ch

Royal Savoy Hotel

Built in 1919, the Royal Savoy Hotel went through a major multi-million dollar renovation and reopened in 2015. This immense hotel truly looks like a grand castle for a royal family in Lausanne. It has three restaurants, including the Brasserie du Royal, which has earned 15 points from Gault & Millau. 

For the second year in a row, the Royal Savoy Hotel has opened its Chalet du Royal, during the holiday season. Decorated in partnership with the Swiss department store Globus, this temporary chalet-style restaurant has moved from the front yard of the hotel to its beautiful back garden for 2018. I have been there twice, and the space has a very warm and inviting feel to it, as if you have escaped the city for a well-appointed cabin in the Swiss Alps. 

The Chalet du Royal offers a set 3-course menu for lunch and dinner at the same price, CHF 75 per person (although if you book online, you might be able to take advantage of special offer of CHF 55 for lunch). You have the choice of several dishes for each course. The main course can either be fondue moitié-moitié (half Gruyère and half Vacherin Fribourgeois), fondue with black truffles, raclette or fondue chinoise, a bouillon fondue with beef, veal or chicken. 

Opening hours:
From November 1 to December 31, 2018
Wednesday to Sunday
Lunch: 12:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Apéritif: 6:00 p.m.
Dinner: 7:00 – 10:00 p.m. (last orders)

From January 3 – 20, 2019
Wednesday to Sunday
Apéritif: 6:00 p.m.
Dinner: 7:00 – 10:00 p.m. (last orders)

Royal Savoy Hotel, Avenue d’Ouchy 40, 1006 Lausanne, 
+41 (0)21 614 88 88, reservations@royalsavoy.ch 

Updated: January 9, 2023