The location
Conveniently located for visiting the numerous watch emporia of Biel (or Bienne, if you are a French-speaker), the Mercure at Biel is easy to find and is within walking distance of the town’s cafés, parks, and picturesque stream that flows through the centre. This functional yet slightly swanky establishment plays host to helpful staff, a restaurant named Barrique, a jazz club with smokers’ lounge, and underground car park.
The room
Quite Spartan in some respects, and overall had a slightly dated feeling (as many Mercures do), but with a comfortable bed and a wide offering of TV channels on the flat screen (including the BBC).
The breakfast
Totally forgettable and generally mediocre, excepting perhaps the fresh fruit on offer. Included in your room rate. The same could be said of the hotel’s restaurant, Barrique, where we ate dinner: food was mediocre and overpriced, even though portions were generous (some would say oversized).
The price
€200 for one night, including breakfast and dinner. Not the deal of the century, but adequate for our needs. At any rate, it enabled us to discover beautiful Biel, which we would definitely revisit, even if not specifically using this hotel.
Rue du Marché-Neuf 40, 2502 Biel/Bienne, Switzerland
+41 32 328 68 68
http://www.mercure.com/gb/hotel-6166-mercure-plaza-biel/index.shtml
The Flying Ferret 