Inside a cool European hotel where you have an ab roller in your room.

West Zurich is no longer an eyesore. The once industrial area continues its exciting transformation into one of Zurich’s most fashionable areas. This is a great example of large-scale recycling, with former factories and landmarks given new life. The shipyard is reimagined as a jazz theater and club; the 1890s viaduct railway arches have become a one-stop destination filled with shops, restaurants and food halls. And another area attraction that has undergone dramatic changes is 25hours Zurich West. In June 2024, this Swiss incarnation of the Accor design hotel brand adopted a “World of Sports” theme, drawing inspiration from its location between the Limmat River and Letzigrund Stadium, as well as its active local population.

25hours Zurich West is located in the Hard Turm park, which combines corporate and residential buildings as well as urban spaces. A five-metre high chrome sculpture of music student Anne-Sophie, located a few meters from the hotel entrance, represents the youth of her generation and area.

While its blocky exterior exudes a corporate look, its interior is anything but. The “World of Sports” theme, designed by Swiss-Argentine designer Alfredo Haberli, encourages practice and play with colorful (and functional) sports furniture, including balls galore, basketball hoops, boundary lines and a giant baseball glove chair in the open-air lobby and co-working space.

The hotel has 123 rooms of seven categories. I am on the top floor in a very large room of 27 square meters. My king-size bed opens out onto a spacious balcony overlooking the train tracks, buildings and green hills that border the city. Decorated in warm tones, this bright room features a desk, bar fridge, TV, wood floors and shelving, geometric rug, yellow curtains and a simple bathroom with silver mosaic tiles. Labeling all switches is always a good idea: no guessing games.

The hotel features an Italian restaurant and bar, Ribelli. In the mornings, the bar turns into a breakfast buffet. It serves continental cuisine including charcuterie, a selection of cheeses (all Swiss), freshly baked bread, pastries, muesli and fruit. There’s also a juicer, which feels like something new to use, as well as the ability to make your own protein shake in the lobby.

This hotel wants to help you achieve your fitness goals. My room is opposite the gym and wellness center (open 24/7) with a nest sauna overlooking the city. With such easy access, I’m embracing a new morning routine (and perhaps a lifestyle change). Meanwhile, in the lobby, next to the maps, there is a rack of fresh towels. Don’t want to get tired of sightseeing? Explore Zurich at a relaxed pace, with modern museums and spaces, chic restaurants and bars, and boutiques within walking distance. These include a tower of 19 stacked shipping containers that is now the permanent flagship store for cult bag brand Freitag, and Frau Gerolds Garten, a sandy adult play area dotted with recycled art installations, food trucks and a bar made from shipping containers. Tram number 4 is located next to the hotel and takes you to Zurich Central Station in 12 minutes.

Staying true to the athleisure theme, some of the decor in my room doubles as practical fitness equipment, like the yoga mat and ab roller.

The writer was a hotel guest