Restaurants
Zurich boasts a plethora of eateries catering to just about
every nationality under the sun, including, of course, restaurants
with strong French, German and Italian cuisine influences.
Try the delicious traditional Christmas snack,
Tirggel,
which are hard, thin and very sweet biscuits made from four and
honey.
Zürcher Geschnetzeltes, a veal stew made with
mushrooms, white wine and cream is a must while in Zurich, and
visitors will notice potato Rösti is a popular local dish.
Other famous exports not to be missed are, of course, the decadent
and delicious Swiss chocolate as well as Swiss cheeses, such as
Emmental, Gruyère, Vacherin, and Appenzeller.
The left bank and right bank areas are where all the best
restaurants can be found. It is customary to make reservations in
advance and a service charge of 15% is usually included in
restaurant bills. Further tipping is unnecessary but leftover
change is always appreciated.
| Petermann’s Kunststuben |
$$$$$ | French |
Widely considered to be one of the finest restaurants in
Switzerland, even perhaps the whole of Europe, maestro chef and
owner Horst Petermann's award-winning reputation attracts the
wealthy gourmets of Zurich and boasts a celebrity list that
includes the Swiss president, singer Tina Turner (who lives nearby)
and the emperor of Japan. The restaurant is in the lakeside town of
Kusnacht, about 15 minutes from the city, housed in an elegantly
decorated building that was once an art gallery. The menu changes
regularly, and can include outstanding speciality lobster dishes or
a number of other inventive dishes such as Tuscan dove, scampi
lasagne in lemongrass sauce or stuffed squid with a fennel confit.
All entrées, desserts and cheeses are of exceptional
quality, as is the wine cellar. Open for lunch and dinner Tuesday
to Saturday. Advance booking essential.
Address: Seestrasse 160, Küsnacht
Telephone: (0)44 910 0715
| Kronenhalle |
$$$$$ | Local |
One of Zurich's most famous restaurants, Kronenhalle is the
place to see and be seen, and over the years has attracted
celebrity greats such as James Joyce, Pablo Picasso, Richard
Strauss and Yves Saint-Laurent. The interior is decorated with
original works of famous 20th-century artists including Picasso,
Matisse and Miró. The fare is traditional Swiss and includes
huge portions of rösti, a delicious herring in double cream,
veal steak and duck liver. Reservations are essential.
Address: Rämistrasse 4 (Right Bank)
Telephone: (0)44 262 9900
| Zunfthaus Zur Zimmerleuten |
$$$$$ | Local |
Originally the carpenter's guildhall, Zunfthaus Zur Zimmerleuten
is one of the architectural showpieces of Zurich. Up a flight of
Baroque stairs, the elegant dining room serves up dishes that
combine Zurich specialities with chef innovations, including the
Lake Zurich fish soup with garlic rouille or the triple fillet
accompanied with rösti and cream sauce. Reservations
recommended. Open daily.
Address: Limmatquai 40 (Right Bank)
Telephone: (0)44 250 5361
| Zeughauskeller |
$$$$$ | Local |
The huge dining hall built in 1487, with thick stone pillars,
wooden beams and a decorative ceiling, was originally the city's
armoury, and the medieval character of the restaurant is
highlighted by the décor, with weapons and paintings from
the Middle Ages, and waitresses in old-fashioned costume. Known for
its tasty traditional Swiss meals, the portions are hearty and
served with local beer. Classic speciality dishes include the
Zurich-style sliced veal and mushrooms and rösti potatoes.
Zeughauskeller also offers a wide variety of different types of
sausage. Open daily from 11.30am. Reservations recommended.
Address: Bahnhofstrasse 28a, Paradeplatz (Left Bank)
E-mail: info@zeughauskeller.ch
Telephone: (0)44 211 2690
| Blaue Ente |
$$$$$ | Modern Eclectic |
Situated on the site of a 300-year old mill, this slick modern
restaurant draws trendsetters from the advertising and arts scene
who are attracted by the modern approach to fresh ingredients and
light cuisine. Duck ('blaue ente' means 'blue duck') is the house
speciality and comes in various forms. Other dishes include fish
and crustaceans, loin of lamb, vegetarian curry and pastas.
Reservations recommended.
Address: Seefeldstrasse 223
E-mail: info@blaue-ente.ch
Telephone: (0)44 388 6840
| Veltliner Keller |
$$$$$ | Local |
Established in 1325 as a wine cellar and a restaurant in 1551,
Veltliner Keller evokes a sense of history and charm in its
detailed wooden panelling. Orginally used to store Italian-Swiss
wines that were transported to Zurich over the Alps, this
delightful restaurant offers wholesome, heart cuisine that will not
disappoint. The seasonal menu includes Swiss and Italian dishes as
well as the traditional Zurich dish,
kalbsgeschnetzeltes
(sliced veal and mushrooms in a white wine sauce).
Address: Schlüsselgasse 8
Telephone: (01) 225 4040
| Hummerbar |
$$$$$ | Seafood |
Located in the St Gotthard Hotel, the Hummerbar (Lobsterbar) is
one of Zurich's top dining spots. The rich scarlet décor and
dark wood creates the perfect setting for a romantic dinner. Fresh
caviar, oysters and shellfish are flown in daily from Iran,
ensuring
quality cuisine of the highest standard. You won't be
disappointed. Open Monday to Thursday for dinner and
breakfast, lunch and dinner on weekends.
Address: Hotel St Gotthard, Bahnhofstrasse 87
Telephone: (01) 227 7700
| Café Bar Odéon |
$$$$$ | Café |
This trendy cafe and bar, formerly a coffeehouse where the
pre-revolutionary Lenin met intellectuals, has been transformed
into a art-noveau eatery frequented by locals and tourists alike.
Other celebrities to have dines here include the likes of Joyce,
Einstein, Mata Hari and Mussolini. Nowadays it is the bourgeois
chic crowd who like to dine on fine pasta dishes and other
delicious dishes. This eatery remains open late so expect an
eventful evening! Reservations recommended.
Address: Limmatquai 2
Telephone: +0442 511 650
| Chez Crettol |
$$$$$ | Local |
A trip to Switzerland would be incomplete without sampling
traditional Swiss fare. A country famous for cheese, most notably
the tasty Gruyere variety, communal dishes such as Raclette and
Fondue are commonplace in both Swiss homes and upmarket
restaurants. Ideal for a wintery treat, head to Chez Crettol where
these particular dishes are the speciality. With a selection of
Fondues to choose from, patrons can while away the time dipping,
twirling and eating and finishing off with a zesty local white
wine. For those who can't handle more than a few mouthfuls of
bread, opt for Raclette, which is a combination of boilt potatoes,
pickled onions and gherkins, drizzled with melted cheese, which is
scraped off a melting block. For a heart-warming Swiss evening, a
warm crackling fireplace and an understated environment that looks
characteristically similar to a Swiss dining room, Chez Crettol is
the place. Open daily for dinner.
Address: Florastrasse 22, Kusnacht
Telephone: 044 910 0315
| Seerose |
$$$$$ | International |
With one of the best locations in Zurich, the Seerose offers a
romantic element to Zurich dining. Situated on the vast lake,
guests are surrounded by water, quaint boats, city lights and
majestic snow-capped mountains. Whether you are looking for a sunny
and crisp lunchtime venue or an evening out, with a European flair,
the Seerose will fulfil your expectations. Reminiscent of a yacht
on the Mediterranean with elegant beachhouse trimmings, the Seerose
serves up fresh cuisine ranging from seafood to curry. Start with
goat's cheese and honey on a salad bouquet or a Salade Noel, with
chicory, nuts, fresh fruits and an Indian sauce. Popular mains
include moule et frites and duck l'orange or for the more
adventurous, a red beef curry. Open daily for lunch and dinner,
booking recommended.
Address: Seestrasse 493
Telephone: 044 481 6383
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