Sandra‘s Closet

Between covering the new Art in the Park edition and the beautiful Assouline book dedicated to this iconic house, I found myself feeling wonderfully nostalgic. So consider this post a small homage, one that has been quietly waiting to be written for some time.

My Look: Must-Have

The Baur au Lac is not simply a hotel to me. Having had the privilege of knowing the Kracht family over the years, I have witnessed firsthand the extraordinary care, vision and quiet dedication that goes into everything this house represents. That connection makes every visit feel personal in a way that is difficult to put into words.

My Look: Magic Weekend

Over the years, some of my most memorable moments on the Zurich social calendar have unfolded here. Art in the Park is one of them. The Kispi Ball, that most glamorous of charitable evenings, was another, along with the annual Rive Gauche Summer Party. And then there is Street Parade, when Zurich transforms into something wonderfully wild and the Baur au Lac somehow remains the most elegant spot in the city.

My Look: Kispi

The garden terrace holds a particularly special place in my heart. There is nowhere quite like it on a warm Zurich days, and I have spent many of those evenings there, dressed up and grateful to be exactly where I am.

My Look: Beauty Sleep

And yes, I have stayed the night more than once. Because sometimes the only right thing to do is not to leave.

My Look: Roman Studs

Come winter, the magic shifts indoors and into the park in an entirely different way. The Chalet au Lac, a charming rustic retreat tucked into the hotel grounds, is one of Zurich’s most enchanting seasonal secrets, perfect for an unhurried fondue evening when the city slows down and candlelight feels like the only appropriate light source.

My Look: Denim & Brocade

And then there is Baur’s, one of my absolute favourite restaurants in the city. Designed by the internationally acclaimed Martin Brudnizki , the same visionary behind Annabel’s in London – where I am part of the membership committee – , the interior is simply a dream. That particular alchemy of warmth, glamour and timeless elegance that Brudnizki conjures so effortlessly feels entirely at home here.

My Look: Modern Marie Antoinette

What you will find in this post is a collection of outfits photographed at the Baur au Lac across all of these occasions and all of these years. Fashion and place are inseparable for me, and this hotel has been one of the most beautiful backdrops my wardrobe has ever known. Consider this a love letter in looks.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

LoL, Sandra

My Look: Chill

My Look: Girls’ Night

My Look: My Funny Valentine

My Look: Kispi 2018

My Look: Rive Gauche Summer Party 2016

My Look: New Style

My Look: Art in the Park

My Look: Street Parade

My Look: Street Parade 2024

My Look: Baby It’s Cold Outside

My Look: Lesage

My Look: Fab

 Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / David Biedert Photography and André Hengst
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise. 

Bringing Versailles to the street, here is another outfit from Moschino‘s fab F/W 2020 collection that I love so much. Inspired by the gilded extravagances of Marie Antoinette, this look is envisioned with both grand theater and good humor. Full of fun and fantasy, fabulous fashion let’s us dream and play dress-up. Something we definitely need today.

My look: Flared-sleeve mini dress, thigh-high boots, and bow-embellished pillow clutch, all by Moschino, and vintage multi-strand couture pearl choker necklace by Dior.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © David Biedert Photography – The photos were taken inside Baur’s Zurich‘s fumoir.
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

Happy International Women’s Day to all my fabulous readers and all those fantastic women in this world! You are the fire, the light, the roar; you’re a woman. May the world hear you roar. All I wish on this special day that you never stop dreaming and believing in yourself. Don’t let yourself hold back by criticism of jealous people! Put on some fun clothes and enjoy this day.

I love the unexpected combination of denim and brocade. And even if it’s tempting, don’t bite your croissant bag too hard… it is a great way to indulge in something sweet without the calories!

My look: Brocade-detail denim jacket, ruffle detail skirt, croissant crossbody bag, and leaf embroidered high denim boots, all by Moschino, and vintage earrings by Dior.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © David Biedert Photography
The photos were taken at Baur’s in Zurich.
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise. 

«Impeccably imperfect» – that is the new catchy slogan that the new Baur’s plays with. Imagined by Andrea Kracht and created by trendsetting interior designer Martin Brudnizki, who designed the elite nightclub «Annabel’s» in London as well as the «Beekman Hotel» in New York City and «Fortum & Mason» in Hong Kong, this hot spot in Zurich will finally reopen its doors in September this year.

I had the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful interior during a guided art tour as guest of Gigi Kracht followed by a beautiful intimate ladies lunch on the terrace of the Baur au Lac.

Gigi Kracht (center with green jacket) surrounded by her girlfriends.

«Take a set, grab a treat» – the classic brasserie concept is elevated to a whole new level, blending contemporary chic with international grace in an artful, inviting ambience. The colors blend in perfectly, the retro vibe delivers a certain twist. I adore the interior design of the Baur’s. It gives me this international flair that we are sometimes missing in Zurich.

As I am at the moment designing my new home, color is also a must for me along with stunning wallpapers to create the perfect ambiance. The Baur’s has it all. I am not a minimalist and white rooms don’t make me feel at home. I couldn’t agree more with Brudnizki who says: «When I enter a white space, I feel like I’m being deprived of something. Color infuses my life.»

The best is yet to come. The green color combined with the coral red of the armchairs serves as the perfect backdrop for the highlight of the restaurant: the private art collection. Drawing on the expertise of Gigi Kracht, Andrea Kracht’s wife, that my avid readers know well from her Art in the Park events, the room is filled with selected works from the world’s most popular painters: thirty-three originals by artists such as Rashid Johnson, Rita Ackermann, and Martin Creed to photographs by the iconic Annie Leibovitz, to intimate art work by Louise Bourgeois who shares a raw look at female pain.

Painting by Louise Bourgeois

Even that these simple yet cruel images contain a sensual sense of loss and the often unspoken sorrow of miscarriage, they seem to belong there, to this place of happiness and relaxation among dear friends or business partners, providing the bar area with a certain coziness.

Photographs by Annie Leibovitz

Cigar aficionados will enjoy the cigar lounge that is decked out from top to toe in Baur’s green and decorated with artwork by Swiss artist Dieter Roth, who took tablecloths, or even the floor as his canvas to scribble on.

Painting by Dieter Roth 

Playing all together, the new Baur’s is a feast for all senses. Vive la Brasserie! Vive le Baur’s!

LoL, Sandra

Artwork by Martin Creed

Painting by Rita Ackermann

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

In exactly one week, Zurich will have a new hot spot. Say hello to Baur’s – the new brasserie and bar is part of the famous hotel Baur au Lac.

For the last two decades, the Baur au Lac Grill Room was known as Rive Gauche, and one of Zurich’s most popular restaurants. But at the iconic hotel change is part of its DNA, and Baur’s, an all-new dining concept, inspired by the classic European brasserie, will open on September 20th.

The stunning interior design is blending contemporary chic with international grace in an artful, inviting ambience while the menu offers a fine selection of grill room-inspired dishes, modern takes on culinary classics and plant-based delicacies, paired with a sophisticated wine list, curated by the world’s best sommelier.

Opening hours Brasserie:
Monday – Sunday
Lunch 12 pm – 2:30 pm
Dinner 6 pm – 10:30 pm

Opening hours Bar:
Sunday – Thursday 3 pm – 12 am
Friday – Saturday 3 pm – 1 am

Visit baurs-zurich.ch for more information and to book your table.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Baur’s, Instagram ©baurszurich