The Savoy is centrally located, convenient for shopping, touring the Old Town and access to the main railway station. Despite its grand appearance, the hotel has the feel of a family run operation and everything ticks along smoothly representling the best traditions of Swiss hotels. My occasional requests for special assistance, for example, upon late arrival a pressed shirt for the following day's meeting, are always met with a helpful smile and speedy execution. The rooms are elegantly furnished with singles available at a reasonable price (for 5 star Zurich). The dining room follows the standards set elsewhere in the hotel, with very high standards in both cuisine and service. The Orsini Restaurant is adjacent and is popular with a mature business crowd. My visits there were defined by very helpful staff and cuisine prepared with the freshest ingredients consistently available.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, many of my favourite hotels around the world sum up the very essence of a nation. For example: The Imperial in Tokyo - huge, busy, ultra-efficient, caught in a time-warp, slightly other-worldly; The Alvear in Buenos-Aires: louche, decadent, charming, and thoroughly outdated.

And then there is Zurich's Savoy. Think of Switzerland and you probably think of mountains, lakes and chocolates. But if you have been there, you will think of the amazing services, the way everything just 'works', picture-postcard villages so pristine they could have been built yesterday, and a 'correctness' that permeates every aspect of society. So with the Savoy Bauer En Ville.

Everything just works, and works exceptionally well. This is a machine lubricated with truffle-oil, where no curtain, chair, bed or carpet has a single sign of wear; where the staff will be waiting to pre-empt your problem; where the (former) owner and his wife will be a constant presence - welcoming you by name - in between checking for a trace of dust and inspecting newly cleaned rooms; where the restaurant wil make you everything and anything that you want to an exceptional - if old-school - standard.

Is there anything wrong with the hotel? Well, it is not large, and as such does not have certain facilities such as a gym, spa or pool. And, of course, it lives up to that most prescient of Swiss stereotypes: it is horrendously expensive.

But the Savoy is perfectly Swiss, and I can give it no greater compliment.

Stayed here a couple of nights while on business.

Pros: I couldn't have asked for a better location. In my spare time, I was able to explore the heart of Zurich on foot. I easily walked around both sides of the river, walked to the lake, and took in the beautiful city. It's also minutes away from the train station, which was very convenient. All staff was very friendly. The concierge staff was especially friendly and helpful. The complimentary breakfast was simple yet filling and delicious.

Cons: The room was surprisingly small. The bed was a single sized bed, with minimal linens and pillows. I expected much more for 530 CHF/night. Although the common areas were very elegant and beautifully decorated, the size and comfort of the room is equally important to me.

Although I did like many things about this beautiful hotel, I'll explore other options in Zurich next time. Specifically, I'll look for a larger rooms and better value for the price.

I stayed here while on business in Zurich but will not do so again. I wanted to get a shirt ironed but it was impossible. I was not allowed to use an iron, nor would they identify someone who could iron it for me until after my meeting started in the morning. Most importantly, they were horrible about it, completely unfriendly, aggressive and arrogant, while asserting "Sorry, it is a rule." I was reminded of the worst kind of Teutonic attitudes. Never again.

The place is clean and bright, rooms are oddly overly decorated and mine looked out onto a lift shaft. Suggest you save and stay elsewhere.