Alpha-Palmiers by Fassbind
by the TopOfHotel team
Alpha-Palmiers has the biggest rooms of any mid-range option here — plus a spa, a gym and the Thai kitchen at Jardin Thaï.
Alpha-Palmiers has the biggest rooms of any mid-range option here — plus a spa, a gym and the Thai kitchen at Jardin Thaï.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
Alpha-Palmiers by Fassbind is a large 4-star in the Swiss Fassbind group — the same chain as Agora Swiss Night — and the rooms are its strongest card. The look is modern and contemporary, with warm earth tones, wood furniture, and large windows that actually open, which is a small luxury when so many modern hotels seal you in. The standard room at 24 sqm already beats the Lausanne average, and superior and family rooms stretch to 35 to 50 sqm with a sofa bed and a separate sitting area. You get air-conditioning you set yourself — a real plus in summer, since many older Swiss hotels have none — plus a big modern bathroom, an LCD TV, a minibar and tea and coffee.
Food and amenities
Facilities are full for a 4-star: spa, sauna, steam room and gym, all free for guests, and reviews single them out as a good way to unwind after a day on the hills. Two restaurants sit in the building. Jardin Thaï is a well-regarded Thai kitchen — a genuine find if you're craving Thai food on a long Europe trip — and Brasserie L'Esprit Bistrot serves Swiss classics including fondue. The tropical indoor garden at the heart of the hotel is the signature touch, an easy spot to sit with a drink. Breakfast isn't included in the room rate — it adds about CHF 25 per person — and a free city transport pass comes with every stay.
Location and getting there
The hotel sits on Rue du Petit-Chêne, the street that runs between Lausanne station and Place Saint-François. It's an 8-minute uphill walk from the station, or take the M2 metro to Lausanne-Flon in 2 minutes and you're much closer. Place Saint-François and the financial quarter are 3 minutes on foot; the Old Town and the cathedral are 8 to 10 minutes. The M2 runs down to Ouchy on the lakefront in 5 minutes. From the station, direct trains reach Geneva Airport (GVA) in 40 minutes and Montreux in 20 — a central base that connects to everything.
Things to know before booking
Two honest caveats. First, the bigger room types and family suites aren't cheap; in peak seasons they edge toward 5-star money, so the value is clearest on the standard rooms. Second, breakfast is extra at roughly CHF 25 a head, which adds up over several nights. And there's no swimming pool — for that you'd want Mövenpick or Beau-Rivage Palace. None of these are dealbreakers, but they're worth pricing in before you book.
Our take
Alpha-Palmiers is the pick for families, longer stays of 3 nights or more, and anyone who cares about room size and facilities. The 24 to 50 sqm rooms are clearly larger than rivals in the same tier, and the in-house spa and gym earn their keep if you'll actually use them. Solo travelers who want a smaller, cheaper room may do better at Agora Swiss Night — but for space and a Thai dinner without leaving the building, this is the one.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- Rooms run 24 to 50 sqm — well above what most Lausanne hotels offer, which makes this a real option for families and longer stays. Even the 24 sqm standard beats the city average.
- The tropical indoor garden is a genuine quirk you won't find in other city hotels here — a warm, green spot to sit with a drink after a day of walking the hills.
- Full facilities for a 4-star: spa, sauna, steam room and gym, all free for guests. Reviews call it a good place to unwind once you've worn yourself out on the Old Town climbs.
- Two restaurants in the building. Jardin Thaï is a well-regarded Thai kitchen — handy if you're craving Thai food on a long Europe trip — and Brasserie L'Esprit Bistrot does Swiss classics including fondue.
- Air-conditioning you control yourself, which matters in summer when plenty of older Swiss hotels have none. Rooms also have large openable windows, modern bathrooms, an LCD TV, minibar and tea and coffee.
- The larger and family room types are not cheap — in some seasons they climb close to 5-star money, so the value case is strongest on the standard rooms.
- Breakfast isn't in the standard room rate; it adds roughly CHF 25 per person, so factor that in when you compare prices.
- There's no swimming pool. If a pool is non-negotiable you'll need to look at Mövenpick Hotel Lausanne or Beau-Rivage Palace instead.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Things to do near Lausanne
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Insider Tips
- Jardin Thaï is open to non-guests and ranks among the top Thai restaurants in Lausanne — dishes run about CHF 25 to 40, worth it if you're missing Thai food on a long European trip.
- Book a superior room (35 to 50 sqm) over a standard. It costs only about 20 to 25 percent more but the space nearly doubles, which pays off on stays of 3 nights or more.
- Skip the uphill walk from the station with heavy bags — take the M2 metro to Lausanne-Flon, which leaves you much closer to the door.