Food · Zurich · Switzerland
What to eat in Zurich
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Zurich, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Start with Zurich-style veal, Rösti and Cheese fondue. Several of Zurich's medieval guild houses along the Limmat operate as restaurants serving Zürcher Geschnetzeltes and rösti in panelled dining rooms; book ahead for weekend evenings. Weekday lunch menus (Mittagsmenü) with soup or salad and a main course are the best-value way to eat in restaurants.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Zurich-style veal
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 8
- Tipping
- Service is included in prices.
- Food experiences
- 4
10 foods to try
Dish
1.Zurich-style veal (Zürcher Geschnetzeltes)
Thin strips of veal and mushrooms in a cream and white-wine sauce, served with a golden rösti. It is Zurich's signature dish and a staple of traditional guild-house restaurants.
Where: Traditional restaurants in the Old Town, including historic guild houses along the Limmat.
Dish · Vegetarian
2.Rösti
Grated potato fried in butter into a crisp-edged cake, served as a side or topped with cheese, a fried egg or bacon as a main dish.
Where: Traditional Swiss restaurants; vegetarian versions topped with cheese and egg are common.
Dish · Vegetarian
3.Cheese fondue
Melted Swiss cheese, wine and garlic in a shared pot, eaten by dipping cubes of bread on long forks. Mostly a cold-weather meal from autumn to early spring.
Where: Swiss restaurants in the Old Town and seasonal fondue chalets that appear in winter.
Street food
4.Veal sausage (Kalbsbratwurst)
A pale grilled veal sausage served with a crusty bread roll (Bürli) and mustard. It is Zurich's quick lunch and late-night snack.
Where: The Sternen Grill stand at Bellevue is a long-standing favourite; sausage stands throughout the city.
Dessert · Vegetarian
5.Luxemburgerli
Bite-sized, very light macarons made by Confiserie Sprüngli in dozens of flavours. They are best eaten within a few days.
Where: Sprüngli's shops, including the café on Paradeplatz and in the main station.
Dessert · Vegetarian
6.Swiss chocolate
Zurich has a long chocolate tradition, from mass-market bars to handmade truffles. Lindt's factory is just south of the city in Kilchberg.
Where: Chocolatiers in the Old Town and on Bahnhofstrasse, and the Lindt Home of Chocolate in Kilchberg.
Breakfast · Vegetarian
7.Bircher muesli (Birchermüesli)
Oats soaked in milk or yoghurt with grated apple, nuts and fruit, devised in Zurich around 1900 by the physician Maximilian Bircher-Benner. It is eaten for breakfast or as a light supper.
Where: Cafés, bakeries and supermarket chiller cabinets across the city.
Bakery · Vegetarian
8.Plaited bread (Zopf)
A soft, glossy braided loaf made with butter and milk, traditionally baked for Sunday breakfast and eaten with butter and jam.
Where: Bakeries, especially on Saturdays and Sunday mornings, and hotel breakfast buffets.
Dessert · Vegetarian
9.Tirggel
A thin, hard Zurich honey biscuit embossed with detailed pictures from wooden moulds, made especially at Christmas. It is let to soften slightly in the mouth.
Where: Zurich bakeries and confectioners, mainly in the weeks before Christmas.
Drink · Vegetarian
10.Räuschling white wine (Räuschling)
A crisp white wine from a grape variety now grown mainly on the shores of Lake Zurich, rarely exported and a good match for lake fish.
Where: Wine lists of Zurich restaurants and wine shops focusing on local producers.
Food experiences
Guild-house dinner
Several of Zurich's medieval guild houses along the Limmat operate as restaurants serving Zürcher Geschnetzeltes and rösti in panelled dining rooms; book ahead for weekend evenings.
Markthalle Im Viadukt
The food hall under the railway arches in Zurich West has bakeries, cheese and meat counters and a restaurant, making it a good stop for lunch or picnic supplies.
Supermarket takeaway
Coop and Migros supermarkets, including large branches at the main station, sell salads, sandwiches and hot dishes for a fraction of restaurant prices, ideal for a lakeside picnic.
Chocolate tasting
Compare a truffle from an Old Town chocolatier with a Luxemburgerli from Sprüngli, or spend a morning at the Lindt Home of Chocolate in Kilchberg.
Quick bites and street food
- Veal sausage — The Sternen Grill stand at Bellevue is a long-standing favourite; sausage stands throughout the city.
- Bircher muesli — Cafés, bakeries and supermarket chiller cabinets across the city.
- Plaited bread — Bakeries, especially on Saturdays and Sunday mornings, and hotel breakfast buffets.
Vegetarian options
Of the 10 foods in this guide, 8 are usually vegetarian: Rösti, Cheese fondue, Luxemburgerli, Swiss chocolate, Bircher muesli, Plaited bread, Tirggel and Räuschling white wine. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Weekday lunch menus (Mittagsmenü) with soup or salad and a main course are the best-value way to eat in restaurants.
- Tap water is excellent; ask for 'Hahnenwasser', though some restaurants charge a small fee for it.
- Restaurant kitchens often stop serving lunch around 2pm and dinner around 10pm.
- Many restaurants close on Sundays or for summer holidays; check before you go.
- Book ahead for popular restaurants from Thursday to Saturday.
Tipping
Service is included in prices. Rounding up or leaving about 5–10% for good table service is customary but not required.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Grüezi | Hello (formal) |
| Merci vilmal | Thank you very much |
| Exgüsi | Excuse me |
| Proscht | Cheers |
| Uf Widerluege | Goodbye |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Zurich famous for?
Zurich-style veal, Rösti, Cheese fondue and Veal sausage. Thin strips of veal and mushrooms in a cream and white-wine sauce, served with a golden rösti.
+Is Zurich good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Rösti, Cheese fondue and Luxemburgerli.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Zurich?
Service is included in prices. Rounding up or leaving about 5–10% for good table service is customary but not required.