Zürich’s old town has a rich cultural history. The famous Cabaret Voltaire nightclub launched here 100 years ago, and its cobbled streets are still home to luxury jewelers and traditional watch shops. One of the area’s first inns, dating back to the 1400s and comprising three converted houses, has now been reimagined as the boutique Marktgasse Hotel.
“The building has changed hands over time. It was once a gentlemen’s club and lastly a backpackers’ hostel and burger restaurant. We wanted to draw on this colorful history in the redesign,” says Nicole Thurnherr, head of product management for hospitality management company Ospena Group, which led the design concept. Ospena Group operates 17 pizzerias across Switzerland and was brought on board by the owner, Swiss businessman Beat Curti, to manage the hotel, its two restaurants and bar, and to oversee the two-year restoration project. Curti commissioned Basel, Switzerland-based architecture firm Miller & Maranta to undertake the construction.
Across the hotel, heritage-protected decorative elements such as stucco, wall paneling, and columns have been preserved. “We retained historic details while creating a contemporary, pared-down aesthetic,” says Thurnherr, who worked with locally based design firms Kessler and Kessler and IDA 14 on the interiors.
The result is a blend of modern minimalism with Old-World tradition, which Thurnherr describes as “combining elements of Scandinavian and Swiss functionality with a focus on craftsmanship.” Natural materials, such as stone, leather, and black sheet metal were selected for the fixtures, while classic furniture alongside pieces by up-and-coming designers and bespoke artworks are displayed throughout. A repeated palette of white, gray, and green—combined with black and pops of orange and red—is harmonious, while also reflecting the characteristic colors of the old town setting.
Across the 39 guestrooms, original room sizes and ceiling heights remain and mansard roofs and uneven floors give rustic character. Wardrobes are built as functional open closets and wall shelves hold guest portfolios and water carafes. Floors are finished in oak parquet or Haltopex hard flooring, and bathrooms feature a range of textures, from stone sinks, ceramic fixtures, and ornamental lava stone and ceramic mosaic tiles.
On the ground floor, the Baltho Küche & Bar is a more formal restaurant and drinking area, while Delish Café takeout is ultra relaxed. Both concepts are positioned as independent operations, aimed to draw in guests, new customers, and neighborhood residents alike.
The restaurant is sleek and understated, fusing dark materials and curved lines with distinctive dining chairs by Turkish duo Autoban. The statement piece, however, is a bespoke mural created by Zürich artist Stefan Burger displayed across a central wall. A cubic-patterned walnut parquet counter and contemporary Danish stools are key features in the bar, where the rich palette introduces accents of decadent green. A complementary contrast, Delish has a toned-down interior, finished almost entirely in black and white with a canteen style layout.
The lobby serves as both the reception area and a social/workspace, with a beautiful stucco ceiling and contemporary lighting fixtures creating another interplay between old and new. On the mezzanine level, the library and adjoining salon are designed for guests to relax and enjoy fantastic city views. Books on art, culture, cuisine, and travel are displayed in the library’s striking red floor-to-ceiling bookshelves.
