With this selection of restaurants where to eat in Zurich we want to help you enjoy Swiss gastronomy while you get to know one of its most emblematic and cosmopolitan cities.
Although initially it may seem that Switzerland does not stand out especially for its gastronomy, we assure you that you only need to try some of its most typical dishes to understand that this is another of the great reasons to visit the country and especially Zurich, a city where in addition to finding restaurants of traditional gastronomy, you will find multiple options of international gastronomy, perfect to enjoy the best cuisine.
Among the most famous traditional dishes not to be missed are fondue, which is made with melted cheese in a kind of hot pot, in which different ingredients such as bread, potatoes or pickles are dipped; raclette, which is the same concept as fondue but much lighter; rösti, which is made with melted cheese in a kind of hot pot, in which different ingredients such as bread, potatoes or pickles are dipped; Rösti, which is a very typical potato dish usually served as a side dish; alplermagronen, which is a dish made with macaroni, potatoes, cheese and onions; or famous products such as Swiss chocolate or cheeses.
If you want to make your culinary adventure in Zurich even more special, you could consider staying at one of the top-rated five-star hotels in Switzerland at https://www.top-hotels-switzerland.com/en/5-stars/. These hotels often house award-winning restaurants that offer a fine-dining experience, allowing guests to savor the best of Swiss and international cuisines.
Something to bear in mind is that restaurants in Zurich have a higher price than in other European cities, although in many cases it is not as excessive as it may seem at first glance. That is why in this selection we wanted to include options for all budgets but always valuing that all of them have an unbeatable quality-price ratio.
Based on the several times we have visited the city, after which we wrote the post places to see in Zurich essential, we leave you this selection of what we believe are the 10 restaurants where to eat in Zurich very well and cheap. Let's start!
1. La Fonte
Somewhat far from the city centre, although easily reached by tram 7, this restaurant in Zurich is one of the best known among the locals for the quality of its pizzas and pastas and also for its reasonable prices, which make it one of the cheapest restaurants in Zurich.
In addition, the staff is very friendly and familiar and the service is fast and attentive. Among all the dishes, we recommend you not to miss the pizzas, which have an average price of 25CHF.
Address: Duebendorfstrasse 223
Opening hours: daily from 11am to 1.30pm and from 5pm to 10pm.
2. Restaurant Swiss Chuchi, one of Zurich's best-known restaurants to eat at
Located in the heart of the city centre, Restaurant Swiss Chuchi is one of the most popular places to eat in Zurich among locals and travellers alike. Specialising in local cuisine, we recommend the fondue for 29,50CHF per person (one fondue is enough to share between two people). The water is free and the service and attention of the staff is very attentive and familiar.
It is one of the most popular restaurants in Zurich, serving fondues and raclettes at any time of the year, so it is usually full and reservations are recommended.
Address: Rosengasse 10
Opening hours: every day from 11:30 am to 11:15 pm
Fondue at Restaurant Swiss Chuchi, one of the most popular restaurants in Zurich3. Restaurant Ach'i
Also located in the city centre, this restaurant in Zurich is another of the best recommendations we can make if you want to have lunch or dinner with quality products at an unbeatable price.
Specialising in Asian cuisine, prepared in the traditional way, the dishes are quite plentiful and if you have any leftovers, they even offer to prepare them to take away.
The price depends on the dishes, but is usually around 20CHF per person including drink. Starters cost around 5-6CHF and mains around 10CHF, although we recommend ordering several starters and a main to share so you can try more things.
Address: Brauerstrasse 4
Opening hours: daily from 11h to 14:30h and 18h to 22:30h / Sunday from 17h to 22h.
4. Sternen Grill, another of Zurich's restaurants to eat at
Next to the lake, this is another of the best places to eat in Zurich if you don't want to spend too much and want to make a quick stop for lunch or dinner.
They specialise in traditional sausages and burgers and the price is around 13-15CHF per person. Among the 5 specialities they have, we recommend you try the currywurst and bratwurst, adding some of their homemade sauces.
Although they have a room with tables, as long as the weather is nice, it's a great option to order takeaway food and eat it in any of the green areas surrounding the lake.
Address: Theaterstrasse 22 Bellevue
Opening hours: daily from 10.30am to 10pm.
5. Pizzeria Azzurro
Pizzeria Azzurro is another of the most popular restaurants in Zurich if you want to eat well, with unbeatable value for money, but without spending a month's salary on lunch or dinner.
Although the best-known dish is pizza, which is made with top-quality products and thin dough, the menu also features pasta dishes which, from what we've read, are among the best in the city.
If you go for two people we recommend ordering a starter or salad and a pizza to share as they are huge. The price of the pizzas is about 22CHF and the pasta dishes about 25CHF.
Address: Hohlstrasse 451
Opening hours: every day from 11:30 am to 2 pm and from 6 pm to 11 pm
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6. Hiltl, one of the cheapest restaurants in Zurich
This restaurant in Zurich is another of the best known and recommended for a light and healthy lunch or dinner at unbeatable value for money.
Located in the city centre, Hiltl is a vegetarian and vegan restaurant, where the produce is top quality, cooked with care and unique flavours.
Although they have an à la carte menu, the most popular area among locals and travellers is the buffet, where you can eat whatever you want at a fixed price or by weight.
The price is 5,30CHF per 100 grams or 59CHF for brunch (you can eat as much as you want) from Monday to Friday from 9h to 10:30h and Saturday until 11:30h and includes 1 hot drink and 1 fruit juice.
Address: Sihlstrasse 28
Opening hours: daily from 10h to 19h.
7. Raclette Factory - Rindermarkt
Located in the heart of the city centre, this restaurant in Zurich is one of the best known and recommended if you want to enjoy a raclette, one of the most traditional dishes in the country at a reasonable price.
On the menu you will see a selection of cheeses, with which you can make your own raclette, at a price of around 7-9CHF per 80g, to which you can add extras afterwards. We recommend you opt for one of the special raclettes, for about 15CHF, which already include cheese, potatoes and pickles. They also have an all-you-can-eat option for 39,90CHF.
Address: Rindermarkt 1
Opening hours: every day from 11:30h to 22:30h.
8. Tibits
Next to the Opera, in the heart of the city centre, we find Tibits, which is another of the most recommended and famous restaurants in Zurich.
Specialising in vegetarian and vegan cuisine, the price depends on the weight of the quantity you choose, which is why this has also become one of the cheapest restaurants in Zurich.
They also have other locations in other Swiss cities such as Lucerne and the average price per person is around 15 euros for a full meal plus drink.
Address: Seefeldstrasse 2
Opening hours: every day from 11h to 14h.
9. Restaurant Zeughauskeller, one of the most famous restaurants in Zurich.
Located in the heart of the city centre, this restaurant in Zurich is another of the best alternatives for enjoying a lunch or dinner prepared with top quality products and at a relatively reasonable price, considering the prices of restaurants in the country.
In addition to menus in English, they have different typical Swiss dishes among which you can't miss the sausages with rosti for 22,50CHF, the wienerschnitzel for 34,50CHF or the alplermagronen for 20,50CHF.
Address: Bahnhofstrasse 28a
Opening hours: every day from 11:30 am to 11 pm
Restaurant Zeughauskeller10. Restaurant Zunfthaus zur Waag
And last but not least, in this list of restaurants where to eat in Zurich, you can't miss Zunfthaus zur Waag, located right in the centre, where you can't miss the Zürcher geschnetzeltes, a traditional dish of the city, for 45CHF, which is amazing.
Although as you can see it's not particularly cheap, if you have the chance, we recommend you don't miss it. Of course, the restaurant is usually full, so it is advisable to book in advance, especially if you want to have lunch or dinner on the terrace.
Address: Muensterhof 8
Opening hours: daily from 11:30am to 2pm and from 5pm to 7pm.
Zürcher geschnetzeltes, one of the must-try dishes at restaurants in Zurich.
In addition to sampling the local gastronomy in one of the restaurants in Zurich that we have recommended, another very special way to get to know the local culture and enjoy Swiss gastronomy is to book one of the following excursions in Zurich.
Restaurants in Zurich
All these restaurants where to eat in Zurich are within the tourist routes of the city, which you can prepare following the next posts, depending on the days you have available:
Switzerland Guide
Top 10 most beautiful cities in Switzerland
Switzerland by train with the Swiss Travel Pass
Switzerland's scenic train route
10 must-do Swiss travel tips