The places in Zurich the guidebooks miss. locals-only counters, after-hours rooms and the spots tourists walk past.

Off the beaten plate

Bauernschaenke ★ 4.3

Soul food$$Mon 18:00-24:00, Tue-Fri 12:00-14:00 and 18:00-24:00, Sat 12:00-15:00 and 18:00-24:00, Sun closed

Bauernschaenke is a soul food room in Zurich. Book for Friday dinner; Saturday afternoons get crowded with the regulars who turn up without a reservation.

Why locals love it: Tucked on Rindermarkt away from the Niederdorf tourist drag; locals' soul food without the queue.

Tip: Book for Friday dinner; Saturday afternoons get crowded with the regulars who turn up without a reservation.

Miyuko ★ 4.2

Bakery$$Wed-Fri 09:00-18:00, Sat-Sun 10:00-18:00, Mon-Tue closed

Miyuko is sara hochuli's japanese-french patisserie at haus zur weltkugel, relocated 2022; still feels like a discovery off the bahnhofstrasse crowds.

Why locals love it: Sara Hochuli's Japanese-French patisserie at Haus zur Weltkugel, relocated 2022; still feels like a discovery off the Bahnhofstrasse crowds.

Tip: Matcha latte and one of the intricate cakes, then walk five minutes to Paradeplatz.

Restaurant Lindenhofkeller ★ 4.6

Swiss$$Tue 18:00-24:00, Wed 11:30-14:00 and 18:00-24:00, Thu-Sat 18:00-24:00, Sun-Mon closed

Restaurant Lindenhofkeller is cellar room hidden under the lindenhof, easy to walk past; sebastian roesch's bourgeois cooking sits quietly behind the door.

Why locals love it: Cellar room hidden under the Lindenhof, easy to walk past; Sebastian Roesch's bourgeois cooking sits quietly behind the door.

Tip: Order the special; the prix-fixe lunch is the easiest way into a serious Zurich kitchen.

Frau Gerolds Garten ★ 4.5

Swiss$$Mon-Wed 11:00-23:00, Thu-Sat 11:00-24:00, Sun 12:00-22:00

Frau Gerolds Garten is started as a 2012 pop-up, still feels temporary; zurich locals' summer terrace and winter cheese stube under the rail bridge.

Why locals love it: Started as a 2012 pop-up, still feels temporary; Zurich locals' summer terrace and winter cheese stube under the rail bridge.

Tip: Arrive after work on a Wednesday; the place fills by 18:30 in summer.

MAME Josef ★ 4.8

Cafe$$Mon-Fri 07:30-17:00, Sat-Sun 08:30-17:00

MAME Josef in Zurich: World-champion barista coffee on a quiet Kreis 5 corner; serious filter coffee mostly known to the city's coffee crowd.

Why locals love it: World-champion barista coffee on a quiet Kreis 5 corner; serious filter coffee mostly known to the city's coffee crowd.

Tip: Order a filter flight; ask about the rotating single-origins from the roastery.

Muehlerama ★ 4.0

Bakery$$Tue 14:00-18:00, Wed 14:00-21:00, Thu-Sat 14:00-18:00, Sun 10:00-17:00, Mon closed

Muehlerama in Zurich: A working flour mill museum in Tiefenbrunnen with a baking school; the cafe and shop beside it are still neighbourhood-only.

Why locals love it: A working flour mill museum in Tiefenbrunnen with a baking school; the cafe and shop beside it are still neighbourhood-only.

Tip: Combine a Saturday class with a walk along the lake to Tiefenbrunnen station.

← Back to Zurich food guide