Lalique has opened Villa Florhof, its first boutique hotel in Switzerland, inside a restored heritage-listed property in Zurich’s historic centre. The 13-room hotel welcomed its first guests on 1 August 2026.
Located on Florhofgasse between Zurich’s Old Town and university quarter, Villa Florhof combines a small-scale stay with a bar and brasserie, garden terrace, historic wine cellar and cigar lounge. A Signature Restaurant is scheduled to open this autumn.
The project extends Lalique Hospitality’s European portfolio while giving the luxury brand a central Zurich address shaped by the city’s mercantile history. General manager Tanja Wegmann oversaw the villa’s transformation.
A protected Zurich villa dating to 1447
Villa Florhof first appeared in historical records in 1447, when its estate belonged to holdings associated with Zurich’s Grossmünster church. The villa is close to the Old Town and university quarter, two of Zurich’s established historic and academic districts.
Across the following centuries, the house passed between merchants, physicians, craftspeople and civic figures. It later became a retreat for artists and writers, reflecting the property’s connection with Zurich’s cultural life.
The principal elements of Villa Florhof received formal heritage protection in 1973. Swiss entrepreneurs Silvio Denz and Peter Spuhler acquired the building in 2022, creating the opportunity for its recent restoration and conversion into a boutique hotel.
Green & Mingarelli Design directed the architecture and interior design work, balancing the protected fabric of the villa with its new hospitality spaces. The restoration retains the building’s historic identity and integrates the new hospitality spaces.
Lalique crystal reflects Zurich’s silk-trade history
The Lalique Interior Design Studio developed bespoke decorative elements specifically for Villa Florhof. Its programme includes crystal panels, architectural glass, custom lighting and illuminated butterfly installations designed for the property.
Among the defining details are glowing butterfly panels inspired by Zurich’s silk-trade heritage. The motif connects Lalique’s glassmaking and decorative craftsmanship with an industry that once contributed to the city’s prosperity, linking the installation to Zurich’s history.
These pieces appear as integrated architectural features rather than standalone displays. Their light and texture introduce Lalique’s recognisable crystal work throughout the restored villa without obscuring the character of the historic rooms.
With only 13 rooms and suites, Villa Florhof presents Lalique’s aesthetic within a smaller urban setting. The room count leaves the building, its protected interiors and individually designed crystal details central to the guest experience.
Dining stretches from the garden to the wine cellar
Villa Florhof’s bar and brasserie open onto a garden terrace, offering an outdoor setting within the historic centre. The property also contains a historic wine cellar and cigar lounge, extending its food and drink spaces beneath and beyond the main dining rooms.
The forthcoming Signature Restaurant will complete the culinary offering when it opens in autumn 2026. Further details about its menu and precise opening date have not yet been announced.
For now, the brasserie provides the hotel’s principal restaurant experience, while the terrace gives the compact property a quieter setting away from the surrounding streets. The combination is suited to both overnight guests and Zurich residents visiting for drinks or dinner.
Lalique Hospitality expands into Switzerland
Villa Florhof joins a hospitality collection built around historic properties, fine dining and Lalique design. The portfolio includes Villa René Lalique and Château Hochberg in Alsace, Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey in Bordeaux, and The Glenturret Lalique Restaurant in Scotland.
Its Zurich opening marks the brand’s first boutique hotel in Switzerland and introduces a new urban setting to a collection previously centred on wine estates and destination restaurants. Lalique’s official announcement places the villa’s protected architecture and silk-inspired crystal work at the centre of the project.
Villa Florhof is now open at Florhofgasse, with its Signature Restaurant due to follow later this year.
