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Zurich: Eat & Drink

The items on the menu at Bodega Espa ola. Photo: Michel Figuet](http://media.cntraveller.in/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/menu-items-at-bodega-by-michel-figuet.jpg)

1.  Bodega Espa ola : While the world around it changes, the lovely Bodega Espa ola stays the same, proudly waving its Spanish flag amidst its Helvetian counterparts. Established in 1874 . the generations of owners have ensured that the quality never dips. More than 3 . tapas are dished out on the lower floor, while the upper tier is tailor-made for an Iberian gastronomic experience. The crowd is varied and wonderful; earnest, fresh-faced students from Zurich University mingle with grizzled old vino-veterans, drinking, eating and swapping yarns till late at night.

Address: M nstergasse 15 . 81 . Zurich

Contact: +41-44-2512310

2.  Restaurant Parkhuus and Onyx Bar : Bold and effervescent, yet muted and elegant this is how you would describe an evening of drinking and dining at Zurich's most prestigious downtown address, the Hotel Park Hyatt. At the Parkhuus, try the succulent Free-Range Chicken, and you'll never want to eat another frozen bird ever. The Oven-Roast Veal Chops, the Bison Tenderloin, and their Wiener Schnitzel are the stuff of dreams. The Onyx Bar (named after a massive onyx table thyat is part of the d cor) has a 3000-bottle wall of wine that is accessed by a spiral staircase, along with an expert sommelier who does all the hard work for you, and it is not surprising that it is tough to get a table here without booking.

Address: Beethoven-Strasse 21 . Zurich

Contact: +41-43-8831234

3.  Kronenhalle : Perhaps the only restaurant in the world that has great works of masters strung up on the walls, Picasso, Chagall and Matisse, all purchased in the early 20th century by the owner. It is also famous for its cuisine; the smoked pork with lentils is to die for. Try the decadent meat-fest, the Bollito Misto, comprising of juicy beef, chicken, sausage and tongue. Their Rostis are world-class, the shredded calf-liver is a hot favourite, and their baked fillet of sole has made many a foodie gasp in delight. Elegant, muted and reeking of old-world money and class, this restaurant has retained its top-slot over three generations.     

Address: Raemistrasse 4 . 800 . Zurich 

Contact: +41-44-2629900 

Clouds, Switzerland's highest restaurant](http://media.cntraveller.in/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/clouds.jpg)

4.  Clouds : An apt name for Switzerland's highest restaurant, 3 . storeys up in the Prime Tower, this pride of Zurich is the swish, new hangout for weekend brunches, apertifs, power lunches and romantic fine-dining. A window-seat on a clear day will guarantee a ringside view of the sprawl of the city, from its intricate rail-network, the Old and New Quarters, to the lake and the mountains beyond. Lunches and dinners from Thursday to Sunday are often booked a month in advance.

Address: Maagplatz 5 . 800 . Zurich

Contact: +41-44-4043000

5.  The Restaurant : If your wallet can take a hit, this restaurant will combine the best cuisine Zurich can offer, along with a peerless view of this gorgeous city, especially of the lake and the snowy Alps on the horizon. It is not for nothing that the dining experience here has been awarded 1 . GaultMillau points (2 . being highest) and two Michelin stars. Take a pick from the Amuse Bouche Menu, highlighting the best matched dishes across their repertoire, or opt for the 4 course meals. There are special meals for vegetarians too, and the truly adventurous should definitely go for the 12-course Tasting Menu. 

Address: Kurhausstrasse 65 . 803 . Zurich

Contact: +41-44-4566000

6.  La Salle : Located in a refurbished boatyard, the famous Schiffbau, a quick walk from the Prime Tower, this fine-dining hot-spot brings an old-world charm to the modern and rough-and-tumble area of West Zurich. The roots here are Italian and French cuisines, with a subtle and succulent emphasis on seafood and meats, garnished by fresh, seasonal produce. The adjacent bar is the ideal meeting point for club-goers and theatre patrons, to catch a pre- and post-show round of drinks. There is a nine-metre communal table where you can strike up conversations with interesting strangers.

Condé Nast Traveller

Jahnavi Bhatt

Address: Schiffbaustrasse 4 . 800 . Zurich

Contact: +41-44-2587071

Hiltl, Europe's first vegetarian restaurant](http://media.cntraveller.in/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Hiltl_0045.jpg)

7.  Hiltl : Vegetarians only please. A bold move to start a veg-only restaurant in a country that has 98 . meat-eaters, but yet you will find it impossible to get a table for lunch or dinner without a considerable wait. A 11 . years old, this iconic two-storeyed restaurant is also the oldest vegetarian establishment in Europe. The cuisine is global, borrowed from the best of vegetarian preparations from pan-Asian and Indian cultures. They have 1,50 . patrons every single day, and also run a top-end gastronomy school. Paul McCartney and German-Hollywood director Marc Forster are regulars here.

Address: Sihlstra e 2 . and four other locations in the city

Contact: +41-44-2277000

8 . La Terrasse Restaurant, Caf and Bar: On the banks of the tranquil River Limmat, and with a trendy Bellevue address, stands this iconic landmark of pillars, chandeliers and stunning artwork, the watering-hole of the boho-chic elite and sharply-dressed celebrities. Whether it's a power-business lunch, or relaxed afternoon tea, or a romantic dinner for two, the La Terrasse experience is always a winner. In summer, the outdoor terrace is the place to be seated at, with a fabulous view of both riverbanks and the magnificent Grossmuenster Church. Veal and seafood are the specialities here, cooked Mediterranean-style.

Address: Limmatquai 3 . Zurich

Contact: +41-44-2511074

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Why Zürich is central Europe’s most stylish city

By Jonathan Thompson

As you might expect from a watchmaking mecca, things have been ticking along nicely in Zürich over the past 18 months, despite the onset of a global pandemic. Lockdown was handled with time-honoured Swiss efficiency, and now the country’s main metropolis is striding forward – in typically well-heeled fashion.

Late 2020 saw the unveiling of The Circle , a lustrous £750 million shopping, dining and luxury accommodation complex next to Zürich Airport, while last month the Kunsthaus Zürich became Switzerland’s largest art museum, with the unveiling of a new £165 million extension designed by David Chipperfield Architects (the practice behind the Turner Contemporary in Margate and the Hepworth Wakefield).

Aside from these two blockbuster additions, there’s a glut of stylish hotel openings to keep pace with, as well as an entirely new neighbourhood rising from the ashes of the former red-light district. And all in a picturesque city on a lake which persistently ranks among the happiest and most liveable in the world.

If you’re making the short hop to Zürich for business or pleasure soon, here’s what you should be prioritising...

By Isaac Zamet

By Harriet Johnston

WHERE TO STAY

Like a box of high-end Swiss chocolates, there’s an extraordinary amount of choice and flavour in Zürich’s hotel scene right now. Noteworthy recent additions range from Phillipe Starck’s nautical reimagining of La Réserve Eden au Lac , to boujie city centre newbie Sorel Hotel St. Peter . The old money, however, remains on either The Storchen – the recently renovated five-star grand dame on the waterfront – or its sleek younger sibling 15 minutes across Lake Zürich, The Alex . A private speedboat ferries guests between the pair in high style every evening: you just have to decide which of the two stellar restaurants you’re eating at. (Make sure you have cocktails and hors d’oeuvres on the Storchen’s stunning terrace before dinner at The Alex).

Zürich is blessed with a superb outdoor bar scene – and many of the best can be found along the city’s main aquatic artery, the River Limmat. Here, at legendary summer spots like Rimini , Barfussbar and Primitivo , you can warm up for your first cocktail with a swim in the river, before hauling yourself out to dry with the local movers, shakers and bathers at the bar. During the ‘Winterpause’ when the river bars are closed, the scene moves into hipster-friendly neighbourhoods like Kreis 4 – the former red-light district that is the hotspot (look for the achingly cool Dali’s Bar here, as well as the vibey cocktail lounge Raygrodski ).

WHERE TO RECHARGE

There are spas and then there are spas . The Huerlimannbad & Spa is one of the latter, taking over the entirety of an old brick brewery and turning it into a cavernous cathedral of calm. There are four enormous floors full of tubs, tanks and treatment rooms, but the ultimate hotspot is the elephantine heated pool on the rooftop, boasting spectacular views out over the Zürich skyline. Come up here in the early morning or just before sunset to soak up the golden views.

DINE IN A TRADITIONAL GUILDHOUSE

Zürich is famed for its palatial guild houses, which date back to the early 14 th century and are reminiscent of pocket Oxbridge colleges. Today, many of these well-loved (and exceedingly well-preserved) medieval institutions house top-end restaurants in their time-honoured halls, including Zuntfhaus zur Zimmerleuten , Zum Grünen Glas and Haus zum Rüden . But chief among them is the resplendent Zunfthaus zur Waag on cobbled Münsterhof square, where you can enjoy traditional Swiss fine dining in stately wood-panelled surrounds, washed down with a superb wine list.

THE MOST GLAMOROUS GALLERIES

As one of the richest cities in the world and the home of Dadaism, it’s no surprise that Zürich is home to some of the world’s fanciest galleries – many situated in a converted red brick brewery called the Löwenbräuareal . But there are a wealth of others to explore besides, including punchy modern art at Urbanside and big name, big ticket creations at Hauser & Wirth . For those more into art museums, the big budget reboot (and rebuild) of the Kunsthaus Zürich is well worth a look – as is its near namesake, the Kunsthalle Zürich , a lively, fun-filled exhibition centre for contemporary art, hosting a number of rotating exhibitions every year.

Need to know: Swiss flies direct to Zurich from across Britain. For more information, or to plan your own visit, see zuerich.com/en

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By Isaac Bickerstaff