The 10 Best Vegetarian Restaurants In Zürich, Switzerland

Hiltl is the oldest vegetarian restaurant in Europe, founded by Ambrosius Hiltl in 1898 and run by the same family for four generations. While the à la carte menu features numerous healthy and tasty dishes, the restaurant’s extensive brunch is its true highlight with over 100 hot and cold vegetarian and vegan dishes (try the vegetarian “beef” tartare). The cooking reflects Swiss as well as international influences with all goods on offer clearly marked. The Hiltl complex also features the first veggie butcher shop in Switzerland and a cooking studio.

Located centrally on the Bellevue is Tibits, a veggie haven that has delighted full- and part-time vegetarians for the past 15 years. The unpretentious restaurant serves its high-quality, vegetarian dishes in an uncomplicated and relaxed atmosphere. True to its motto, Tibits aims to be as quick as a fast food chain, while losing none of the comfort of a real restaurant. Visitors can take their pick from 40 different salads, hot dishes and desserts from the extensive buffet. In a rush? Not to worry, Tibits allows you to take all of its dishes away. Order one of the fresh juices or cocktails to complete the veggie dining experience.

Elif und Sibel Erisik, two Swiss sisters, have recently opened a fully-fledged vegan restaurant on Zürich’s Limmatplatz. The eclectic Elle ‘n’ Belle reflects the quirky and trendy influences of its Kreis 5 location with jumbled-together pieces of furniture and eccentric, decorative elements. The restaurant is run by a self-service system and you can take your choice from the numerous vegan adaptations at the counter. True to their motto ‘It’s vegan, baby’, the sisters celebrate meat-free creations, with influences from the Mediterranean to Asia on the menu. The only rules: food should be organic and fresh and most importantly tasty.

Following its theme ‘creative cuisine rather than limitations’, the Marktküche does not rely on meat substitutes, instead serving healthy and organic dishes sourced from the region. The restaurant’s menu varies according to seasonal availability and is likely to satisfy gourmets as well as those looking for a casual meal. The small selection of high-quality dishes is outstanding and the amuse-bouche are an excellent way of experiencing the kitchen’s culinary prowess.

Gärtnerei‘s dishes offer diverse flavors and feature vegetarian, vegan as well as meat options but they all have one thing in common: the focus on organic and fresh ingredients and the exclusion of artificial additives or preservatives. The restaurant’s style is high, white walls and light wooden table tops which are in perfect tune with their philosophy and focus on natural products. Tasty salads, fine soups and scrumptious sandwiches are a few of the treats that await the vegetable-hungry visitor.

Located on the famous Langstrasse, Samses is an unpretentious restaurant whose red and grey tones give it a laid-back and cozy atmosphere. Visitors can load up their plates from the mouthwatering buffet which features over 35 dishes. As with many buffets in Zürich, the price is determined by the weight but remains reasonable no matter how many of the fresh vegetables you have piled up. During the evening the restaurant offers an à la carte menu and an intimate setting. Wash your meal down with the vegan wine on offer.

Situated in the Mail Railway Station, Bona Dea serves innovative and skillfully prepared dishes and an extensive buffet throughout the day. The hot dishes, salads, chutneys and desserts draw inspiration from Asian cuisine. Additionally, regional specialities, fresh juices, organic beers and wines satisfy the visitors’ thirst. The stylish restaurant’s minimalistic interior gives it a sophisticated flair and the welcoming staff are happy to assist with any wishes. Bona Dea has also released a cookbook featuring recipes for the most popular dishes.

Freshii is part of a food chain founded by Matthew Corrin with an aim to make healthy eating affordable and convenient, Corrin has created a trendy and quality franchise and one of his outlets can now be found in Zürich’s Militaerstrasse. The vegetarian and meat options are made to order and come at reasonable prices and with little waiting time. The setting is simple, yet comfortable, with a living plant wall and metal furniture. Visitors can choose a variety of toppings and customize their salads, wraps and bowls. Freshii has filled a niche among mainstream vegetarian cuisine, offering healthy eating without any pretense.

In 2007 David Baumgartner opened the first Dean & David restaurant in Munich following the motto ‘Fresh to eat’. The idea for the health conscious restaurant came to Baumgartner during his travels around the world and a winning concept was born: fresh ingredients sourced from the region and without artificial preservatives. One of their restaurants has recently found a home in Zürich and delights visitors with fresh smoothies, spicy curries and soups and crispy salads. The trendy Dean & David has captured the current zeitgeist and developed into a trendy chain with a focus on simplicity and quality.

Malabar serves sumptuous dishes from Southern India perfected through spices from the Malabar Coast such as tamarind, ginger and different peppers. While also serving meat dishes, the restaurant is vegan and vegetarian friendly. Malabar is not only one of the best vegetarian restaurants in the city, but also one of the best Indian restaurants and its fish dishes are particularly mouthwatering. An excellent way to change up healthy cuisine.