History & Philosophy

Inspired by countless private and business trips and by their passion for design, architecture and culinary delights, Tanja and Michael Zimmer had shared a common dream for quite some time; to open a boutique hotel in their home town of Saarbrücken. After extensive enquiries, they learnt that a historical landmark from Wilhelminian times located at Max-Ophüls-Platz was up for sale. The ideal home for their cherished project had been found. According to Tanja and Michael, it is “the most beautiful building in the entire city”.

Their project began with the creation of ESPLANADE in 2015. This is a modern restaurant with a touch of world-renowned French gourmet cuisine. It was honoured with its first MICHELIN Star in 2018. This award served as the culinary foundation and triggered the renovation works for the entirety of the boutique hotel. Over the course of two and a half years, commitment, utmost respect for the original structure and a true devotion to detail, are what it took to modernise and furnish the building, in collaboration with local craftspeople.

The first-time awarding of the second Michelin star to the gourmet restaurant under the culinary direction of Chef Silio Del Fabro in 2021 also marks the rise of the boutique hotel to become one of the top addresses in the country. This is reflected - only two years later - in the inclusion as a member of Relais & Châteaux, as well as being selected as one of only five destinations nationwide in the „Readers Choice“-Category“ „Gourmet" in the Falstaff Hotel Guide 2023.