Le Richemond

"It takes a lot to stand out from the crowd of old-world luxury hotels on the shores of Lake Geneva. Following a complete renovation, Le Richemond has got the goods, with its superb location, beautifully decorated rooms, excellent spa, and terrific Italian restaurant. What really makes this handsome 1875 hotel so appealing, however, is that designers Olga Polizzi and John Stefanidis have given the old gal a new visual identity without compromising her inherently genteel nineteenth-century personality, like a Park Avenue granny discovering the fun of a little flash: gold mosaic tiles in the elevators, and in the guest rooms, crystal sconces, chrome floor lamps, and curvy fifties-style chairs mixed with more traditional furnishings. Bathrooms are bliss, with oversized showerheads as well as piles of thick towels. Italian linen sheets and classy mixes of prints and patterns make all 109 rooms here a treat to nest in, too. Though some details rankle—$36 is steep for Internet access, and the service still needs some polishing—Le Richemond not only spins circles around other recent local renovations but gives the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues a run for its money."