Fred Hotel Central Zurich: New 4-Star Hotel in the Heart of Zurich

There’s a brand new hotel in Zurich – Fred Hotel Central. Fred Hotels Zürich is run by Stéphanie Portmann, granddaughter of founder Fred Tschanz, together with her husband and CEO Domenic Zembrod.

I was lucky enough to be one of the very first guests to stay in the hotel, just before Fred Hotel Central Zurich, officially opened its doors. In fact, this was the first time I’ve ever stayed in a hotel before it had officially launched, which made the experience particularly fun. Everything was freshly finished, the rooms were pristine and there was that unmistakable feeling of being somewhere brand new before most people had even had the chance to see it.

I stayed in Room 401, a smart, modern room on the fourth floor, and it gave me the perfect opportunity to experience the hotel and its new concept ahead of the official opening on 1st October 2026. Located on Leonhardstrasse, it’s just a few minutes’ walk or a short hop on the tram to Zurich Main Station. In fact from Haldenegg tram stop is right outside the hotel. Fred Hotel Central is the completely refurbished former Leoneck Hotel. The historic building dates back to 1937, but following an extensive transformation, the interior is now thoroughly contemporary, with clever room design, modern technology and a fresh, minimalist style.

View from room 401 over Zurich

Operating as a four-star hotel, Fred Hotel Central is particularly well placed for anyone wanting to explore Zurich on foot. The Old Town, Bahnhofstrasse, ETH Zurich, the Swiss National Museum and the lake are all within easy reach, while the trams make getting around the rest of the city incredibly easy. After spending a night here myself, I think it will be a particularly useful address to know about for friends and family visiting Zurich, as well as anyone coming to the city for a weekend break, business trip, the Christmas Markets or one of Zurich’s many events.

A Very Central Hotel in Zurich

As the name suggests, one of the biggest advantages of Fred Hotel Central Zurich is its location. The hotel is at Leonhardstrasse 1, 8001 Zurich, just above Central and only a few minutes’ walk from Zurich Hauptbahnhof. From here you can easily reach the Old Town, Bahnhofstrasse, ETH Zurich, the University of Zurich and the Swiss National Museum on foot. Trams from Central also take you quickly to Bellevue, Lake Zurich and many other parts of the city. If you’re coming to Zurich without a car, it is a particularly convenient location.

And if you are visiting Zurich for the Christmas Markets, Zurich Film Festival, shopping, sightseeing or to see friends and family, having the Main Station and several major tram connections so close is a real advantage.

From the Leoneck Hotel to Fred Hotel Central

Fred Hotel Central feels completely new inside, but the building itself has a long history. The property on Leonhardstrasse was constructed in 1937 and was known for many years as the Leoneck Swiss Hotel. Zurich restaurateur and entrepreneur Fred Tschanz bought the former Leoneck-Haus in 1996, marking his move into the hotel business.

Fred Tschanz is an important name in Zurich hospitality and the Fred Tschanz Group also includes the legendary Café Bar ODEON at Bellevue. In 2023, the company’s hotels were brought together under the Fred Hotels Zürich brand, named in honour of Fred Tschanz. The former Leoneck is now the new Fred Hotel Central.

You can see some Instagram Impressions here:

View this post on Instagram

A Complete Modern Makeover

The refurbishment has transformed the hotel into a contemporary four-star property. The style is clean, pared-back and modern, with an emphasis on making the available space work extremely well. Rather than filling the rooms with unnecessary furniture, the design is deliberately minimalist and practical. Fred Hotels describes this as its SmartStay concept, combining a central location, minimalist design, mobile check-in and personal assistance from the hotel’s Local Hosts.

You can also use a digital room key on your smartphone. I was initially a bit sceptical about this – but actually it worked really well and was so much easier than having to look after a plastic card key. The room was very sleek and practical, with everything cleverly thought out. And one feature which can be particularly welcome during Zurich’s increasingly hot summers is individually adjustable air-conditioning. The rooms also offer high-speed WiFi, modern bathrooms and comfortable beds.

Rooms at Fred Hotel Central Zurich

There is a good variety of accommodation, ranging from rooms for solo travellers and couples to larger options for families. The hotel offers Queensize Rooms, Kingsize Rooms, Family Rooms, a Family Suite and a Rooftop Suite.

The Family Rooms accommodate up to four guests, while the Family Suite also sleeps up to four and features a balcony with views across Zurich. The Rooftop Suite, as you might expect, is all about the views over the rooftops of the city. Depending on your room category, you can therefore enjoy some lovely views over Zurich, and the upper floors are particularly attractive. Many of the rooms ( like room 401) also have balconies, which is a lovely bonus in such a central location.

Breakfast at Fred Hotel Central

Although Fred Hotel Central isn’t designed around a full-service hotel restaurant, it does serve a very good breakfast buffet. The emphasis is on fresh produce, with bread, cheese, egg dishes, fruit, croissants, coffee and tea. Breakfast can also be added separately if it isn’t included with your room. During my stay, I found breakfast to be very good and it was a relaxed way to start the day before heading out into the city. There is also complimentary coffee and tea available for hotel guests. And of course, being right in the middle of Zurich means there is no shortage of cafés and restaurants nearby.

Café Bar ODEON and the Fred Tschanz Connection

One place that is particularly worth knowing about is the historic Café Bar ODEON at Bellevue. ODEON and Fred Hotel Central are both part of the Fred Tschanz Group, and the famous café has been part of the company since 1972. It is one of Zurich’s legendary meeting places and over the years has welcomed an extraordinary list of writers, artists, intellectuals and famous personalities, incuding James Joyce, Albert Einstein, Vladimir Lenin, Mata Hari, Max Frisch
Friedrich Dürrenmatt and the Dadaists to name just a few.

So if you are staying at Fred Hotel Central and are looking for somewhere atmospheric for lunch, dinner or a drink, ODEON is certainly worth visiting. From Fred Hotel Central you can either walk through the Old Town towards Bellevue or simply hop on a tram from Central.

Ideal for a Zurich City Break

What I particularly liked about Fred Hotel Central is that it works well for many different types of Zurich visitor. If you’re in town for a weekend, the location allows you to spend your time exploring rather than travelling backwards and forwards to your hotel.

You can walk down into the Old Town, visit the Swiss National Museum, take the Polybahn up towards ETH, shop along Bahnhofstrasse or continue towards Lake Zurich and Bellevue. It’s also extremely convenient if you’re arriving by train from elsewhere in Switzerland. And if you are flying into Zurich Airport, direct trains bring you straight into Zurich Hauptbahnhof, from where the hotel is just a short walk away.

Fred Hotel Central 10% Opening Offer

There is also a useful introductory offer to coincide with the opening. If you book a stay direct at Fred Hotel Central up until 31st December 2026 you will get a 10% discount. This could be particularly useful if you’re planning a visit to Zurich for the Christmas Markets, the switching on of the Lucy Christmas Lights, winter events or to visit friends and family.

Zurich is always especially atmospheric during the festive season, and hotels in the centre can become very busy, so this offer is worth bearing in mind if you are planning a trip before the end of the year.