Essential by Dorint Basel City

Since the beginning of the Hotel Nomad project, Essential by Dorint Basel City has been the first Hotel belonging to a chain that I have covered. I confess I wasn’t sure what to expect and how different it would be from all others so far.

Even though there is a more significant entity behind and one can spot specific standards and guidelines given by the Headquarters to ensure the quality and promise across the different sites, a familiar feeling is still present. A small, passionate team that runs the business locally.

At the beginning of June, Dorint Basel became Essential by Dorint Basel City. A younger version of what it used to be - more relaxed, more modern, targeting business individuals and companies as well as young couples and families who are looking for a city trip.

What, at first impression, might seem to be a random location is anything but that. The Hotel is located in the Clara neighbourhood, the smallest in town. A cute region to walk around and discover the little bits of it. The famous Congress Center Basel is located only 5minutes by foot from the Hotel, where the building is a must-see. With a cool round skylight on top of the tram station. A gigantic hole that gives you a glimpse of the sky between concrete and makes you feel small. Next to the Congress, you will find the Messe Basel, where I was lucky enough to visit the Banksy exhibition (running until September 2021 - definitely worth checking out to get some artistic inspiration).

Various little good restaurants and coffee shops are to be found in the neighbourhood. Walking past the Clara region, you will already see the Rhein river, a city trademark. Walking by the shore and crossing the bridge to visit the other side of the city (including the old town and the Münsterplatz) is a must. Ensure also to visit the bridges during sunset to get mesmerised by the view and enjoy a beautiful summer evening.

Towards the other side of the Hotel, you will find the counterbalance to the urban surroundings - the Wiese river, the Tierpark Lange Erlen and various paths in the surrounding woods. Be it jogging, walking or with a bike (4 e-bikes are available at the Hotel, and I can highly recommend using them); one can get some nature time closer than one would imagine. The path can lead you to Germany (I confess I haven’t gone that far this time, but it sparked some curiosity within).

Going back to the Hotel itself: it encompasses all amenities one would want to find: a rich breakfast buffet, a restaurant for dinner, a bar for drinks, gym, conference rooms, and it is the only Hotel in the region with a garden with enough space for the kids to run wild.

Together with the repositioning of the Hotel, they have also created a fun new lobby. The instagramable type - with enough spaces to wait, drink a coffee, get some news updates and take cool pictures. There’s also a little library next to the restaurant, the perfect spot to get some work done for the ones searching for a home office alternative or simply unwinding with a cup of coffee.

It was a pleasure to have @socialbutterflyish from @swisshotelinfluencer over and co-creating fun shootings to show a little bit of the Hotel’s lifestyle.

Super happy to have had the opportunity of getting to know another side of Basel and thankful to the entire Essential by Dorint Basel for their fantastic hospitality and friendliness, making it a warm home for the week I’ve spent here.