Le Richemond

Fresh from a multi-million Euro revamp by its new owners—the always stylish Rocco Forte Hotel Collection—this 19th-century Geneva classic retains the Old World sophistication and impeccable service that drew such notable former guests as Charlie Chaplin and the French writer Colette. The Neoclassical building has a stellar spot overlooking Lake Geneva, offering unbeatable views of the water jet, Brunswick Garden and the Alps. I love the hotel's exclusive private club-like atmosphere. Once inside, you hardly realize you're only a five-minute walk from the city's main shopping and business districts. Its 109 rooms vary in style, but many have glossy wood paneling and modern furnishings and fabrics in bold reds and blues. The long list of technological amenities includes LCD flat-screen TVs with cordless keyboards for Internet access, iPod docking stations, DVD players, and plasma TVs in the huge marble bathrooms. Suites are a favorite of celebrities and CEOs of major corporations; some of the larger ones have private balconies to really take advantage of the views, and—not that you'll need this—the penthouse Royal Armleder Suite has bullet-proof picture windows. Le Richemond was long home to a restaurant deemed fashionable by well-heeled locals, but with the restoration came a new eatery, Sapori, which offers innovative Italian cuisine. Rest assured it's just as much a destination as its predecessor. That could have something to do with the fact that on nice evenings diners can sit on the outdoor terrace, or sip cocktails on the terrace of the hotel's sexy and buzzing bar. Also new is the sprawling spa offering skin and body treatments from Shisheido and Sothys.

Room rates from €452.