Day-by-day eating plans for Zurich. weekend classics, family routes, vegan plans, on-a-budget editions.

Day-by-day plans

Zurich weekend: the classics, done right ★ 4.6

First-time visitor, two days2 days

A weekend built around the Zurich canon: Geschnetzeltes at a guildhall, Spruengli on Paradeplatz, fondue beside the Grossmuenster, and one Heilemann lunch at the Widder.

  1. Day 1: Saturday: Niederdorf, lake, zunfthaus dinner

    Morning
    Coffee and sourdough toast at John Baker Stadelhofen from 08:00. Walk into Niederdorf along the Limmat, stopping at Spruengli on Paradeplatz for a hot chocolate at the cafe.
    Afternoon
    Lunch at Zunfthaus zur Waag on the Muensterhof. Order Zuercher Geschnetzeltes with butter rosti, a glass of Buendner Pinot, the canonical version of both. Walk along the lakeside afterwards.
    Evening
    Dinner at Le Dezaley beside the Grossmuenster from 19:30. Fondue moitie-moitie, a bottle of Lavaux Chasselas, raclette to share if you are hungry.

  2. Day 2: Sunday: Hiltl brunch, Bahnhofstrasse walk, Kronenhalle long lunch

    Morning
    Brunch at Haus Hiltl from 10:00. Birchermuesli, the vegetarian buffet by weight, a fresh juice from the bar. Walk south along Bahnhofstrasse to Paradeplatz after.
    Afternoon
    Sunday lunch at Kronenhalle on Raemistrasse from 12:00: a long Sunday meal of Tafelspitz or Geschnetzeltes under the Chagall and Miro originals. The kitchen runs continuously through to 22:30.
    Evening
    Cocktails at the Kronenhalle Bar from 20:00, then a nightcap and Mousse au chocolat in the dining room before walking the Limmat back to the hotel.

Three days of Zurich tasting menus ★ 4.7

Fine-dining traveller, three days3 days

A three-day fine-dining route through Zurich's two-star kitchens: Widder, IGNIV and the Dolder Grand, with light meals between to recover.

  1. Day 1: Day 1: Thursday Widder lunch, light dinner

    Morning
    Coffee and pastries at MAME Josef from 09:00. Filter coffee, perhaps an espresso flight to start the trip properly.
    Afternoon
    Thursday lunch at Widder Restaurant from 12:00. Stefan Heilemann's four-course tasting in 90 minutes for CHF 160; the easiest way into one of the city's best two-star kitchens.
    Evening
    Light dinner at Bauernschaenke on Rindermarkt from 19:30: soul-food plates, a single glass of wine, then early to bed.

  2. Day 2: Day 2: Friday market morning, IGNIV dinner

    Morning
    Friday morning at Markthalle Im Viadukt from 09:00: produce, cheese, charcuterie under the railway arches in Kreis 5, a small lunch at the stalls before the lake walk.
    Afternoon
    Walk the lakeside from Bellevue to Tiefenbrunnen, stopping at MAME Seefeld for a filter coffee. Rest at the hotel.
    Evening
    Dinner at IGNIV Zurich by Andreas Caminada from 19:00: Daniel Zeindlhofer's two-star sharing tasting menu, designed for the table to dismantle together.

  3. Day 3: Day 3: Saturday brunch at the Dolder, evening tasting

    Morning
    Saturday brunch at Saltz at the Dolder Grand from 12:00: seafood, charcuterie, hot kitchen, the view back across the city.
    Afternoon
    Rest at the hotel. A short walk in the Adlisberg before dinner; the Dolder spa if you booked it.
    Evening
    Dinner at The Restaurant at the Dolder Grand from 19:00: Heiko Nieder's two-star tasting menu, modern European with Asian accents. The kitchen takes Sundays and Mondays off, so build the trip Thursday through Saturday.

Zurich Old Town day: fondue, lake, Niederdorf ★ 4.6

First-time visitor, single day1 day

A Zurich first-day walk from the Bahnhofstrasse to the lake, with a Swiss-classic fondue dinner in Niederdorf.

  1. Day 1: Day 1: Bahnhofstrasse to Niederdorf

    Morning
    Coffee and a Tirggel from Confiserie Honold at 09:30, then walk the Bahnhofstrasse.
    Afternoon
    Lunch at Zeughauskeller from 13:00 for the canonical Swiss Wurst plate and a Räbe-Helles. Walk the Lindenhof viewpoint after.
    Evening
    Fondue dinner at Swiss Chuchi at 19:30 for the moitié-moitié on the Niederdorf strip, finishing with a kirsch on the side.

Zurich lake day: Felchen Knusperli and a boat ★ 4.7

Lake day, single day1 day

A Zurichsee day with the canonical Felchen Knusperli lakeside lunch and a boat to Rapperswil.

  1. Day 1: Day 1: Bahnhof to the lake and back

    Morning
    Breakfast at Cafe Sprüngli on Paradeplatz at 09:00 for a Luxemburgerli (the trademark Zurich macaron) and an espresso.
    Afternoon
    Lunch from 12:30 at Le Dezaley for the Felchen Knusperli (deep-fried lake whitefish) and a Federwiisser when in season. Boat to Rapperswil at the end of the lake after lunch.
    Evening
    Back in Zurich, dinner at Kronenhalle from 19:30 for the canonical Zurigeschnetzeltes (Zurich-style veal in cream sauce with Rösti).

Zurich Langstrasse night: world food, craft beer, late jazz ★ 4.5

Off-axis evening1 evening

A Langstrasse and Kreis 4 evening on Zurich's most diverse food strip, with craft beer and a late jazz finish.

  1. Day 1: Day 1: Langstrasse from north to south

    Morning
    Skip; this itinerary starts at dinner.
    Afternoon
    Aperitif at Bar Hermes at 18:30 for a Negroni on the Langstrasse axis.
    Evening
    Dinner at Hiltl from 19:30 (the world's oldest vegetarian restaurant, since 1898) for the buffet and beer. Move to Restaurant Markthalle for late drinks; finish at one of the Langstrasse jazz cellars.
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