Zürich Restaurants

Since the mid-1990s, Zürich's restaurant trade has boomed. The new establishments, both Swiss and international, tend to favor lighter, leaner meals served in bright spaces that often open out to the street. The traditional cuisine, no longer ubiquitous but still easily found, is called nach Zürcher Art, meaning "cooked in the Zürich style." Think meat, mushrooms, potatoes, butter, cream—an extremely rich cuisine, perfectly suited to the leaded-glass and burnished-oak guildhalls.

In exploring Zürich's core, you will want to enter at least one of these famous medieval "union clubhouses" scattered along the riverfront neighborhoods; the best way is to dine in one, as all but the Zunfthaus zur Meisen, the Zunfthaus zur Saffran, and the Zunfthaus zur Schmide have restaurants open to the public. On your way to the restroom, sneak a peek into their other dining rooms—they are, for the most part, museum-perfect in their leaded-glass and Gothic-wood detail.

Zürich's signature dish, which you'll encounter throughout both French and German Switzerland, is Geschnetzeltes Kalbfleisch, or in French émincé de veau, bite-size slices of milky veal (and sometimes veal kidneys) sautéed in butter and swimming in a rich brown sauce thick with cream, white wine, shallots, and mushrooms. Its closest cousin is Geschnetzeltes Kalbsleber (calf's liver), served much the same way. You may also find Rösti, a kind of hash-brown potatoes, and Spätzle, egg noodles that are either pressed through a sieve or snipped, gnocchi-style, and served in butter.

Another culinary must is Zürich's favorite portable food, sausage and Bürli (a crunchy roll), eaten separately, two-fisted style. The best are to be had at Bellevue at the Sternen Grill; Kalbsbratwurst (veal) is mild, the smaller Cervelat (pork) saltier. Join the locals and munch away while waiting for a tram.

Zürichers also have a definite sweet tooth: refined cafés draw crowds for afternoon pastries, and chocolate shops vie for the unofficial honor of making the best chocolate truffles in town.

Restaurants in Zürich have been smoke-free by law since 2010. Some offer smokers' lounges; otherwise expect smoking at outdoor tables, where it is still allowed.

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  • 1. Fischer's Fritz

    $$ | Kreis 2

    This fun, alfresco beiz (canteen) located in an upmarket lakefront campground is a sweet summer alternative to the city’s sunset terraces, which can be crowded and overpriced. Throw a sweater around your shoulders, grab a glass of rosé, and park yourself at a picnic table for vegetable crudité, bowls of truffled pommes frites, and crunchy fried fish like pike, char, perch, and trout, all line-caught in Swiss lakes.

    Seestr. 557, Zürich, Zurich, 8038, Switzerland
    044-4801340

    Known For

    • Fresh seafood
    • Lake views
    • Summer favorite

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon. in winter, Reservations essential
  • 2. George Bar & Grill

    $$$ | Kreis 1

    Walking into George feels like stepping into a Don Draper–hosted cocktail party—the swanky penthouse space is decorated in vivid geometric patterns and warm wood, with pops of tangerine and turquoise, and the chic crowd is buzzing. The meat-centric menu is a mix of grilled fare and comfort dishes. Bartenders are shaking up both classic and new, creative cocktails, and there is often live music.

    Sihlstr. 50, Zürich, Zurich, 8001, Switzerland
    044-4445060

    Known For

    • Lively, hip atmosphere
    • Terrace and large windows with stunning views of the city below
    • Midcentury modern interiors

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
  • 3. Haus zum Rüden

    $$$ | Kreis 1

    The most ambitious of the city's many Zunfthaus dining places, this fine restaurant is also the most spectacular, with a wooden barrel-vaulted ceiling and 30-foot beams, beneath which you can enjoy such innovative entrées as lobster-coconut bisque with dried prawns and mango, or sautéed goose liver. Slick modern improvements—including a glassed-in elevator—manage to blend intelligently with the ancient decor and old-world chandeliers. The river views are especially impressive at night; ask for a window table. The ground-floor bar also offers light lunch refreshments.

    Limmatquai 42, Zürich, Zurich, 8001, Switzerland
    044-2619566

    Known For

    • Old-world elegance
    • Impeccable service
    • Well-prepared Swiss and European fare

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
  • 4. Kronenhalle

    $$$ | Kreis 1

    From Stravinsky, Brecht, and Joyce to Nureyev, Deneuve, and Saint Laurent, this beloved landmark has always drawn a stellar crowd. Every panel of gleaming wood wainscoting frames artworks by Picasso, Braque, Miró, Chagall, or Matisse, collected by Gustav Zumsteg, whose mother, Hulda, owned the restaurant from 1921 until her death in 1985. The tradition is carried on by the family trust, and robust old-school cooking is still served in hefty portions: veal steak in morel sauce, duck à l'orange with red cabbage, and Späetzle, all delivered from a silver trolley. Unless you're a recognizable celebrity, make sure to insist on a table in the main dining room; ordinary mortals are otherwise seated in a less exciting room upstairs.

    Rämistr. 4, Zürich, Zurich, 8001, Switzerland
    044-2629900

    Known For

    • Old-world charm and elegance
    • Stunning art collection
    • Traditional Swiss fare

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Reservations essential
  • 5. Alpenrose

    $$ | Kreis 5

    It doesn't get more Swiss than this: the ingredients, the recipes, the wines, and the decor are all Helvetian (and though traditional, there's a youthful vibe). Enjoy seasonal dishes such as Engadiner pizokel (flour dumplings) with ham, or duck breast with dried-plum sauce and mashed potatoes; the owners' devotion to local ingredients means the menu often changes. The interior is elegantly casual, with wainscoting and etched-glass windows, linen tablecloths, a mounted chamois head, and paintings of the Matterhorn and other well-known landmarks. 

    Fabrikstr. 12, Zürich, Zurich, 8005, Switzerland
    044-2713919

    Known For

    • Swiss specialties with local products
    • Quaint Swiss decor
    • Friendly service

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No lunch weekends
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  • 6. Angkor

    $$ | Kreis 5

    A bit of Siem Reap in the middle of Zürich West: the lavish interior is full of stone carvings and wood latticework that seem right out of Ta Prohm, minus the jungle. The menu is huge and includes generous amounts of green curry, oyster sauce, and ginger, covering India, Thailand, Vietnam, and Japan. The lunch specials are a good deal for those on a budget, and multicourse meals satisfy bigger appetites. Tables double in number in summer with outside seating on the square.

    Giessereistr. 18, Zürich, Zurich, 8005, Switzerland
    043-2052888

    Known For

    • Pan-Asian fare
    • Stylish environment that includes a koi pond
    • Extensive outdoor seating

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun. in summer
  • 7. Bodega Española

    $$ | Kreis 1

    The coats of arms of old Spanish provinces and garlands of onions and garlic line the dark-paneled interior of this upstairs Niederdorf restaurant, specializing in big steaks, seafood, omelets, and paella. Be sure to sample the excellent house Rioja (a Spanish wine specialty shop adjoins, so the choice is extensive). The lively downstairs bar serves amazing tapas, great for lunch. The waiters all come from the old country, so they know what they're talking about.

    Münsterg. 15, Zürich, Zurich, 8001, Switzerland
    044-2512310

    Known For

    • Spanish tapas and dishes like paella
    • Lively downstairs bar
    • Neighborhood feel
  • 8. Boucherie AuGust

    $$ | Kreis 1

    Meat is the name of the game at this deli-inspired restaurant with private booths and terrazzo floors, where grass-fed game is sourced directly from Swiss butchers and farmers. Classics include leberkäese (meat loaf), homemade pâtés, gelatinous terrines, aspics, air-cured mountain meat, and steak pies. Vegans can always expect one or two dishes on the rotating menu to keep the whole table happy.

    Rennweg 1, Zürich, Zurich, 8001, Switzerland
    44-2242828

    Known For

    • Local butcher-sourced meats
    • Leberkäese (meat loaf)
    • Deli-style sandwiches

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Reservations essential
  • 9. Brasserie Seefeld

    $$ | Kreis 8

    Looking for a true taste of Italy in Zürich? This restaurant offers fresh, top-quality, unpretentious food; some of the best specialties are Sardinian. Try the ravioli alla Sanlurese or inquire about the catch of the day. End the evening with a typical Sardinian seadas dessert (a honey and cheese puff pastry) and a glass of Mirto.

    Horneggstr. 15, Zürich, Zurich, 8008, Switzerland
    44-3810771

    Known For

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    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed weekends, Reservations essential
  • 10. Confiserie Sprüngli

    $ | Kreis 1 | Coffee

    Zürich's iconic confectionery, this landmark chocolatier and café for wealthy Bahnhofstrasse habitués concocts excellent seasonal truffles and pastries, though it's most famed for its Luxemburgerli, small cream-filled macaroon-style cookies. Good, plain hot lunches, sandwiches, and salads are also served, as are hot chocolates and coffees. There are also branches at the Hauptbahnhof, on Löwenplatz, and at Zürich airport.

    Paradepl., Zürich, Zurich, 8001, Switzerland
    044-2244711

    Known For

    • Variety of desserts and chocolates
    • Lively atmosphere
    • Great people-watching

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
  • 11. Felix Café am Bellevue

    $ | Kreis 1

    Elaborate ice-cream sundaes and cakes, to eat in or take out, are the specialty here.

    Bellevuepl. 5, Zürich, Zurich, 8001, Switzerland
    044-2518060

    Known For

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  • 12. H. Schwarzenbach

    $ | Kreis 1

    Inhale tempting smells from around the world at this old-style, open-bin store where oak shelves are lined with coffee, dried fruits, nuts, and grains.

    Münsterg. 19, Zürich, Zurich, 8001, Switzerland
    044-2611315

    Known For

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  • 13. IGNIV Zürich by Andreas Caminada

    $$$ | Kreis 1

    Swiss chef Andreas Caminada has long lured Zurichers to Schloss Schauenstein in Canton Graubünden, and now they need not travel for his food thanks to a new branch of IGNIV (one of three in Switzerland) located in a cobblestoned corner of the Altstadt. A svelte dining room with velvet couches and long silver curtains hint at chef Daniel Zeindlhofer’s theatrical cuisine, which includes such dishes as oeufsà la royale with gold flake, venison with cranberries and prunes in cream, and fluffy duck mousse served with fluffier slabs of homemade brioche.

    Marktg. 17, Zürich, Zurich, 8001, Switzerland
    44-2661010

    Known For

    • Swiss locavore dining
    • Creative cocktails
    • Playful, beautifully presented dishes

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No lunch Sat.; closed Sun. and Mon., Reservations essential
  • 14. LaSalle

    $$ | Kreis 5

    This is a favorite haunt of theatergoers heading for the Schauspielhaus Schiffbauhalle—it conveniently shares the same building, where a glass, steel, and concrete interior mixes well with brick elements from the original factory building. Beneath an enormous Murano-glass chandelier, elegantly dressed patrons enjoy wines from a hefty list and delicate dishes that might feature black tiger prawns, langoustines, or beef fillet, all with innovative sauces.

    Schiffbaustr. 4, Zürich, Zurich, 8005, Switzerland
    044-2587071

    Known For

    • Grand, glass-walled building in a former factory
    • Extensive wine list
    • Modern Swiss, French, and Italian fare
  • 15. les halles

    $ | Kreis 5

    An old warehouse space in Zürich West has not so much been renovated as cleaned up and then highlighted with an eclectic mix of antiques and 1950s collectibles, all of which are for sale. Tapas and Mediterranean dishes, including their famous moules frites (mussels and fries) are available to order at the counter. In summer, snag a table on the multitier veranda out front.

    Pfingstweidstr. 6, Zürich, Zurich, 8005, Switzerland
    044-2731125

    Known For

    • Casual, order-at-the-counter vibe
    • One of the few cash-only restaurants in Zürich
    • Integrated market that sells fruit, vegetables, and meat

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
  • 16. Ooki

    $

    This humble izakaya, owned and run by the Japanese-Swiss Oki family, is one of many excellent new Japanese restaurants in town. They serve Japanese soul food like curries, donburi bowls, agedaishi dofu, and crispy kaarage that complement the nice selection of Japanese beer, sake, and cocktails like pink sake spritzes. In 2021, they opened a second location in a modernist glass pavilion in Letzigrund, which also became the location for their Summer Garden Pavilion Party with Japanese knife sharpening and origami courses, and kiosks selling kakigōri (Japanese shaved ice), homemade miso and soy, and other Japanese crafts and goods.

    Zentralstr. 53, Zürich, Zurich, 8003, Switzerland
    044-4611586

    Known For

    • Donburi bowls
    • Sake cocktails
    • Communal outdoor picnic benches

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No lunch weekends
  • 17. Reithalle

    $$ | Kreis 1

    In a downtown theater complex behind Bahnhofstrasse, this old military riding stable now does its duty as a noisy and popular restaurant where its past is plain to see, with candles perched on the mangers and beams. Young locals share long tables to sample international specialties—from curry to ostrich tenderloin—many of them vegetarian, as well as an excellent list of open wines from all over the world listed on the blackboard. In summer the courtyard is lined with communal tables.

    Gessnerallee 8, Zürich, Zurich, 8001, Switzerland
    044-2120766

    Known For

    • Lively young crowd
    • Good list of wines by the glass
    • Summer beer garden
  • 18. Restaurant Oepfelchammer

    $$ | Kreis 1

    Dating from 1801, and once the haunt of Zürich's beloved writer Gottfried Keller, this lively restaurant serves traditional meat dishes—Geschnetzeltes Kalbfleisch—lightened up with fresh seasonal vegetables and a champagne sauce. One section is a dark and heavily graffitied wine bar, with sagging timbers and slanting floors; there are also two welcoming little dining rooms with coffered ceilings and plenty of carved oak and damask—choose the cozy, charming Gaststube (not the more staid Stübli). It's always packed, and service can be slow, so stake out a table and plan to spend the evening. Guests who succeed in swinging around the room's famous wooden rafters three times win free wine for their table. You'd be amazed at the number of diners who make the attempt.

    Rindermarkt 12, Zürich, Zurich, 8001, Switzerland
    044-2512336

    Known For

    • Tongue-in-cheek attitude
    • Traditional Swiss fare
    • Lively, often crowded, atmosphere

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
  • 19. Seerose

    $$$ | Kreis 2

    As soon as it even vaguely looks like it'll be warm enough, the hip deck-shoe crowd drives, runs, cycles, or even sails to one of the best places on the lake, which not only has its own dock, but is its own dock, jutting far out and offering fabulous views. The food isn't bad either: seasonal ingredients make the difference in dishes such as beef tournedos with matchstick-thin French fries, or spaghetti with lobster. Sunglasses required.

    Seestr. 493, Zürich, Zurich, 8038, Switzerland
    044-4816383

    Known For

    • Lakeside dining with stunning views
    • Chic crowd
    • Lively terrace
  • 20. Sternen Grill

    $ | Kreis 1

    At lunchtime the line for its legendary take-out bratwurst sausages snakes out along a neighboring street, but it moves quickly, because the choice is relatively limited and most choose the freshly grilled veal sausage (bratwurst) or pork-based Cervelat. Once handed your order, grab a traditional large Bürli bread roll and some in-house spicy mustard from the front counter, then sit at the Sternen Grill’s tables or wander across to the Sechseläutenplatz, with its wide-open space in front of the Opernhaus, before strolling to the lakefront. Upstairs the Sternen Grill offers sit-down service and a wider menu. A long table winding around the outside balcony provides the perfect chance for people-watching as you gaze down onto a bustling tram hub.

    Theaterstr. 22, Zürich, Zurich, 8001, Switzerland
    43-2682080

    Known For

    • Take-out bratwurst sausages and homemade mustard
    • Friendly service
    • Bustling vibe

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