Review: Swiss Alpine Lounge, Zurich (ZRH)

During my Star Alliance lounge run in London and Zurich, I visited Swiss’ Alpine lounge at Zurich Airport. Swiss has two lounges at Zurich Airport’s Concourse A – you can also visit lounges in any other concourse, though they can be a trek. I’ve just reviewed the Swiss business class lounge at Concourse A, and in this post I’ll review the Swiss Alpine lounge, also located in the Schengen region of the airport.

The Swiss Alpine lounge is gorgeous, and significantly less crowded than the business class lounge – I couldn’t believe the contrast when I was there over peak hour. Granted, the lounge has more limited entry requirements – you have to be flying Lufthansa, Swiss, or Austrian in business class, or a Star Gold member flying a Star Alliance carrier. That being said, this lounge was even significantly less crowded than the Senator lounge (which is only accessible to Star Gold members), which has even more limiting entry requirements.

Swiss Alpine Lounge Zurich Access and Entry Requirements

The Swiss Alpine Lounge at Zurich Airport is open from 5:30 AM to 6 PM. The lounge doesn’t follow typical Star Alliance business class lounge entry requirements, though rather is uniquely open to:

• All Lufthansa Group first and business class passengers (Swiss, Lufthansa, Austrian, Brussels Airlines, ITA airways, Eurowings, Edelweiss)
• Star Alliance Gold members (of any member carrier, not just the Lufthansa Group)

So a Eurowings business class ticket holder from Zurich to Berlin would have access to this lounge, but someone flying Singapore Airlines first class wouldn’t have access to this lounge.

Swiss Alpine Lounge Zurich Location and Entrance

The Swiss Alpine lounge is located on the lower floor of the concourse, on the north end of the concourse, by some transfer desks. In fact, you can get from the main A lounge to the Alpine lounge entrance in under a minute – simply go to the end of the concourse, take the stairs down, and you’ll see the Alpine lounge to your left.

Swiss Alpine Lounge Zurich Entrance

There are some panels showing some (presumably) Alpine scenery as you head up the spiral staircase to the lounge.

Swiss Alpine Lounge Zurich Entrance Panelling

Once you reach the top of the staircase, you’ll find the entrance to the lounge. Alternatively, there are a couple of lifts that can also take you there.

Swiss Alpine Lounge Zurich Entrance

The lounge associate who checked me in was friendly, and I was admitted into the lounge.

Swiss Alpine Lounge Zurich Seating and Atmosphere

The Swiss Alpine lounge Zurich has two main parts – a dining area, and a relax/rest area.

The dining area features (as you’d guess) more restaurant-style seating, including a mixture of communal tables and more private booths.

Swiss Alpine Lounge Zurich Seating

As you’d expect, the five booths here are the first to fill up, thanks to the natural light and tarmac views available. I like the abundance of power ports at this lounge (as you can see from the black strips near the chairs below), and the pillows make the space seem much cosier. There are also wireless charging ports at these seats.

Swiss Alpine Lounge Zurich Booths

Then connecting the two spaces was some armchair style seating, with a bookshelf-style design.

Swiss Alpine Lounge Zurich Seating

Then the relax area was to the right of the entrance. While the entire lounge was aesthetically very pretty, the relax area was particularly so, in my opinion. From the black metal open-frame partitions to the soft greenery, to the wall pieces, to the natural light, this was easily one of the most photogenic lounges I’ve been to. The lounge also featured good views of runway 10/28 (as well as planes parked at neighbouring gates).

There’s not actually a huge variety of seating here per se, though it all is comfortable. There were three large black sofas, as well as a variety of armchairs and wooden table seating.

Swiss Alpine Lounge Zurich Seating

While I did head to Zurich Airport during the lounge’s opening time, the below picture was taken at 9 AM, when the main A lounge was completely jam-packed. As you can see, I was the only person in the lounge’s “relax” area during that time.

Swiss Alpine Lounge Zurich Seating

Then there was some more restaurant-style seating to the back of the lounge, as a corridor between the two spaces. This would be my last choice of where to sit, due to the small, slightly claustrophobia-inducing space and the lack of natural light.

Swiss Alpine Lounge Zurich Seating

As with the main Concourse A lounge, there wasn’t dedicated WiFi here – you scanned your boarding pass on a machine that gave you a free 24-hour pass to Zurich Airport’s high-speed WiFi. This isn’t the most convenient, but is forgivable, given the WiFi measured 164 Mbps down and 99.4 Mbps up (and was available while walking through the terminal as well).

While the lounge itself isn’t huge and doesn’t feature a massive variety of seating, I’d definitely recommend spending some time here over the main A lounge, given it’s so much quieter (unless you’re looking to shower). I also found there to be more natural light as well, and there are tarmac views here, which the main lounge lacks.

Swiss Alpine Lounge Zurich Food Spread

The Swiss Alpine lounge has a small food spread section, located in the main dining area of the lounge.

Swiss Alpine Lounge Zurich Food Spread Area

For breakfast, there was cake, muffins, yoghurt, and some pastries.

Swiss Alpine Lounge Zurich Breakfast Options

Then there were some cereal dispensers as well.

Swiss Alpine Lounge Zurich Cereal

There was a bakery section, and there was also charcuterie and cheese. Swiss’ lounge breakfast spread really is consistently unremarkable.

Swiss Alpine Lounge Zurich Breakfast

It’s my understanding that a couple of hot options are served by the live cooking station, though this wasn’t set up yet during my first visit (and I wasn’t hungry during my subsequent return later in the morning, so I forgot to check it out).

Swiss Alpine Lounge Zurich Food Station

Swiss Alpine Lounge Zurich Self-Serve Beverages

Alongside the food spread, the Alpine lounge also features a few coffee machines dotted around. While I prefer barista coffee, I found the coffee at these machines to be quite good for machine coffee.

Swiss Alpine Lounge Zurich Coffee Machines

By the dining area, there was also a self-serve bar area, featuring a range of soft drinks and wines, and there were even a couple of soft drinks on tap.

Swiss Alpine Lounge Zurich Bar Area

Much like at the arrivals lounge, there was no tended bar service, though there was a station specifically set up to make your own Golden Juniper cocktail if you wanted to.

Swiss Alpine Lounge Zurich Bar Area

Also, there were a range of white and sparkling wines in an ice bucket. I subsequently had the chance to try the 0% Rosato sparkling wine (I did this at the E business class lounge, which I’ll be reviewing next), and I actually really liked it. I’d definitely recommend stopping by for a glass, even if you’re around in the morning.

Swiss Alpine Lounge Zurich Bar Area

While the food spread isn’t terrible and the quality is alright, I can’t say that overall the food or drinks here are remarkable. I found the food spread to be lame, and even during the afternoons there’s usually only one hot option served at the live cooking station. The self-serve drinks are alright (and there’s quite a few wines on selection here), though I prefer barista coffee and a tended bar, particularly at a hub lounge.

Swiss Alpine Lounge Zurich Work Stations

Near the entrance of the Alpine Lounge, you’ll find a corridor that leads to three workstations. These can be used as call booths, or for a more private work setup, though there’s no natural light here.

Swiss Alpine Lounge Zurich Workstations

Swiss Alpine Lounge Zurich Bathrooms

The Swiss Alpine Lounge has two sets of bathrooms. There are conventional bathrooms near the dining area, and individual cubicles near the work/relax area.

Swiss Alpine Lounge Zurich Bathrooms

There are no showers here – if you want to shower you’ll have to visit the neighbouring A lounge.

Review: Swiss Alpine Lounge Zurich

The Swiss Alpine Lounge has more limiting entry requirements than the neighbouring main lounge. However, if you’ve got Star Gold status or are flying Swiss or another Lufthansa Group airline in business class (even on a shorthaul flight), I’d certainly recommend popping by this lounge instead. It’s less than a minute’s walk away, and far less crowded during the day, despite its smaller size.

I don’t think this lounge is worth coming early for – the food spread is mediocre at best, and there aren’t any particularly exciting amenities. If you’re at the airport early with a passport (and love planes like I do), I’d highly recommend going to the E gates and using the business class/Senator lounge there, due to the outdoor terrace. I’ll be reviewing that lounge next.

However, if you have a couple of hours and just need to get some work done, this is a very pleasant space, and it’s also extremely aesthetically pleasing.

Have you been to the Swiss Alpine Lounge in Zurich? Which lounge is your favourite?