2 Best Restaurants in Switzerland

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 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.