Photo: © Hotel Les Trois Rois
Hotel Les Trois Rois: riverside grande dame with three-star dining
On the peaceful banks of the Rhine, the Hotel Les Trois Rois has watched over Basel for centuries, a discreet witness to Napoleon’s luncheons, royal stopovers and artists’ late nights. Behind its neoclassical façade, meticulously restored as a vibrant tribute to 1844, lies a grand hotel where time seems to slow amid wood-panelling, historic salons and shimmering river views. More legend than mere five-star address, this Basel institution blends Belle Époque flair with three-MICHELIN-star gastronomy – a living icon to be discovered step by step.
A grand historic hotel on the left bank of the Rhine
In Basel, on the left bank of the Rhine, the Hotel Les Trois Rois has occupied a strategic position for centuries, just a few steps downstream from the city’s first bridge over the river. The earliest surviving mention of a hotel on this site dates back to 1681, under the name “Drei Könige”. Often cited as one of the oldest hotels in Switzerland, it belongs to that select group of landmark properties that have shaped the country’s hotel landscape, alongside icons such as the Beau-Rivage Palace in Lausanne.
The hotel’s modern chapter begins in the 19th century. Between 1841 and 1842, the site was acquired by Johann Jakob Senn, who had the original building demolished to make way for a new hotel. Architect Amadeus Merian designed a neoclassical property that opened on 16 February 1844. This architectural gesture firmly embedded Les Trois Rois in Basel’s cityscape, with a Belle Époque façade facing the Rhine and instantly recognisable from the riverside promenades.
Over time, the building has evolved. In 1915, the south wing was sold to Basler Kantonalbank, before becoming the City Tourist Information Office in 1938. The soul of the hotel, however, has always remained within the main body of the building, whose outline still punctuates the Blumenrain promenade. The address, Blumenrain 8, 4001 Basel, Switzerland, is still today one of the city’s most emblematic, both for travellers and for Basel residents.
This sense of continuity, combined with a central riverside location, gives Les Trois Rois a very particular atmosphere: that of a 19th-century grand hotel firmly rooted in its time, open onto the city and the Rhine, while maintaining an unmistakably five-star, timeless style.
Photo: © Hotel Les Trois Rois
Photo: © Hotel Les Trois Rois
Photo: © Hotel Les Trois Rois
Photo: © Hotel Les Trois Rois
Photo: © Hotel Les Trois Rois
Photo: © Hotel Les Trois Rois
Photo: © Hotel Les Trois Rois
Photo: © Hotel Les Trois Rois
Meticulous restoration to recapture the spirit of 1844
In the early 2000s, Hotel Les Trois Rois reached a decisive turning point. In 2004, entrepreneur Thomas Straumann acquired the property and launched an extensive restoration project. The hotel then closed for two years for a full reconstruction, reopening on 20 March 2006. The aim was ambitious: to restore the hotel as closely as possible to its 1844 state, while integrating the level of luxury expected of a 21st-century five-star.
This explains the coherence of the building as it appears today. As mentioned earlier, the 19th-century architecture by Amadeus Merian remains the guiding thread. The restoration focused on preserving the neoclassical outline and Belle Époque spirit, from the proportions of the interiors to the perspectives onto the Rhine. Public areas, corridors and lounges were all designed to reflect the traditional elegance described by the MICHELIN Guide as “Traditional Elegance & Lively”.
The notion of a “luxury-hotel classic” is expressed in every detail: wood panelling, room proportions, framed views of the river, as well as the choice of contemporary materials that blend in quietly. The hotel favours a clear, unfussy aesthetic in which historic elements take precedence, while technology and modern comfort are discreetly integrated rather than showcased.
This respectful restoration places Les Trois Rois in the same league as other Swiss properties that have enhanced their heritage, such as the Park Hotel Vitznau on Lake Lucerne. In Basel, this reinterpretation of 1844 has restored a sense of unity to the ensemble, in line with the positioning of a historic grand hotel aimed at an international clientele that values both high standards and tangible heritage.
Rooms and suites: neoclassical style for design-conscious guests
With 82 rooms listed by the MICHELIN Guide, Hotel Les Trois Rois remains on an intimate scale, which contributes to its feel of a historic residence rather than a large complex. All rooms offer free Wi‑Fi, a flat-screen television and a minibar, demonstrating how modern standards have been seamlessly woven into a resolutely classical setting.
Interiors stand out for their individual decoration: each room is appointed with sumptuous fabrics, classical artworks and antique furniture. Some feature art deco touches that offset the 19th‑century neoclassical base. This carefully controlled variety gives guests the sense of staying in a distinctive place where every door opens onto a slightly different world, yet always true to the spirit of the house.
Suites add another dimension, with balconies and dedicated living or sitting areas. The top suites may include gilded details, a rooftop whirlpool or a fireplace, all of which reinforce the residential character of the spaces. These layouts appeal to design‑minded travellers who want to extend the grand hotel experience in a more private setting, while enjoying privileged views over the river or the city.
Several categories of rooms and suites are available, including Double Room, Junior Suite, Standard Suite, Suite Balcony and Suite River View. This detailed segmentation allows stays to be tailored closely to each travel style, from a short city break to a longer visit focused on watching life unfold along the Rhine.
Photo: © Hotel Les Trois Rois
A gastronomic destination with a three-star restaurant
Hotel Les Trois Rois is as much a destination for fine dining enthusiasts as it is for admirers of historic architecture. At its heart, the Cheval Blanc restaurant has become one of the major dining rooms in Switzerland and Europe, holding three MICHELIN stars. Under the leadership of chef Peter Knogl, Cheval Blanc has maintained this distinction since 2016, placing the hotel firmly among the very small number of properties able to offer both a five-star stay and a three-star restaurant under the same roof.
This combination of neoclassical grand hotel and contemporary high gastronomy encapsulates the essence of Les Trois Rois: a historic address that appeals as much to discerning diners as to heritage lovers. The formal Cheval Blanc restaurant represents the most gastronomic side of the offering, while the traditional Brasserie Les Trois Rois provides a more relaxed option, still within the refined surroundings of the hotel.
Terraces overlooking the Rhine add a distinctive dimension to the dining experience. They extend the hotel’s constant relationship with the river, already central to the architecture and guestroom views. Here, meals unfold to the rhythm of the water, in a setting subtly transformed throughout the day by the changing light on the Rhine.
This gastronomic prominence sets Les Trois Rois apart on the Swiss scene, echoing other notable properties where the dining room plays a central role, such as Le Grand Bellevue in Gstaad. In Basel, the presence of a three-star restaurant within the hotel itself strengthens its status as a destination in its own right for travellers seeking both high-end cuisine and a clearly defined historic setting.
Services, facilities and the atmosphere of a “luxury-hotel classic”
Hotel Les Trois Rois embraces a five-star lifestyle expressed as much through its services as through its architecture. Described as a “luxury-hotel classic” by the MICHELIN Guide, the property cultivates a “Traditional Elegance & Lively” atmosphere: traditional yet vibrant, with service that is attentive without being showy.
Facilities include a 24-hour front desk, parking, free Wi‑Fi throughout the property, a fitness centre and concierge service. A bar, a restaurant and terraces on the Rhine complete the social spaces, while spa treatments can be arranged on request. Together, they define a stay in which the needs of today’s travellers – connectivity, fitness, varied dining – are fully met without distracting from the building’s historic character.
The hotel’s membership of The Leading Hotels of the World underlines this demanding, high-end positioning, focused on the distinctive character of each property. Les Trois Rois thus forms part of a network of benchmark addresses, while retaining a strong identity shaped by Basel, the Rhine and its own history.
Guest feedback reflects the quality of the experience. The MICHELIN Guide shows an overall score of 19.8 out of 20, based on verified guest reviews, while an online search returns a five-star ranking and a rating of 4.7 from 1,936 reviews. These figures point to a particularly high level of satisfaction, reinforcing the image of a hotel where tradition serves the demands of contemporary comfort.
Explore the surroundings
A meeting place for leading figures and a way of life to discover
Since the 18th century, Hotel Les Trois Rois has established itself as a meeting point for political leaders, artists and writers passing through Basel. Notable guests have included political figures such as Willy Brandt, Helmut Schmidt, Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, the Dalai Lama, King Farouk and Queen Elizabeth II. As early as 1798, Napoleon Bonaparte hosted a business lunch here, already signalling the hotel’s role in European diplomatic life.
The arts and letters are equally well represented. Voltaire, Jean‑Paul Sartre, Charles Dickens, Herbert von Karajan, Duke Ellington and Marc Chagall are among the figures who have stayed here. Some stays are particularly well documented, such as Theodor Herzl’s presence at the hotel in August 1897 during the First Zionist Congress, or philosopher Charles S. Peirce’s visit in January 1870. These successive chapters create a shared memory that still informs the atmosphere of the lounges and corridors today.
For today’s travellers, this historical dimension comes with assured contemporary comfort and straightforward access to the city. Set on the left bank of the Rhine, just by the first bridge, the hotel makes it easy to explore Basel, before returning, once you cross the threshold, to the quiet of a 19th‑century grand property.
Prices recorded in October 2026 show a starting rate from €553 a night (price as of October 2026), clearly placing Les Trois Rois among Switzerland’s leading luxury hotels, alongside other emblematic properties already featured in our pages. For discerning travellers, this historic Basel address brings together a prime location on the Rhine, carefully restored architectural heritage and one of the country’s most sought-after three-star dining rooms.
Book your stay at Hotel Les Trois Rois
Hotel Les Trois Rois
Blumenrain 8
4001 Basel – Switzerland
from €553 a night (price as of October 2026)
Book on www.lestroisrois.com or via the main online booking platforms.
