The Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois in Basel, established as a gentlemen’s inn in 1681 and rebuilt as a grand hotel in 1844, is one of Europe’s oldest hotel properties. Overlooking the banks of the Rhine, the hotel was ideally positioned on a major trade route. Crowned heads, diplomats, merchants, prominent personalities from the world of politics, business and culture – not least Napoleon Bonaparte, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Pablo Picasso and Jean Tinguely – have dined and spent nights here. Today’s guests are less likely to be following the trade routes, but the hotel’s riverfront rooms remain much-coveted, especially during the annual Art Basel fair when guests book up to a year in advance. Staying at this icon is an unrivalled experience. We checked in recently and were delighted with our room and its beautiful view of the Rhine. Lino, my loyal companion on all my travels, received a wonderful Louis Vuitton present which he much appreciated. The service is flawless and you can enjoy fantastic cuisine in the 3-Michelin-star Cheval Blanc restaurant by Peter Knogl or, less formally, surrounded by great art in the Brasserie, which has 15 GaultMillau points.

The Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois is also looking to the future and is writing a new chapter in its rich history. It has engaged the world-renowned architectural firm Herzog & de Meuron for the interior renovation of the elegant 5-star hotel facing the Schifflände, including the fumoir. During our stay, we had the pleasure of visiting the newly completed Salon de Cigare called ‘The Council’: an impressive, unrivalled and elegantly intimate space for smoking. Every detail, including the hand-crafted tiles, has been designed specifically for this new room. It is anticipated that all spaces will be open for the summer 2025. Can’t wait to be back!