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Classic but boundary pushing, bank-breaking but exquisite gourmet cuisine has long been one of Basel's fortes. New trends are appearing and disappearing in the blink of an eye. Snuggled between three countries, Basel has inherited the culinary interests of each, and excels with offering its own specialties and those of its neigh
Classic but boundary pushing, bank-breaking but exquisite gourmet cuisine has long been one of Basel's fortes. New trends are appearing and disappearing in the blink of an eye. Snuggled between three countries, Basel has inherited the culinary interests of each, and exc
Classic but boundary pushing, bank-breaking but exquisite gourmet cuisine has long been one of Basel's fortes. New trend
Classic but boundary pushing, bank-breaking but exquisite gourmet cuisine has long been one of Basel's fortes. New trends are appearing and disappearing in the blink of an eye. Snuggled between three countries, Basel has inherited the culinary interests of each, and excels with offering its own specialties and those of its neighbors—and beyond.
Eating out here, as anywhere in Switzerland, can be a costly delight, and top of the range. Michelin-starred restaurants are plentiful. At the other end of the scale, you will never have to go far for a German-style sausage, Italian pasta, or mouthwatering desserts, as reliable local restaurants and cafés can be found on practically every street. Basel is, in fact, full of comfortable haunts. The city's down-to-earth fare owes its roots to the Germanic hordes who arrived here to rout the ancient Romans, bringing with them homey dishes like schnitzel and Spätzle (tiny dumplings), all to be washed down with beer.
As for dining specialties, the proximity of the Rhine means that most Basel restaurants serve a variety of freshwater fish. If the city could claim a regional specialty, it would be salmon. (These days much of it is shipped in from elsewhere, but the Rhine variety is making a comeback.) The meaty fish is best served nach Basler Art (Basel-style), meaning in a white-wine marinade with fried onions on top. Try it with a bottle of the fruity local Riesling.
If you're on the Marktplatz, join other hungry shoppers standing in front of mobile kitchens, holding bare Wienerli (hot dogs) and dipping them into thick golden mustard. You should also indulge in Kaffee und Kuchen—the late-afternoon coffee break the neighboring Germans live for. But locals have their own version: instead of a large slice of creamed cake, they select tiny sweet pastries—two or three to a saucer—and may opt for a delicate Chinese tea instead of a Kaffee.
Beyond local specialties, Basel's strengths are Thai and Middle Eastern cuisines, whether you choose the ubiquitous kebab (a Turkish gyro), a spicy bowl of green curry, or one of the fusion dishes that appear even in Basel's most traditional dining rooms.
For a satisfying and budget-friendly lunch, many restaurants offer lunch specials (Tagesmenu) that include a dish of the day, a starter or salad, and maybe even a dessert. They are the best way to eat well on a budget. Smoking is banned in all restaurants in Basel—except on terraces.
In a grand, chandelier-bedecked dining room with sweeping views of the Rhine, chef Peter Knogl prepares sophisticated, beautifully presented French creations (with touches of Mediterranean...
In a grand, chandelier-bedecked dining room with sweeping views of the Rhine, chef Peter Knogl prepares sophisticated, beautifully presented French creations (with touches of Mediterranean and Asian flavors) using decadent ingredients. The intimate three-Michelin-star restaurant within the Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois—one of Switzerland's best—has only 10 tables, perfect for people-watching. Service is impeccable and surprisingly relaxed, with charming servers ready to attend to guests' every need. Five- or six-course tasting menus are the best option, and for a special treat, opt for the wine pairings to experience some unusual, inspired choices perfectly matched to the exquisite cuisine.
Choose a few jewel-like pastries and order leaf-brewed tea in the carved-wood dining room up the stairs from the tempting displays of chocolates at Confiserie...
Choose a few jewel-like pastries and order leaf-brewed tea in the carved-wood dining room up the stairs from the tempting displays of chocolates at Confiserie Schiesser, steeping since 1870 in its prime location opposite the Town Hall. Light lunches include a selection of salads, quiches, and crepes.
The formal Bel Étage showcases chef Michael Baader's masterly culinary inventions, with seasonal dishes using a mix of Swiss and international ingredients; for the best...
The formal Bel Étage showcases chef Michael Baader's masterly culinary inventions, with seasonal dishes using a mix of Swiss and international ingredients; for the best sampling, try one of the tasting menus, with well-thought-out wine pairings. The restaurant takes up four rooms of the historic Teufelhof hotel and is jazzed up with modern art on the walls, plus there's a lovely terrace for when the weather's fine. In the on-site wine shop, you can buy bottles of the wines you liked best to take home. Don't miss the fantastic cheese trolley for dessert.
Chef Tanja Grandits gives her guests a delightful culinary experience in a refined—but not uptight—setting, using a cuisine style that the German-born chef calls "aroma...
Chef Tanja Grandits gives her guests a delightful culinary experience in a refined—but not uptight—setting, using a cuisine style that the German-born chef calls "aroma kitchen." Contrasting flavors, colors, and textures shine through in fanciful creations of fish, seafood, and Swiss meats combined with unusual touches such as wasabi mousse or green tea guacamole, which can be sampled in the nine-course "Aroma Menu" (also available in a vegetarian version), or in the more affordable three- to five-course lunchtime menus. The restaurant is in the residential neighborhood of Bruderholz; take tram No. 15 or 16 from Marktplatz, get off at Jakobsberg, and walk about 15 minutes.
Zum Goldenen Fass (the Golden Barrel) bills itself as "radically seasonal and totally regional," with the emphasis on the unique rather than the traditional. Come...
Zum Goldenen Fass (the Golden Barrel) bills itself as "radically seasonal and totally regional," with the emphasis on the unique rather than the traditional. Come not for tablecloths or thick menus—you won’t find them—but instead for the focus on local ingredients, a regularly changing menu, and an excellent wine list.
This much-loved establishment has been serving up a selection of the finest Piedmont cuisine for more than 70 years and is well-known for its antipasti...
This much-loved establishment has been serving up a selection of the finest Piedmont cuisine for more than 70 years and is well-known for its antipasti and wonderfully decadent desserts. Don't come here for modern Italian food—the menu is quite traditional, with a fine selection of classic pasta, fish, and meat dishes. The elegant atmosphere is quite traditional, too, though has been gently refreshed by the new owners in 2020. Dine while enjoying the view of the Rhine from your white-draped table. Riverside terrace seating is available.
St. Johanns-Vorstadt 48, Basel, Basel-City, 4056, Switzerland
This classic, comfortable gathering place serves typical Swiss food, including Wiener schnitzel and Rösti, with seasonal side dishes, as well as a smattering of international...
This classic, comfortable gathering place serves typical Swiss food, including Wiener schnitzel and Rösti, with seasonal side dishes, as well as a smattering of international and vegetarian options; in summer, enjoy grilled Schweinswürstl (pork sausages) in the lovely outdoor courtyard. With stained-glass lamps, ceramic stoves, and attractive woodwork, it's a nice mix of bistro and beer hall.
In this quiet little bistro right in the middle of the shopping mayhem of Gerbergasse, the friendly staff will bring you tasty inventions with an...
In this quiet little bistro right in the middle of the shopping mayhem of Gerbergasse, the friendly staff will bring you tasty inventions with an Italian slant, including what some claim is Basel's best fresh pasta. The daily menus always include a vegetarian, fish, and meat option, and à la carte menu items are clearly labeled as vegetarian or vegan (though there are plenty of delectable nonvegetarian options, too). The small but bright and uncluttered dining room upstairs is an appealing, though simple, place to dine, and in warm weather, outdoor seating at small tables in the cobblestone alley completes the medieval feel.
With its floor-to-ceiling windows, vaulted ceilings, and wide-open spaces, this eclectic eatery on the edge of the Old Town offers a cosmopolitan atmosphere where you...
With its floor-to-ceiling windows, vaulted ceilings, and wide-open spaces, this eclectic eatery on the edge of the Old Town offers a cosmopolitan atmosphere where you can find cuisine from around the world. The market-fresh lunch menu changes daily and the dinner menu rotates monthly, but the Thai curries are always a good bet, and the salade de chevre chaud croustillant (warm and crispy goat cheese salad) with truffle oil and honey is a tasty classic with a twist. There's also an impressive cocktail bar and music until the wee hours of the morning. The sidewalk terrace is a perfect spot to lunch and people-watch in warm weather.
The Teufelhof hotel's less expensive dining option, the artsy Atelier serves modern cuisine made with regional ingredients. Daily specials are written on chalkboards, and the...
The Teufelhof hotel's less expensive dining option, the artsy Atelier serves modern cuisine made with regional ingredients. Daily specials are written on chalkboards, and the unfussy à la carte menu always features lighter fare like soups and salads along with seasonal pasta, vegetarian, and meat plates. The house specialty is a classic, though now hard to find, Basel dish: veal cutlets from a local butcher served with fried potatoes and wild pepper jus. Wine is also more than an afterthought here, with more than 400 bottles on its appealing Swiss- and Euro-centric list. Best of all, unlike many Basel restaurants, Atelier is open on Sunday and Monday.
With the splashing of the paper mill's waterwheel in the background, this is a restful spot for lunch, afternoon coffee, or Sunday brunch (it's open...
With the splashing of the paper mill's waterwheel in the background, this is a restful spot for lunch, afternoon coffee, or Sunday brunch (it's open only until 6 pm), whether in the medieval house or the streamside courtyard. The hand-scrawled chalkboard lists daily specials—generally salads, quiches, soups, and pasta dishes, plus one daily vegetarian option—or try one of the delicious homemade cakes. After 3 pm hot food is no longer served, but sandwiches and other snacks are available. The Sunday brunch is one of Basel's best—try the Birchermüsli, the original, creamy, fruity version of muesli.
St. Alban-Tal 35, Basel, Basel-City, 4052, Switzerland
The restaurant part of the Fischerstube, a famous local brewery, has a simple look, with whitewashed walls and sanded wooden tables, and offers a range...
The restaurant part of the Fischerstube, a famous local brewery, has a simple look, with whitewashed walls and sanded wooden tables, and offers a range of tasty snacks like oven-fresh pretzels to heartier meat-heavy dishes of sausages, schnitzel, and burgers. The brewery produces its own lagers and ales in the copper tanks you see at the back of the room; if you're serious about sampling the local color, stop in here for a cold one. If you like the Ueli Bier, named for a Fasnacht jester, you can buy a keg to take home—or ask for one at your table. In summer, the small rooftop beer garden is very popular.
This extremely popular historic guildhall has been transformed into an airy and elegant dining room, and is famous for its traditional and beautiful ceramic stove....
This extremely popular historic guildhall has been transformed into an airy and elegant dining room, and is famous for its traditional and beautiful ceramic stove. Though the Swiss-international food can hold its own, many visit just for the atmosphere: arched doorways, beamed ceilings, mural-covered walls, and a charming courtyard. It draws a crowd with its business lunches, and dinner features well-executed seasonal cuisine with plenty of vegetarian, fish, and meat choices livened up with interesting sides and sauces.
Freie Str. 25, Basel, Basel-City, 4001, Switzerland
Not far from the Middle Bridge and right next to the Rhine, this self-proclaimed “urban Swiss” restaurant has a rustic-chic look inside and a wonderful...
Not far from the Middle Bridge and right next to the Rhine, this self-proclaimed “urban Swiss” restaurant has a rustic-chic look inside and a wonderful terrace overlooking the river outside. The short but satisfying menu includes an interesting selection of meat and veggie starters, creative versions of hamburgers and fish-and-chips, and a regularly changing choice of shareable dishes using seasonal, local ingredients.
This friendly place serves up a delightful mix of veggie and meat dishes for lunch and dinner, or you can just stop by for a...
This friendly place serves up a delightful mix of veggie and meat dishes for lunch and dinner, or you can just stop by for a dessert, if you'd like. For scenic value, it's hard to beat the tables strewn around the plaza, since they have a direct view of the cathedral's towers.
The morning starts at this new, tiny eatery with the production of 4 pounds of fresh pasta, half of which is taken by bicyle to...
The morning starts at this new, tiny eatery with the production of 4 pounds of fresh pasta, half of which is taken by bicyle to its other location in Kleinbasel. There is no menu—at lunch all you need to do is choose meat, vegetarian, or "special" sauce, and point at one of the drinks displayed on the wall. Dinner is slightly more upscale, with all-you-can-eat antipasta and three kinds of freshly cooked pasta for 65 SF. On nice days, the pasta is worth taking away to eat on the steps at the river.
St. Johanns-Vorstadt 13, Basel, Basel-City, 4056, Switzerland
This half-timbered Basel standby went bust in 2013. Few miss the stuffy interior now that the new managers have transformed the house to resemble the...
This half-timbered Basel standby went bust in 2013. Few miss the stuffy interior now that the new managers have transformed the house to resemble the traditional tavern it was centuries ago. The restaurant focuses on local ingredients, like white asparagus in the spring or mushrooms in the fall. The excellent lunches are a steal; at dinner the prices rise but so does the quality. Try the local steaks or the heavenly molten-chocolate cake.
St. Alban-Vorstadt 60, Basel, Basel-City, 4052, Switzerland
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