Most travellers treat Zurich as a gateway. You land, you catch a train to the Alps or Geneva. That is a mistake. Zurich is a Swiss city worth slowing down for, and its food scene alone makes a strong case for staying a few extra days.
A city that takes vegetarian food seriously
Zurich has quietly become one of the best cities in Switzerland for vegetarian and vegan dining. Start at Tibits, a bright, buzzy buffet where you pay by weight and pick from salads, curries, pastas and desserts drawn from cuisines around the world. It is a great first stop if you want to taste a bit of everything without committing to one menu.For something more refined, head to Kle, run by chef Zineb Hattab, whose Moroccan roots show up in a tasting menu that is inventive without trying too hard. Marktküche is another name worth knowing: no à la carte menu, just a seasonal tasting menu built around what is fresh that week.If you want a taste of the Middle East and Andalusia while you are in the city, do not skip Dar Restaurant and Cafe. It is warm, welcoming and a good reminder that Zurich’s vegetarian scene has food from everywhere.
Vegetarian salad
And then there is the one you should not miss on principle alone. Haus Hiltl, tucked near the main train station, is recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest vegetarian restaurant on the planet. It has been serving meat-free food since 1898, long before “plant-based” was a marketing term. The buffet is generous, the crowd is a mix of locals and tourists, and the sense of history is hard to miss. Eating here is as much about the story as the food.
Bahnhofstrasse is not just for shopping
Bahnhofstrasse
Everyone knows Bahnhofstrasse for its shopping, but the street and the area around the main train station is also one of the best places in Zurich to eat. You will find eateries covering nearly every cuisine imaginable, from Swiss classics to Italian, Middle Eastern and Asian kitchens, all within a short walk of each other. Most major international chains have a presence here too, so it works well if you are travelling with people who want something familiar alongside those willing to try something new. It is an easy, no-fuss stretch to wander when you are short on time but still want a proper meal.
A chocolate lover’s playground
Zurich takes its chocolate as seriously as its coffee, and the real discoveries are often the small, not-so-famous manufacturers rather than the big names. Scattered around the city are artisanal chocolate shops run by local makers who let you taste before you buy, and the quality is often a notch above what you find in an airport gift shop. Seeking these out is a good way to spend an afternoon, and a better way to bring home a gift than another box of the usual brands.That said, no chocolate itinerary is complete without the Lindt Home of Chocolate in Kilchberg, a short train ride from the city centre on the shore of the lake. It is part museum and part playground for the senses, walking you through the history of the brand and how Swiss chocolate making came to be. You can sign up for a chocolate making session with a Lindt Master Chocolatier, taste your way through countless varieties, and stand under a chocolate fountain over nine metres tall. Give it a couple of hours, and go with an appetite.
Chocolates on display
Meal with a view
Zurich also knows how to pair a meal with a good view. Sonnenberg sits above the city and looks down over the rooftops and the lake, ideal for an evening where the setting matters as much as the plate. Down by the water, Fischerstube offers a completely different mood, right on the Limmat, with the river doing the work that the hillside does at Sonnenberg.Beyond the sit-down spots, Zurich’s streets are full of small bars and roadside eateries that do not need a reservation. Wander through the old town or along the river in the evening and you will find a city with genuine energy, not just postcard scenery.
A city built for walking
Zurich city
Zurich makes it easy to explore on foot. The walkways along the lake and river are well maintained and well used, and the city has an active, outdoorsy feel that rewards wandering rather than planning every stop in advance. When your legs need a break, the transport system takes over. Trains, trams and boats connect the city so well that getting from a restaurant on one side of the river to a bar on the other rarely takes more than a few minutes.
The bottom line
Zurich rewards travellers who give it time. Between a 127-year-old vegetarian institution, dinners with a view over the city and the water, and streets built for walking, there is enough here to fill a proper trip, not just a stopover. Next time you pass through, put on your walking shoes and stay a while.