Hotel Belle Epoque

This establishment is possessed of a singular variation on the sense of history that pervades most of Bern. It will not appeal to those who love clean lines and modern simplicity, but the hotel's small size and stated commitment to the 'existential lightness' of its eponymous epoch mean that guests can expect a warm welcome. It's also something of find for art lovers - provided they share the owner's obsessive historical focus - with an unexpected collection of original pieces by Klimt and Toulouse-Lautrec. The in-house restaurant is cosy and specialises in steak tartare; otherwise the fare is simple if not particularly remarkable, but you might be in danger of overdosing on the décor, such is the period attention to detail in the dining room. The bar, meanwhile, offers a suitably authentic setting for a frivolous cocktail.