Ruby Mimi Hotel Zurich: Central, Classic-Meets-Modern, and Quiet

Why We Were There

It was time for our first road trip to Switzerland - destination: Zurich.

By car, it was only about 2.5 hours from Stuttgart to Zurich.

By train, it was a 3-hour direct Inter-City (IC) train ride from Stuttgart to Zurich.

We booked the Ruby Mimi Hotel because of its location and its “classic-meets-modern” ambiance.

Little did we know this would become our go-to hotel for future Zurich visits.

Our First Impressions

Ruby was near the major points of interest in Zurich—central, but tucked away from the busy streets filled with tourists.

The hotel was a 2-minute walk to the famous Bahnhofstrasse;

2-minute walk to the Limmat River;

And a 5-minute walk to the Zurich Main Train Station.

Entering the atrium-like lobby, we were welcomed with that fancy-hotel smell… and a whiff of popcorn.

To find the check-in desk, you walk through the open space, go past the elevators on the left, and check in at the restaurant’s podium.

We were welcomed by friendly, multi-lingual Ruby staff.

You’ll check in using their podium’s built-in iPads—enter your details, identification, and the usual—then pull a fresh hotel card to calibrate it for your room.

Don’t worry, they’re there to guide you and offer a welcome glass of water.

What We Booked

• Travel Dates: October 2024; October 2025

• Room Type: Lovely Room; Cozy Room

• Duration: 2 nights; 1 night

Arrival Notes

• Trip 1 (by car): We got lucky with a side-street spot for check-in, then parked at Parkhaus Urania for the stay—about a 5-minute walk with luggage.

• Trip 2 (by train): We took the direct IC from Stuttgart (runs hourly). Far less stressful than driving in fog and hunting for parking—worry-free once you’re on board.

Our Stay

Loved it.

We would highly recommend the Ruby Mimi Hotel if you’re visiting Zurich.

Let’s talk about the room: it’s one of those compressed, multi-purpose boutique rooms—efficient and thoughtful.

Think of the concepts from “The Money-Making Secrets Behind Hotel Design | WSJ Pro Perfected.”

The important things were right: clean, quiet, and a comfortable bed. We slept well straight through to check-out.

Where We Dined

Attached to Ruby’s lobby, there’s the upscale Dupont Brasserie. It hosts a piano night on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and offers a cozy-but-fancy ambiance that’s perfect for an evening cocktail.

We mostly stuck with Ruby’s restaurant & bar, but kept it limited.

For breakfast, they have a buffet-style option. You can purchase this in advance for 28 CHF, or walk in for 30 CHF—a small 2 CHF discount if you prepay at check-in.

For us, despite our walk around, we opted to eat breakfast elsewhere.

We returned to Ruby’s restaurant & bar later that day for cocktails and popcorn.

Lessons Learned

• Late check-out: Free until 12:00; 30 CHF until 13:00; 75 CHF until 15:00.

• Cocktails: Be ready to pony up ~20 CHF (~22 EUR / ~25 USD / ~35 CAD).

• Popcorn: Often available between ~11:00 and 20:00, aligned with Ruby’s nightly movie showing.

Practical Takeaways

• Location win: 2 minutes to Bahnhofstrasse and the Limmat; ~5 minutes to Zurich HB.

• Check-in model: Self check-in via iPads at the podium with staff on hand; welcome water offered.

• Room style: Compact boutique layout—prioritize if you value clean, quiet, efficient over large square footage.

• Breakfast math: 28 CHF if prepaid vs 30 CHF walk-in; we chose to eat out.

• Evening vibe: On-site bar good for a nightcap (cocktails are Zurich-priced).

• Good for: City breaks where you want a stylish, central base and don’t need a big room.

• Consider elsewhere if: You prefer a traditional front desk or spacious, classic rooms.

Our Final Thoughts

Ruby Mimi hit our Zurich checklist: central but calm, modern-meets-classic personality, and rooms that sleep well.

We liked the self-check-in flow, the friendly staff presence, and the lobby-bar energy with popcorn and cocktails.

It’s become our default in Zurich—and the location keeps winning.