Gasthof Oxen

From behind its five centuries-old heritage façade, the historic inn, Gasthof OXEN, happily mimics the traditional lineup from the well-mannered village of Küsnacht located on Zürich's so-called Gold Coast (as it gets the best sunshine), a sort of Swiss version of the Hamptons with a marina, sailboats, water's edge villas, indie boutiques and galleries. The hanging sign and logo above the door usher a note of creativity and hint that this is no ordinary inn. 

The OXEN has been on a bit of a transformational journal and, like all good finds, has become an insanely popular hub with the affluent locals, captains of industry, incognito celebs (Küsnacht was home to the late Tina Turner), the creative set and nomads on the hunt for something authentic and off radar. It is a place to dine, grab a coffee and magazine, an overnight pitstop, a guesthouse for families and a familiar place to socialise and convene.    

Thinking outside of the "Ox"

Behind the scenes, in what was initially a pop-up idea floated amongst close friends, a mix of CEOs, titans of the restaurant and hotel scenes AKA Markus Binkert, Thomas Maechler, Marc Wegenstein from Binz Gastro AG and Tyler Brûlé - chairman of Monocle and branding agency, Winkreative. Monocle's Brûlé and his trusty design-savvy team have adopted this offspring, adding the distinctive Monocle touches. The four revamped the restaurant with just the right amount of change and outback; they created a cafe kiosk and boutique. Upstairs, they polished up the hostelry dorms and added a rather dapper and personally curated two-bedroom private-hire apartment suite that sits above the OXEN. 

The Crashpad Upstairs

Bang-on-trend like a handful of private-hire upstairs apartments located above luxury crafted atelier stores (Maison Empereur in Marseille, Graanmarkt 13 Antwerp designed by Belgian architect Vincent Van Duysen, and above Parisian fashion line Marie-Sixtine), the OXEN offers a discreet, only-for-those-in-the-know upstairs private domaine, an abode of style located on the second floor – The Monocle Suite. 

The spacious suite, ideal for long weekends on the lake from downtown Zürich, sports two bedrooms, a spacious living room and a full kitchen. The interiors house a collection of original art and photography from Monocle's archives, painters and illustrators from around the region, and vintage posters from Brûlé's collection. Furnished with a mix of mid-century Swiss, US and German classics, the apartment also showcases designs from Hakola, Burel Factory, Tiptoe, Johanna Gullichsen and Paris-based ASL.

Stroganoff'ly Handsome

The OXEN Restaurant (formerly ‘Ochsen’) has been redone with a considerate heart - it is contemporary old-school with a 'gentlemanly' handsome decked interior design of sultry green, Loden cloth, crisp white linens, historical wooden panelling and original light fixtures (now with dimmers) and the walls are dotted with conversation-worthy artworks - all the hallmarks of a notable Swiss restaurant downtown. 

Chef Nicolas Hildebrandt heads up the kitchens with a concept that heralds popular classics of Swiss cuisine. Together with the game warden Jeanine Egli from Oetwil a.S. and other hunters from the region, he creates a simple, ingenious game dish every day, no matter what you bring him, whether deer or even wild boar: the main thing is regional. Staples include the Vogelsalat with Speck, Schnitzels, beef Stroganoff with Spätzle, and risotto with baked butternut squash and a delicious apple tarte tatin. The wine card is well edited and includes local producer, Diederik Michel of Weingut Diederik, listing his decent Räuschling Küsnacht, vintage 2023. 

With about 50 seats indoors and more than 60 in the garden (remember this is Zürich's Gold Coast, so there are lots of al fresco good times to be had from springtime to late summer), as well as room for another 50 in the venue OXENsaal - the hub is buzzing.

The Brainstorm Campus or Outsource the Aunt

Coined the OXEN Sleeper Service, the top floor is given to seven minimalist bedrooms of essential comfort decked in glacial whites; each comes with a wash sink and two well-equipped shared bathrooms. Modern gestures pep up the accommodation and are perfect for a little sleepover for the company branding sesh, a birthday bash with rooms, and also affordably ideal if the family are always welcome to stay as long as it's not with you at home. 

The next 100 years

The OXEN is ready for another century - revamped and lovingly remaining at the heart of village life, the Gasthof is more than a restaurant with rooms (and one fabulous apartment suite); it is a vibrant hub where creatively tames tradition and people convene, socialise and sleepover in the 'Hamptons' of downtown Zürich.