Swisshotel Hotel Review, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
The recent boom in international hotels opening in Tashkent is a very tangible sign of Uzbekistan’s growing popularity as a tourism destination. Though Tashkent is less famous than the country’s photogenic UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva, this big, bold capital city has a strong claim to be the commercial and political hub of Central Asia. The brand new, 5* Swisshotel Tashkent has been designed with the needs of business traveller in mind, but architecture, food, and shop-loving tourists will also find plenty nearby.
Who for
Swisshotel Tashkent is primarily a business hotel, easily accessible and offering a consistent standard of service that will be familiar and welcome to Accor customers accustomed to checking in to Swisshotels from Amsterdam to Singapore. General Manager Dmitry Karpov aims to “fuse Swiss precision with Uzbek warmth.” If you value organisation, efficiency, and attention to detail, without losing sight of the generous hospitality culture of Uzbekistan, this is the hotel for you.
Accommodation
Swisshotel bedroom
There are 182 rooms and suites at Swisshotel Tashkent, all within one glass-clad landmark building. Regardless of the category you choose, all the rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows, a balcony or terrace, and double or king size beds. The rooms are a generous size, too: even the smallest, the Swiss Advantage King Room, is 35m2, so there is ample space to work or relax after a day of sightseeing or meetings.
Decor-wise, everything is white or natural shades, so the look is as peaceful on your eyes as the fine cotton linens and bath towels are soft on your skin. The large windows allow in plenty of the glorious Uzbek sunshine, but if it all gets too bright or you’d like a little more privacy, you can tone it down with floaty drapes or the full blackout curtains. Each room has independent temperature controls – essential in Tashkent’s hot summer months – so you can adjust the heating or AC just as you like it.
Swisshotel bathroom
In all Swisshotel bathrooms you will find shampoo, conditioner, and similar products made by the Swiss brand Purovel. The essential oils come from alpine plants, and the packaging is made from recyclable and biodegradable materials, a small part of the hotel chain’s commitment to environmental sustainability.
Food and drink
Swisshotel Tashkent has a strong food and beverage offering, as is immediately apparent as you approach the check-in desk and are offered a cold, fresh drink. The buffet breakfast is served daily until 10.30 (11.00 at weekends) and includes both national and international favourites, so you can dip your toe – or should that be tongue? – into local cuisine with dishes like kasha (buckwheat porridge) and syrniki (cottage cheese pancakes). The main restaurant, Saffron, continues to serve multicuisine menus throughout the day, and in fine weather you can take a table on the outdoor terrace.
Food at Swisshotel Tashkent
The Swisshotel Tashkent’s two bars are a lesson in contrasts, in style as well as menu. At the stylish Silk Bar, you can often enjoy a signature cocktail to the soundtrack of a live band, or build up your mixology skills with a masterclass led by the bartender. Over at the Pürovel Spa Bar, meanwhile, life is moving a little slower, a little quieter. Here, the focus is on nutrition and wellbeing: opt for a herbal tea or a smoothie before your yoga class.
Although not within the hotel, one of Tashkent’s best food venues is just on the opposite side of the street. Food Mall is a lively evening venue which stays open as late as 03.00. The bar serves craft beer and cocktails, and the frequently changing combination of stands serve a wide selection of fresh, invariably tasty global cuisines.
Facilities
Swisshotel pool
The fitness and wellness offering at Swisshotel Tashkent is second to none in the city. The indoor heated swimming pool is open daily until 22.00; the fitness centre has all the usual machines plus parkour equipment; and in the spa there is a sauna, jacuzzi, and Turkish steam bath, as well as treatment rooms.
How much?
Rooms start from $160 per night.
What’s nearby?
Swisshotel Tashkent is centrally located in Tashkent, very close to the State Museum of Arts. Staying at the hotel, you are within easy walking distance of Amir Temur Square, overlooked by the iconic Brutalist masterpiece / monstrosity which is Hotel Uzbekistan; the State Museum of the Timurids; and also Alisher Navoi Theatre, home to Uzbekistan’s national ballet and opera companies.
Other major attractions, such as the Museum of Applied Arts, Chorsu Bazaar, and the soon-to-open Centre of Islamic Civilisation, are all accessible by Tashkent Metro or a short, cheap taxi ride.
VERDICT: At Swisshotel Tashkent, you can have a 5* hospitality experience at 4* prices. It offers exceptional value for money.
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