24 cheap eats places in Zurich, editor-picked. the best low-budget spots in Zurich: the places editors actually return to. All Zurich food.
Sternen Grill ★ 4.8
Theaterstrasse 22, 8001 Zurich
Bellevue's bratwurst window: grilled St. Galler Bratwurst with devilishly sharp Sternen mustard and a crispy Gold-Buerli. Zurich's late-night sausage.
Sternen Grill ★ 4.8
Theaterstrasse 22, 8001 Zurich
Bellevue's grilled bratwurst window: St. Galler Bratwurst with the famously sharp Sternen mustard and crisp Gold-Buerli. The cheap Zurich essential.
Confiserie Spruengli ★ 4.7
Bahnhofstrasse 21, 8001 Zurich
Founded 1836 on Bahnhofstrasse, 190 years in 2026. Luxemburgerli macarons, handcrafted chocolates, pralines, the canonical Zurich confectionery counter.
MAME Josef ★ 4.7
Josefstrasse 160, 8005 Zurich
Founded 2016 by Mathieu Theis and World Brewers Cup champion Emi Fukahori. Single-origin beans roasted in-house, served on ceramic on polished wood.
John Baker Stadelhofen ★ 4.6
Stadelhoferstrasse 28, 8001 Zurich
Opened 2013 by Jens Jung: organic bread freshly prepared on site daily, flour milled in-house. Olive bread, fruit bread, rye, the whole organic catalogue.
Spruengli Paradeplatz Confiserie ★ 4.6
Bahnhofstrasse 21, 8001 Zurich
Spruengli's flagship Paradeplatz boutique: Truffes du Jour (fresh daily, 48-hour shelf life), chocolate bars, tortes, and the most Zurich gift basket.
MAME Seefeld ★ 4.6
Seefeldstrasse 19, 8008 Zurich
MAME's Seefeld outpost: same single-origin discipline, lake-side neighbourhood. Filter on the bar, retail beans on the shelf, very serious about extraction.
Cafe Spruengli Paradeplatz ★ 4.6
Bahnhofstrasse 21, 8001 Zurich
The mothership confiserie cafe on Paradeplatz, founded 1836, celebrating 190 years in 2026. Luxemburgerli, chocolates, the canonical hot chocolate.
Vorderer Sternen ★ 4.6
Theaterstrasse 22, 8001 Zurich
The Bellevue Platz grill window with Sternen Grill, selling cervelat and bratwurst with crisp Buerli bread rolls. Locally famous for the St. Galler.
Haus Hiltl ★ 4.6
Sihlstrasse 28, 8001 Zurich
The world's oldest vegetarian restaurant: pay-by-weight buffet keeps lunch under CHF 25 if you stay disciplined. 500 dishes, 90 percent vegan.
John Baker Helvetiaplatz ★ 4.5
Molkenstrasse 15, 8004 Zurich
John Baker's Helvetiaplatz outpost on Molkenstrasse: same organic flour, same sourdough discipline, smaller room, easy stop after the Kreis 4 market.
tibits ★ 4.5
Seefeldstrasse 2, 8008 Zurich
Hiltl's casual spin-off from 2000: pay-by-weight vegetarian buffet, around 40 dishes a day, broad hours and the same buffet-by-grams pricing model.
Miyuko ★ 4.4
Baerengasse 20, 8001 Zurich
Sara Hochuli's Japanese-leaning cafe, relocated 2022 to the heritage Haus zur Weltkugel: matcha, French patisserie technique, intricate vegan sweets.
John Baker Stadelhofen Cafe ★ 4.4
Stadelhoferstrasse 28, 8001 Zurich
Jens Jung's organic bakery cafe at Stadelhofen station: sourdough, levain, organic flour milled on site, a counter spot for breakfast before the train.
Frau Gerolds Garten ★ 4.4
Geroldstrasse 23, 8005 Zurich
Started as a 2012 pop-up beside Hardbruecke station, now a 20,000-square-metre urban garden, bar and eatery. Summer terrace, winter cheese stube.
Hiltl Takeaway ★ 4.4
Sihlstrasse 28, 8001 Zurich
Haus Hiltl's takeaway counter on Sihlstrasse: pay-by-weight from the vegetarian buffet, curries, salads, mock meats. Quick lunch with proper provenance.
Cafe und Conditorei 1842 ★ 4.3
Napfgasse 4, 8001 Zurich
The former Conditorei Schober, a 13th-century house spanning four floors. Run since 2019 by the Arbeitskette Foundation as Cafe und Conditorei 1842.
Cafe und Conditorei 1842 ★ 4.3
Napfgasse 4, 8001 Zurich
The former Conditorei Schober building, a monument-protected 13th-century house with four floors. Run since 2019 by the Arbeitskette Foundation as 1842.
Markthalle Im Viadukt Stalls ★ 4.3
Limmatstrasse 231, 8005 Zurich
Under the rail viaduct in Zurich-West: takeaway stalls of charcuterie, cheese, hot Mediterranean plates. A budget lunch with respectable provenance.
Markthalle Im Viadukt Stalls ★ 4.2
Limmatstrasse 231, 8005 Zurich
Under the Zurich-West railway viaduct, the Markthalle's takeaway stalls sell fresh produce, charcuterie, cheese, hot Mediterranean plates by the slice.
Vorderer Sternen ★ 4.2
Theaterstrasse 22, 8001 Zurich
Bellevue's other grill window beside Sternen Grill: Cervelat sausage on Buerli bread roll, the easiest cheap Swiss lunch in the city centre.
La Stanza ★ 4.0
Bleicherweg 10, 8002 Zurich
Italian-leaning cafe on Bleicherweg: espresso pulled the Milanese way, small pastries, wine and cocktails after the sun drops. A reliable Kreis 1 stop.
Lily's Original ★ 4.0
Langstrasse 197, 8005 Zurich
Open since 1999 on Langstrasse, Lily's pan-Asian counter runs long communal tables: Japanese noodles, Malaysian satays, Korean salads, Pakistani curries.
Lily's Original ★ 4.0
Langstrasse 197, 8005 Zurich
Open since 1999 on Langstrasse: Japanese noodle bowls, Pakistani curries, Korean salads on long communal tables. Under CHF 25 reliably for a full plate.