Adler's Swiss Chuchi
Located right in the heart of the city, this long timer has a homey ambiance and is one of the best places in Zürich to have fondue.
We had fabulous raclette with lamb that comes with a BAG of potatoes, various pickles and fresh vegetables. The meat slices were juicy, tender and the portion for cheese and potatoes was too big. We only managed to finish half of the cheese and potatoes. Reservation highly recommended.
Location: Rosengasse 10. Open daily. Tel. +41 44 266 96 66. Web: www.hotel-adler.ch
Caduff's Wine Loft
It's a bit out of the way/city centre if you are going by public transport, but we had the best meal in Switzerland here.
Caduff's Wine Loft is currently one of the hippest eateries in Zürich, all thanks to the friendly staffs and low-key atmosphere, which is exactly what the owner Beat Caduff intended to create: a simple looking place that serves good food and good wine.
The duck liver terrine with ice wine jelly was masterfully prepared. It was accompanied by four sides: tomato with red onion, aubergine with a spice that we couldn't figure out, poached apricot and poached pear.
The seafood trio was perfect match of grilled langoustine with black pepper served over a cup of spinach, a fillet of red Mullet with baby carrot and a fillet of Grouper/garoupa with asparagus, served with baked new potatoes, drizzled with curry foam. The only thing that didn't really appeal to us was the taste of the curry foam.
On the other hand, the wine was fantastic. You pay for what you get: we had an Austrian white 2006 from Domäne Müller, Der Seelenfreund, Ried Burgegg, Weststeiermark, a good blend of Syrah and Grenache from E. Guigal, Côtes du Rhône 2003, while the highlight of the evening was a 1998 Pinot, 1er Cru Le Poissenot from Geantet – Pansiot, Gevrey Chambertin, Burgundy. There is a very well stocked cellar where you could consult the sommelier.
It is such a pity that Caduff's Wine Loft is closed on Sundays, else we would have went back to try something else. It is that good.
Location: Kanzleistrasse 126. Tel. +41 44 240 22 55. Transport: Tram 2, 3, 8; Bus 31, 32; Night bus 12, 14. Web: www.wineloft.ch
Cafe Schober
Cafe Schober has been in the business for more than 100 years. We last visited this cafe just before Christmas and the decor was really pretty. This time we just had a hot chocolate with whipped cream (comes from the café’s own herd). Cacao of good quality was used and it was very thick and tasted good, but we really don't see the point of paying CHF 9 for it.
The service varies tremendously depending on which waitress you get. We think the business is so good and the place so famous that the supervisor and some of the waitresses don't bother about the friendliness anymore.
Location: Napfgasse 4. Web: www.cafe-conditorei-schober.ch
Chiang Mai Thai Shop
At the crossing of Josefstrasse and Haffnerstrasse there is a hidden local favourite - a Thai supermarket serving cheap and more importantly good Thai dishes for lunch. Most people actually take away the food and eat somewhere else. Be sure to get there early as all the dishes would be sold out by 1:30 PM. Despite the selection is very limited, the cooking is authentic and delicious, proven by the long queue during lunch hours. The only drawback is that the prawns were not fresh and MSG was used.
Location: Josefstrasse 13 (3 mins walk from Hauptbahnhof). Tel. 044 271 8252.
Confiserie Sprüngli
There are two branches located inside the main train station, so you can just pick up some fine chocolate and pastries before a train journey. All the other passengers were drooling over our Truffles cake when we shamelessly savoured it on the journey to Amden. This confiserie also sells drinks and sandwiches. Convenient for those on the run who still insist on fine food. We had a Serrano Jamon sandwich. Yum!
Location: Main train station and Bahnhofstrasse 67. For more locations, please visit their website at www.spruengli.ch
Jelmoli (department store)
Walking on the famous Bahnhofstrasse, you will not miss this department store. It is one of the best places to pick up some good edible souvenirs to bring home as they have everything under one roof and despite being a high end department store, delicacies are fairly priced.
Selections of cheese are wide from Tete de Moine of Jura to Bündnerkäse. The rosettes of Tete de Moine taste like a piece of heaven in the mouth and cost only CHF 55 per kilo if they shave it for you. It is much cheaper if you buy the whole head ;-)
Both cured meats we bought were so good that we can't decide which is our favourite: Swiss beef or wild boar ham from Umbria. Oops, ok the latter is not Swiss! But we can't resist wild boar, it just tastes so much better than farmed pigs. And of course you can't leave Switzerland without bagging some bars of good Swiss chocolate.
Location: Seidengasse 1. Open: Mon-Fri 9:00-20:00, Sat 9:00-17:00, Sun closed. Web: www.jelmoli.ch
Jules Verne Panoramabar
A nice wine bar in a tower high above downtown Zürich. Named after French science-fiction writer Jules Verne (20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Around the World in 80 Days, etc).
From Brasserie Lipp, enter the elevator and press the single button for the long ride up the tower. Exiting the elevator, there is a walkway around the tower with look-out windows that have fantastic views of downtown Zürich and Lake Zürich. After walking around the narrow tower, there are stairs up to the bar. There are tables on the outside of the tower, where you can enjoy drinks, small cold nibbles, and great views of Zürich and the surrounding area.
Location: Uraniastrasse 9. Open: Mon-Thu 11:00-24:00; Fri-Sat 11:00-1:00; Sun 15:00-23:00.
Lipp Brasserie
The replica of the famous Lipp Brasserie, not just the name, but the Art Nouveau interior too.
Lipp Brasserie is full on most evenings. They served very good mango sorbet and crème caramel when we visited.
Location: Uraniastrasse 9. Tel. +41 43 888 66 66. Open: Mon-Thu 7:00-24:00; Fri 7:00-1:00; Sat 11:00-1:00; Sun 11:45-23:0.
Samurai
This little restaurant is run by the Japanese owner. The sushi was great and the price affordable. We had delicious inside out rolls and Ebi Fry. The rolls were topped with perfectly grilled, fresh eel slices. However, the Ebi Fry was really a let down as the prawn was not fresh and the oil used for the deep frying was not fresh either. Service was very attentive.
Location: Weststrasse 180. Tel. 043-811-5678 Opening hours: Tue-Fri 11:30-14:00, 18:30-22:00. Sat 18:30-22:00. Sun & Mon closed. Take tram 2 or 3, alight at Lochergut, walk for about 2 minutes. Check the map at their website at www.samurai7.ch
Spaghetti Factory
Conveniently located on Niederdorfstrasse which is on the itinerary of every tourist, this place is frequented by locals too. Spaghetti vary from CHF 14 to 27, and add CHF 1 if you prefer to have pennette or potato gnocchi instead. There are a few small tables on Niederdorfstrasse and we were lucky to get one! Ideal for people watching. We had grilled prawns with spicy spaghetti, which was hot with red and green chilies (loved it!). Washed it down it Sauvignon Blanc from Santa Digna, Chile, at only CHF 5 per dl. At the back of the restaurant there are more tables al fresco spilled over a lovely tiny square.
Location: Niederdorfstrasse 5. Web: www.spaghettifactory.ch
Zeughauskeller
Zeughauskeller was built as an arsenal during the medieval time. The hall could accommodate more than 200 people and it was packed when we arrived, yet the service remained swift and professional. We were lucky to get a seat within 5 minutes of waiting (we didn't make any reservation), though that means we had to share the table with other patrons. So, reservation is highly recommended. The cuisine was hearty but we were a bit disappointed with our Wiener Schnitzel (we had the one made of beef). The beef was tender but it didn't have much beef taste.
If you missed the Zürich's Bear Parade, you can see one of them that is now kept above one of the entrances.
Location: Gassen 17 / Bahnhofstrasse 28a. Tel: 044 211 26 90. Web: www.zeughauskeller.ch