When I knew that I was going to Zürich, what did I do first? That’s right – dived into Google searches looking for the best places to eat. Luckily my hotel in Zürich was already sorted and so was my breakfast. But I still had ‘food slots’ available for late morning snacks, lunch, early afternoon snacks, late afternoon snacks and dinner. If you just spend two days in a city, there is only so much you can eat. But I tried my best and found some pretty tasty spots, from traditional Swiss cuisine to cold pressed juices and delicious coffee. Many of the food and coffee spots are recommendations from my friends Heike of @tastyasheck and Fanny of @fannythefoodie. I have also listed all their other tips further down below.
In general, restaurants in Zürich are wonderful but also very meaty. There are a few health food places but when I travel I don’t like to eat yet another smoothie bowl that I can have anywhere else in the world. I usually try to find meat-free and preferably vegan eateries that serve food inspired by local and seasonal ingredients and recipes. There are places like that in Zürich, though their number is limited. But and that’s a big but, all the restaurants and cafes I visited offer high-quality, tasty food.
A Quick Food Guide to Zürich
delish Café
As we stayed at Hotel Marktgasse (hop over to my hotel review here), our mornings in Zürich began with breakfast at delish Café. The coffee is one of the best in Zürich, the breakfast a selected choice of good quality dishes for Vegans, Vegetarians and Omnivores alike.
Marktgasse 17, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland
Baltho Kitchen & Bar
Also located in Hotel Marktgasse is the ever so popular Baltho Kitchen & Bar that serves superior cocktails in its cozy and hip bar upstairs and seasonal international cuisine in its open kitchen space downstairs.
Marktgasse 17, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland
Juicery21
I’m always looking for good cold pressed juice stores wherever I go. Juicery21 in Zürich offers some of the best green juices I had so far. I heard they also make delicious smoothie and great (plant-based among others) coffees.
Sihlstrasse 93, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland
Bros Beats & Beans
The Bros Beats & Beans is a coffee shop I would visit often if I lived in Zürich. The music is on point, the atmosphere perfect for working and intimate coffee dates and it also serves a pretty tasty almond cappuccino.
Gartenhofstrasse 24, 8004 Zürich, Switzerland
Hiltl Restaurant
If you always wanted to visit the first restaurant in the world, Zürich and the Hiltl Restaurant is the place to go. Hiltl has various location all over town but the most popular one has a huge buffet offering everything from vegetarian to vegan, exotic to swiss. It’s also the only place in town that served a vegan version of Züri-Gschnätzlets, a very traditional Swiss but usually meat-heavy meal.
Sihlstrasse 28, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland
Maximilian Cafe & Bar
A little away from the city centre but nothing is really far away in Zürich. It’s worth the extra 10 min walk though because coffee and outdoor seating at Maximilian Cafe & Bar is simply wonderful.
Weststrasse 112, 8003 Zürich, Switzerland
Restaurant Volkshaus
There don’t seem to be many restaurants that serve traditional Swiss but also vegetarian food. Restaurant Volkshaus is one of those places that does and the result is very delicious. The food is organic, local, seasonal and high quality.
Stauffacherstrasse 60, 8004 Zürich, Switzerland
BANK
A great spot to meet with a group of friends for drinks, ice tea or coffee. BANK also serves snacks and breakfast. The inside has a warm (and not very noisy) vibe but the best part is the outsite seating under trees, a perfect spot to watch the city life pass by.
Molkenstrasse 15, 8004 Zürich, Switzerland
John the Baker
Right next to BANK is Zürich’s best bakery. John the Baker sells the kind of bread that’s close to my German heart. I even took two loafs back home to Istanbul, the Sourdough and Spelt bread
Stadelhoferstrasse 28, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland
Schwarzenbach Teecafé
If you crave a healthy snack because you can’t eat another Swiss pastry. Or if you look for tasty souvenirs to bring back home, then you need to visit Schwarzenbach Teecafé. Entering this spice, tea and coffee shop is a step back in time. The selection of dried fruits, nuts and tea flavour is a foodies dream come true.
Münstergasse 17, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland
Biomarkthalle Vitus
I’m usually no one that cooks or prepares food when travelling because I’d rather prefer to eat my way through local eateries, healthy or not healthy. Though I still love exploring local health shops like Biomarkthalle Vitus because I’m always curious to see how the health and wellness scene in other countries looks like.
Ankengasse 7, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland
Nanna Bunte Küche
Another great shop for yourself or souvenir shopping is Nanna Bunte Küche. I’ve never visited such a creative spice shop before. It literally offers all kind of spice mixes and even more.
Birmensdorferstrasse 171, 8003 Zürich, Switzerland
The Bite
After a long day of wandering the streets of Zürich, you sometimes simply crave a burger. And preferable at a burger place that serves meaty, vegetarian and vegan burgers. The Bite is a hip and usually crowded place that knows how make great burgers.
As I only spent 2 days in Zürich I could only eat so much. But some of my Instagram friends who I finally met in real life in Zürich, have some tips for you too.
Fanny’s (@fannythefoodie) recommendation’s
Neela: great Indian restaurant in Zürich
Daizy: best food in town – try the coconut lemon grass panna cotta
Miki Ramen: amazing ramen bowls
Maison Blunt: delicious moroccan food
The Artisan: fantastic seasonal cuisines – some ingredients come from their own garden
Heike’s (@tastyasheck) recommendation’s
Roots and friends by Balboa: Delicious vegan food and smoothies (weekend brunch)
Kafe Dihei: Cute Cafe and tasty lunch in a nice neighborhood
Restaurant Rosso: Best Pizza, nice location
Ristorante Italia: Great Italian food
Verena’s (@frei_style) recommendation
Elle’n’Belle: Great vegan burger and fries