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A Boutique Hotel on the Waters of Lake Neuchâtel
Hotel Palafitte is an architectural masterpiece that offers an uncommon experience — most of its bright, light-filled private suites, known as pavilions, stand on stilts in Lake Neuchâtel, affording stunning views of the Alps, the water below, and beyond. Ambiance is everything. This unique boutique hotel is warm and inviting any time of the year, surrounded by blue water, picturesque mountains, and glorious silence for tranquility in a spectacular location.
- A TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice award winner for 2020
- Pick one of 24 Lake Pavilions — Europe’s only five-star guestrooms on stilts — or opt for one of 14 Shore Pavilions, with breathtaking views
- The hotel is a joint project between architect Kurt Hoffmann and students from the famous hotel school, l’Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne
- Dine overlooking the lake on the restaurant terrace, with cuisine created by Chef Maxime Pot
- Sail on the lake, go hiking, schedule a winery tour, or explore nearby Neuchâtel
- Hold your next wedding, business meeting, or seminar here for beautiful venues and five-star service
- Cozy up by the lobby fireplace, chic bar, or smoking room in the common area — or take in the views from the seasonal lake-view terrace
Just 20 minutes from the Swiss capital, Bern, Hotel Palafitte gives you easy access to the region’s attractions. As a guest here, you are also entitled to complimentary public transport in the charming town of Neuchâtel, home to Swiss watch specialty shops, a medieval old town, and several wineries for tours and wine tastings.
Hotel Amenities
Accommodations
Hotel Palafitte features 24 contemporary Lake Pavilions and 14 Shore Pavilions spanning 732 sq ft with hardwood floors, spacious private terraces, flat-screen TVs, Nespresso machines, and Jacuzzis. The Lake Pavilions offer majestic views of the lake and the Swiss Alps and a ladder down directly into the water. Each light-filled room also has an office corner and a gorgeous bathroom with a standalone bathtub and Molton Brown toiletries.
The attentive, relaxed service here is equally alluring. The friendly staff can help arrange tours or water sports rentals, and the hotel provides beach towels in the rooms. If you are in a shore pavilion, grab your towel and walk the small path that will take you down to the lake.
Book with PointsDining
The hotel’s signature restaurant is La Table de Palafitte, renowned as one of the best eateries in town. You can also dine in Le Bar and in La Terrasse and adjourn to the smoking room, with its large selection of cigars.
La Table de Palafitte – Blending beautifully into the surroundings, the hotel’s inviting signature restaurant has wooden floors and walls, plus wide bay windows for drinking in lakeside views. Chef Sébastian D’Onghia, who gained a second Michelin star for his restaurant in Mulhouse, France, favors seasonal and regional dishes such as pigeon with polenta and fig, and char fillet with herb risotto. The terrific wine list includes several Swiss wines.
La Terrasse – Choose from two terraces to eat, drink, and take in the views. The restaurant terrace overlooks the lake, while the one at the water level is popular on hot days when you can dip your feet in the water while sipping a Swiss beer.
Le Bar – Choose an armchair by the fireplace, or a stool at the bar, and linger over a glass of wine, an afternoon tea, or a hot chocolate in winter. There is a tempting selection of bar snacks, as well.
Activities at Hotel Palafitte
Dive into the lake from your private terrace, or ask the hotel to organize water skiing on the lake, or a trip on a motorboat. Try stand-up paddle boarding or fishing — the hotel staff will arrange it all for you. You can also explore the area on one of the complimentary bicycles.
Further afield, you could try hiking or a tour of the local vineyards. The Creux du Vin, the Swiss Grand Canyon, is spectacular, while the Laténium Museum, just around the corner, is the country’s largest archaeological museum. You can also take complimentary public transport in the charming town of Neuchâtel, which boasts several Swiss watch specialty shops and several wineries that offer tours and wine tastings. The Swiss capital of Bern, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is just a 20-minute drive from the hotel.
Location
Hotel Palafitte sits in splendor over the lake at Neuchâtel, Switzerland, a charming, medieval waterfront city with an intriguing history and fascinating old town. The Swiss capital of Bern is a short drive away.
Address
Route des Gouttes-d'Or 2, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
Transportation
- Airport
- Basle-Mulhouse is 82 mi / 132 km away
- Berne-Belp is 43 mi / 70km away, and Geneva Cointrin is 73 mi / 118 km away
- There is also a small domestic airport at Neuchâtel-Colombier
- Train
- Neuchâtel train station is a few minutes by car and connects to all the main stations in Switzerland
- Car
- As a guest, you have access to a private car park
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