Our delicious stay at the Grand Hotel du Lac in Vevey

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If there is ever a town in Switzerland where I would relocate in a heartbeat, it would have to be Vevey. The town by Lake Geneva offers the perfect package in terms of size, cultural activities, and location.

The Lake Geneva region is ideal for foodies, too. Thanks to the deeply rooted tradition in hospitality, there are more fine-dining restaurants than in most other parts of the world. At last count, this gourmet hotspot boasted a combined 1314 Michelin stars and 96 Gault Millau chef's hats.

Five-star luxury at the Grand Hotel du Lac in Vevey

We recently made a spur-of-the-moment decision to spend a March weekend in Vevey. The Grand Hôtel du Lac has been on our radar for a long time, so being greeted by the concierge felt that much more special.

The friendly greeting is a surefire sign that we have arrived in a luxurious five-star hotel. We are stunned by the majestic hotel lobby with its abundance of marble. The florist's touch can be seen throughout the hotel: there are explosions of freshly cut flowers, beautiful bouquets, and other floral designs.

This sweet surprise awaits us:

Some more impressions of our suite life:

As you can tell by now, the Grand Hôtel du Lac in Vevey is a "grand" hotel in every respect. The historic 19th-century building is timeless, yet it comes with modern amenities such as a sauna and an outdoor pool.

The boutique size with only 50 suites and rooms means that each guest receives the personal attention they deserve. As a result, the hotel never feels overcrowded. This high level of guest service is one of the reasons why the Grand Hôtel du Lac has been admitted into the Relais & Châteaux portfolio. Members under this renowned label are handpicked for their outstanding guest experience, which includes both lodging and dining.

Until the time my dreams of permanently relocating to Vevey become true, I may have just found a place to stay!

Les Saisons at the Grand Hotel du Lac

The Grand Hôtel du Lac is home to not just one, but two fine-dining restaurants. We have a dinner reservation at Restaurant Les Saisons by Thomas Neeser. Shortly after the German chef took over in 2010, the gourmet guides recognized the top-notch quality: Restaurant Les Saisons was awarded 1 star Michelin and 16 points Gault Millau in 2011, a rating that has not changed since.

Chef Thomas Neeser and his talented team are known to use ingredients from local gardens, lakes, fields, and forests. Instead of hopping on the French cuisine band wagon by cooking up the usual fare, the chef would instead come up with his own creations.

The host's wine recommendations are solid. Excellent whites and reds from the La Côte and Lavaux regions are carefully selected for each course. We start with a local white, the refreshing 2020 Chasselas house wine by Bujard Vins. Thanks to the rich soil of the region, the aroma is very crisp, with a pleasant mineral finesse.

And we stay local and regional during the remainder of the dinner, too: Dézaley from Cully, and Petite Arvine from Valais. Chapeau to the sommelier for the fantastic wine pairing!

The amuse-bouche is a clever egg in a shell with smoked salmon and chives.

Surf or turf for the main dish.

Fera fish filet with white asparagus, morels, wild garlic

And for dessert, it's savory vs. sweet.

The presentation tonight has teased our senses: it was a feast for the eyes as well as remarkably refined aromas and textures for the taste buds. A big thanks to Chef Thomas Neeser!