Restaurants and Bars

The city of Zurich is beloved by tourists, business people and locals alike due to its intriguing history, thriving economy, and alpine location. From a culinary point of view, Zurich also has a lot to offer. Apart from the traditional Swiss food that dominates the city's restaurant scene, a range of other international cuisine can be sampled throughout the city. Italian and French restaurants are especially popular, while Asian restaurants are becoming increasingly common.

Swiss Cuisine

The influence of the three different countries that border Switzerland– Italy to the south, France to the west and Germany to the north and east can all be felt in the country's cuisine. Those who enjoy dipping dishes such as cheese fondue and raclette, both heavily influenced by French cuisine, regularly visit Le Dezaley. For sliced veal, a classic dish from Zurich, the restaurant Veltlinerkeller or the Zunfthaus zur Waag come highly recommended.

Italian Cuisine

Italian cuisine is very popular throughout Switzerland and enjoys an excellent reputation. As is to be expected, Italian restaurants abound in Zurich with Casa Ferlin among the finest. Luca's Giangrossi and Santa Lucia are middle of the range in terms of price and are extremely well-liked by the locals.

French Cuisine

French flavors are an integral part of the Zurcher cuisine. Those with a penchant for seafood will feel right at home at A l'Opera, and be sure to sample the trout dishes. For a night out with good company and great food, visit Brasserie Lipp, where the seating arrangements encourage chatting among neighbors. Connoisseurs meet at the first-rate Riesbächli, undoubtedly the city's most exquisite French restaurant.

Asian Cuisine

Flavors from the Far East are well represented in this part of Switzerland. For Chinese specialities, the Hong Kong Chinoise and Entehuus are always worth a visit. Sukhothai is said to have the best Thai food this side of Thailand, and if you want to sample some Japanese cooking, try Sala of Tokyo.

Cafes and Bakeries

No culinary trip would be complete without something sweet to seal the deal. Thankfully, the Swiss have a way with their chocolate. At Sprüngli you can indulge yourself in some world-class chocolate mousse, or treat yourself to some ice cream at Häagen Dazs. If you are in the mood for some decadent hot chocolate, look no further than Conditorei Cafe Schober. Relax as you enjoy all the cakes, sweets, and teas that this city has to offer, and make sure to buy some for your return trip!

Wine Bars

Switzerland is well known for its vineyards, particularly those in the French and the Italian-speaking cantons. The white wines from the Lac Leman area in Geneva are among the best in the world. Caduff's Wine Loft offers a wide range of different wines to sample and is a favorite spot for gourmets to meet for an aperitif.

Bars and Night Clubs

Zurich also has lots to offer as far as nightlife is concerned. The Niederdorf district, located in the heart of the Old Town between the Fraumünster and the Hauptbahnhof (Main Railway Station) can be reached very easily by tram (Central: trams or Rudolf Brum Brücke, Rathaus, Helmhaus: trams 4 or 15). You can also walk to the Niederdorf from the Main Train Station in about 10 minutes. Thanks to its central location, Niederdorf is always a popular place to visit after dinner or after a walk along nearby Lake Zurich on a warm summer evening. This area's main attractions when it comes to nightlife are its many pubs, restaurants and bars where live music is often on the menu—or check out some of the restaurants in the area that serve regional as well as international cuisine. Another suitable destination for the nocturnal is Langstraße. You will find most of the night-clubs in Zurich in the Langstraße, and the emphasis here is not so much on eating out as on dancing the night away at one of the many nightclubs. To get to the Langstraße, catch a tram and get off at the Limmatplatz.