We spent 2 nights in Basel at this wonderful, historic hotel after a Rhine cruise, and it was the nicest surprise of our trip. The hotel was a former jailhouse. Everything about it was charming and even better than we had expected. A highlight was the food. Dinner in the Brasserie was outstanding, and the restaurant was cozy and intimate. Try the boeuf bourguignon if it is on the menu. Breakfast included freshly baked bread and pastries, meats, cheeses, homemade jams, etc.--all of the highest quality. It was quite possibly the best hotel breakfast we have had in a very long time. Their website is informative, so give it a look.

The hotel overlooks a small plaza with good eateries and tram stops on main lines that take you just about anywhere you might want to go in Basel. It is also within easy walking distance from the cathedral, the Rathaus, and the river. The rooms are small but very comfortable and pleasantly decorated. The doorways into the rooms are rather short (my husband had to watch carefully to avoid bumping his head), and they show how thick the jail cell walls were--easily a foot thick. The staff were very friendly and helpful.

It is a very nice hotel located in the old town of Basel, which is one of the nicest old town I have ever seen. The building is 150 years old, wooden floors, old lifts, direct view on the Munster, etc... however the cleaning is light and the pillows are too soft to our taste.
The restaurant is great: brasserie style, light and delicious food, and last but not least a wonderful terrass, below the trees, in a yard, close to a fountain an the walls of the old town.

Had we stayed here on another trip, it might have earned a better report: up against hotels with better service, amenities, and/or style, this seemed so-so--and very expensive. Once we found it (its elevator is tucked into a side alley with poor signage), we found our room comfortable and decent-sized. Its location is close to shops and restaurants in the old town of Basel and near a tram stop. Service was ok--couldn't find my reservation at first, was cordial but not overly friendly. We stayed here before a flight home from Basel (the airport is easily reached by bus from town), and neither Basel nor Hotel au Violon made our list of trip highlights.

I stayed a few nights in this hotel while visiting Switzerland.

The hotel is very quite, but you have a direct access to the city thanks to a efficient elevator.
Our standard room was not so big, but large enough for 2. It was very clean, and bed were comfortable.

I will definitely come back to Au Violon hotel while in Basel.