Hotel St. Josef

Hotel St. Josef Overview

First Impressions

Walking up to Hotel St. Josef on Hirschengraben, you immediately notice how it fits perfectly into Zurich’s old town character. This three-star property doesn’t try to be flashy — instead, it’s got this understated Swiss charm that feels authentic. The building itself has that classic European hotel vibe, and honestly, the location is what really grabbed me first. You’re literally steps away from everything that matters in the city center. The hotel welcomes guests with a warm reception and efficient check-in process that sets a positive tone for your stay.

Prime Location Benefits

Couples aren’t giving this place a 9.4 location score for nothing. You can walk to the main shopping street, Bahnhofstrasse, in about five minutes, and the lake is just as close. What I really appreciated was being able to explore the cobblestone streets of the Altstadt without dealing with tourist bus crowds — you’re staying right where the action is, but on a quieter side street. The tram connections are excellent too, so getting around the city is actually pretty effortless. The neighborhood offers authentic local restaurants and cafes within easy walking distance.

The Room Experience

The room I stayed in was clean and functional — exactly what you’d expect from a well-run Swiss hotel. Nothing overly fancy, but everything worked perfectly and the bed was surprisingly comfortable. The windows opened up to street views, and while it’s not lake-facing, you get a real sense of being in the heart of old Zurich. Storage space was adequate, and the bathroom, though compact, had good water pressure and stayed warm. Each room is thoughtfully designed to maximize comfort in the historic building’s intimate setting.

Breakfast and Practical Perks

The breakfast setup here is solid — they offer both continental and buffet options, which gives you flexibility depending on your morning plans. I found the selection fresh and the coffee actually decent, which isn’t always a given at smaller hotels. One thing that really stood out was the private parking availability. If you’re driving in Zurich (which honestly most people don’t), having guaranteed parking at the hotel is a huge relief in this city where street parking is basically impossible. The hotel also provides helpful information about local attractions and transportation options.

Why Guests Love It

Look, this isn’t a place that’s going to wow you with fancy amenities or over-the-top service. What Hotel St. Josef does well is give you a comfortable, reliable base in an unbeatable location. The 8.8 rating makes sense — it’s the kind of place where everything just works smoothly. You’re paying for the location and dependable Swiss hospitality, and you get exactly that. For couples especially, being able to walk everywhere while staying somewhere quiet enough to actually rest makes this a smart choice for exploring Zurich. The staff’s local knowledge and attentive service contribute significantly to the overall positive guest experience.

Zurich’s apartments welcome families with bilingual childcare clubs, pet-friendly courtyards, and easy tram rides to museums.

Hotel St. Josef Accommodations

Reviews of Hotel St. Josef

• Exceptional – Yian from China (9/10)

  Beautiful scene outside the window! Very relaxed. The staff are very kind.

• Marvellous hotel in excellent location – Elizabeth from Isle of Man (9/10)

  Breakfast and location were both very good

• See the previous statement. – Louise from United States of America (9/10)

  Great location , lots of touches to optimize our comfort, good breakfast and the staff were very helpful. Especially Susan. She was a life saver on several occasions.

• A lovely and traditional Swiss hotel – Brent from United States of America (9/10)

  The staff was always helpful and friendly. We enjoyed the traditional Swiss breakfasts. The restaurant was convenient and served good food. The hotel offered a convenient laundry facility. Many old town attractions were within easy walking distance.

• Great hidden gem, I'll stay there again! – Bonnie from United States of America (9/10)

  Staff was excellent, room very comfortable and great access to old town.

• Clean, comfortable and perfect for our needs. – Stephanie from United Kingdom (9/10)

  The hotel was well placed, not far from the station and the old town. Breakfast was good and the whole place spotlessly clean.

• A great hotel for a short stay in the city – Roger from United Kingdom (9/10)

  Clean, spacious, comfortable, very central.

• Great small hotel, central location, friendly, helpful staff. – Karen from United States of America (9/10)

  Very nice breakfast, terrific staff who were very friendly and helpful. The location was very central to all the places we wanted to go to. The room isn’t big, but it is an urban hotel at a reasonable rate, for Zürich. We later stayed at a more expensive Marriott hotel and I would chose St. Josef over the Marriott in a heartbeat!

• Excellent stay in the heart of Zurich – John from United States of America (9/10)

  Staff is so friendly and welcoming. Room was comfortable and absolutely spotlessly clean. Bed was perfectly comfortable. Wi-fi had good speed. Morning breakfast was really nice with great coffee options. Location of the hotel is great with the historic old town of Zurich and the train station very close by.

• Quiet, convenient location with a comfortable room. – William from United States of America (9/10)

  Quiet, convenient location with a comfortable room.

Facilities