Home to the world’s first vegetarian restaurant—Haus Hiltl—Switzerland is an oasis of green restaurants for vegans and non-vegans alike. And whilst many travel to the Alpine country to indulge in chocolate and cheese, plant-based eaters are in for a pleasant surprise and a myriad of eco chic choices. But along with abundance comes decision fatigue. So we’ve narrowed down the best of the best. And trust us when we say that Switzerland’s “best” is in a league all of its own.
The minute you step into the crisp Alpine air, you step into a space where the natural elements reigns supreme. The soaring snow-capped mountains remind you to protect them. And the famous fjords encourage you to dive into their cascading serenity. Electric cars run the highways. And cutting edge innovations stretch the limit in striving for carbon neutrality. The same can be said for restaurants. And more and more, Michelin star chefs are taking on the challenge of reinventing vegetable dishes—making them the heroes and not the sides.
As you can imagine, nothing in this country is done half-heartedly. And all of the best vegan restaurants in Switzerland go above and beyond to stand out from the rest. Some serve bite sized plates that are as Instagrammable as they are scrumptious. Some are inspired by Indonesian cuisine—fusing Swiss precision with umami flavor. While others are more relaxed and serve a buffet of wholesome, cruelty-free dishes.
Whichever you choose, we think that these plant-based plates are as mouthwatering as the Swiss chocolate or cheese. And that’s saying something.
The 15 best vegan and vegetarian-friendly restaurants in Switzerland
- Haus Hiltl
- Martkueche
- Dapur
- Tibits
- Ou Bien Encore
- Samses
- Mu Food
- Be Kind Cafe
- KLE
- Beetnut
- Tonic Restaurant
- Za Zaa
- Unmeat
- The Artisan
- Roots
Haus Hiltl
Some would say that Haus Hitl started the revolution of vegetarian dining. And according to the Guiness Book of World Records, the plant-powered culinary experience is the oldest vegetarian restaurant in the world. They were quick to realize the potential and exotic flavors that plants hold. And since 1898 they’ve been serving cruelty-free dishes to vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike.
Famous for its veggie burgers, pastas and curries, Haus Hiltl, proves that food can be mouthwateringly delicious, wholesome and cruelty free all at once. If you can’t decide what to order, we recommend doing the full buffet. Be sure to arrive hungry!
Best for: Breaking records.
Address: Sihlstrasse 28, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland Opening days and hours: Mon-Thurs: 7am-10pm Fri: 7am-11pm Sat: 8am-11pm Sun: 10am-10pm Price range: $$$ Website: hiltl.ch/en/
Martkueche
Since 2014 Martkueche has been a key contributor to Zurich’s innovative gastronomy scene. The Michelin star restaurant is on a mission to disprove the stereotypical lackluster of vegetarian cuisine. And they achieve exactly that through cutting edge technologies and fresh seasonal ingredients.
Martkueche serves small plates that are as Instagrammable as they are enticing. And whilst it’s almost impossible to move past the light foam that dances around tortellini pockets and edible flowers, the minute you put fork to mouth, all aesthetics are forgotten and perfectly balanced flavors take over.
Best for: Instagram feeds and food connoisseurs alike.
Address: Feldstrasse 98, 8004 Zürich, Switzerland Opening days and hours: Tues-Fri: 5:30pm-11:30pm Sat: 5-11:30pm Sun-Mon: closes Price range: $$$$ Website: www.marktkueche.ch/
Dapur
Bring Swiss precision to Indonesia’s pungent plates and you’ve got a combination that is difficult to compete with. Dapur opened its doors in Zurich in 2011 with the purpose of introducing Indonesian cuisine to Switzerland. And in 2017, they took the concept one step further and decided to cut out all animal products—leaving us with an entirely plant-based contemporary culinary experience.
Dapur is renowned for bringing out the distinctive flavors in traditional Indonesian plants. Once you try their Rendang Nangka you’ll have a whole new take on jackfruit. While the Terong Kecap heroes eggplants and garden leeks. Be prepared to be blown away.
Best for: Bang bang!
Address: Schaffhauserstrasse 373, 8050 Zürich, Switzerland Opening days and hours: Tues-Sat: 6pm-9:30pm Wed: 11:30am-1:30pm; 6pm-9:30pm Sun-Mon: closed Price range: $$$ Website: www.dapur-indonesia.ch/en/
Tibits
Tibits is always bustling with animal-lovers getting their fix of cruelty-free deliciousness. The buffet style makes it a relaxed environment to find vegan food on the go. And it is also a fantastic place to get inspiration for your own plant-based cooking as the innovative chefs continue to experiment with new ingredients and flavor combinations—making plant-based plates effortlessly exciting.
With Tibits taking over the plant-based culinary scene in Switzerland, you can find one in almost every city. And we just hope they keep growing because you can never have too many Tibits, especially if you’re opting for more wholesome eco vacations.
Best for: Spreading titbits about the best vegetarian food in Switzerland.
Address: Seefeldstrasse 2, 8008 Zürich, Switzerland Opening days and hours: Mon-Thurs: 7am-11pm Fri: 7am-11:30pm Sat: 8am-11:30pm Sun: 9am-11pm Price range: $$ Website: www.tibits.ch/fr/
Ou Bien Encore
We’ll give a standing ovation and encore to Ou Bien Encore. Located in the picturesque town in Switzerland, the veggie hotspot is one of the best vegan restaurants in Geneva. It’s distinguished by its marriage of eco chic contemporary interior with heartwarming wholesome plates. And it’s the kind of place that’s impossible to visit just once if you’re in town for a few days (trust us).
Fortunately, the extensive menu at Ou Bien Encore is excuse enough to put aside your trailblazing boots for a day to return to the spot that captures souls (and stomachs). If you’re yet to try their burger with vegan mayonnaise, you’re in for a treat. And if salads are more your style, you’ll be equally indulged.
Best for: We want more.
Address: Rue des Bains 61, 1205 Genève, Switzerland Opening days and hours: Tues-Fri: 8am-10pm Sat: 10am-10pm Sun: 10am-6pm Price range: $$$ Website: oubienencore.ch/
Samses
From travel agency to international restaurant, Samses no longer flies you across the world but they do take you on a culinary journey. The two siblings transformed the space in 2004 in order to bring their dreams of owning a restaurant come to life. Fast forward a couple of years and they’ve become one of the best vegan restaurants in Zurich.
Samses doesn’t overcomplicate their menu as they celebrate the simplicity of unique ingredients. Their wholesome bowls pack a punch in both flavor and nutrition—from umami infused Asia bowl to artichoke rich Mediterranean bowl. And their dinner plates possess a bit more finesse, while maintaining a mouthwatering allure. It’s the kind of food you want to dig straight into.
Best for: It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey.
Address: Langstrasse 231, 8005 Zürich, Switzerland Opening days and hours: Wed-Sat: 6pm-11pm Price range: $$ Website: www.samses.ch/
Mu Food
Mu Food isn’t just making the cows and chickens happy, it’s also making our stomachs sing. Located on a vibrant street in Geneva, the plant-powered restaurant strives to promote sustainability and story-telling through food. And whilst most of their dishes are fully plant-based, they do have a few dishes to cater towards the conscious omnivore (all sustainably sourced of course).
Mu Food infuses their dishes with culinary inspirations and colors from around the world. And the extensive menu caters to every taste. The risottos and pastas are our top choice. While the raw cheesecake is a key contributor to their status as one of the best vegan restaurants in Geneva, Switzerland.
Best for: Making the cows go Mu.
Address: Rue de Lausanne 59, 1201 Genève, Switzerland Opening days and hours: Mon: 11:30am-3pm Tues-Fri: 11:30am-12am Sat: 6pm-12am Sun: closed Price range: $$$ Website: www.mu-food.ch/
Be Kind Cafe
Be kind to your body. Be kind to the planet. Be kind to others. Be Kind Cafe manifests their mantra in every area of life.
Be Kind Cafe is only open from Monday to Friday. And it has quickly become a hotspot for digital nomads and local lunch breaks alike. It’s the perfect place to meet new people with a nourishing menu to feed your mind. We adore all of their additive-free soups and salads for a midday meal. While their croissants are the ultimate guilt-free treat.
Best for: Manifesting kindness through shared meals.
Address: Rue David-Dufour 8, 1205 Genève, Switzerland Opening days and hours: Mon-Fri: 8am-3pm Sat-Sun: closed Price range: $$ Website: www.bekindcafe.ch/
Restaurant KLE
Restaurant KLE is named after the plant Sauerklee. Sauerklee is the German name for a plant that has been used for centuries in a myriad of different cultures. This speaks to the restaurant’s emphasis on the transformative power that plants hold. And they successfully prove that the same vegetable can look and taste very different depending on the context.
The way in which KLE transforms plants into exquisitely delicious dishes is unlike any other restaurant we’ve been to. If you’re not convinced, just try the eggplant beurre blanc with horseradish. We doubt you’ve experienced the humble aubergine in that way before.
Best for: Reimagining overlooked ingredients.
Address: Zweierstrasse 114, 8003 Zürich, Switzerland Opening days and hours: Tues-Sat: 6pm-10pm Sun-Mon: closed Price range: $$$$ Website: www.restaurantkle.com/
Beetnut
Explode your taste buds with new flavors as Beetnut beats down the misconceptions about the lackluster of vegan dining. Located in Zurich, the contemporary interior speaks to the Chef’s innovative culinary skills. And while eco chic bulbs and plants hang from the ceiling, you’ll be equally amazed by the aesthetics on your plate.
Beetnut is famous for their earthy warm bowls. We particularly love the By The Inkas bowl with mangold, quinoa, nachos and guac—amongst many other soulful ingredients. And if you’re looking for something sweet to end off, the zucchini chocolate cake is an absolute must.
Best for: Beeting down misconceptions about plants.
Address: Lagerstrasse 16b, 8004 Zürich, Switzerland Opening days and hours: Mon-Sun: 8am-10pm Price range: $$$ Website: beetnut.com/
Tonic Restaurant
So often eating healthily as a tourist is too much effort. By the time you remember lunch, you’re starving and the closest thing usually seems to be a pizza stall or burger joint. Fortunately restaurants such as Tonic take the pain out of sticking to diet goals and environmental pledges. The buffet style restaurant features a huge selection of veggie meals. Not only are they ready to go, but they’re also unbelievably scrumptious, dietician-approved and planet conscious.
Tonic Restaurant is perfect for takeaways or dining in. The casual eatery is always buzzing with the sound of people raving about their food. And whether you opt for a salad, soup or other daily surprises, we’re pretty sure you’ll be singing to the same tune.
Best for: A tonic dish.
Address: Bd Carl-Vogt 30, 1205 Genève, Switzerland Opening days and hours: Mon-Fri: 6am-2:30pm Price range: $$ Website: tonic-restaurant.ch/
Za Zaa
We all have those family members that are stubborn in their beliefs that vegetables are not a main. You could list a number of reasons why that just isn’t true. Or you could take them to Za Zaa. Trust us when we say that the latter is a lot more fun.
Za Zaa is inspired by Lebanese cuisine and the time-honored Eastern culture of sharing food across the table. The traditional dips and freshly made pitas transport you to a new country. While modern twists on the classical dishes add an extra dimension to the dishes.
Best for: Making room for more.
Address: Petersgraben 15, 4051 Basel, Switzerland Opening days and hours: Mon-Sat: 11am-11pm Price range: $$ Website: zazaa.ch/
Unmeat
Life is all about balance. And going vegan doesn’t have to mean compromising on comfort food. Especially when plant-based patties taste just as good (if not better) than your classic double cheeseburger. Now we’re not saying that this is always true. In fact, most of the time it’s not. But in the case of Unmeat, we dare you to say otherwise.
Unmeat is all about guilt-free junk foods. And the choices are endless concerning which indulgent meal to dig into. We’re partial towards the Unmeat special burger patty on a pretzel bun with all the garnish and sauces. But the Undog and Cheeky Nuggets are just as good.
Best for: Tucking in—with a clean conscience.
Address: Militärstrasse 91, 8004 Zürich, Switzerland Opening days and hours: Tues-Fri: 5:30pm-10pm Price range: $$ Website: www.unmeat.com/en
The Artisan
For many, food is so much more than just a survival mechanism. It’s an art. Such is the case for this creative culinary space. The Artisan in a green oasis in the middle of Zurich. The vegan-friendly restaurant expresses itself through unique flavors and exquisite color combinations as they aim to bring the joys of perfectly balanced craftsmanship to its diners.
The Artisan menu is distinguished by dishes such as whole roasted corno di blue pepper with lentil filling, corn puree and crispy shallots. While the roasted eggplant and grilled sourdough is an unforgettable starter. Although the restaurant isn’t strictly vegan, the vegan dishes alone are well worth the visit. They may even make your carnivore friends jealous.
Best for: Creative expression through food.
Address: Nordbrücke 4, 8037 Zürich, Switzerland Opening days and hours: Mon-Thurs: 6pm-11pm Fri: 6pm-12am Sat: 10:30am-3pm; 6pm-12am Sun: 10:30am-3pm; 6pm-9:30pm Price range: $$$$ Website: www.theartisan.ch/en/
Roots
There’s no better way to start your day on holiday than with an acai smoothie bowl. And whilst you may not be floating around Bali, Roots Cafe brings that sun-kissed island feel straight to Zurich. The green sanctuary is your reprieve from fried breakfasts and guilt-inducing pastries. And they remind you of just how good a nourishing meal makes you feel.
Once you’ve tried the vegan pancakes, avo bagel or vibrant smoothie bowl, you’ll see why we couldn’t complete this list without including Roots.
Best for: Going back to our roots.
Address: Lintheschergasse 15, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland Opening days and hours: Mon-Fri: 7am-8pm Sat: 9am-5pmSun: 10am-4pm Price range: $$$ Website: rootsandfriends.com/
Frequently asked questions about vegan restaurants in Switzerland
Home to the first vegetarian restaurant, Switzerland is a must-visit for vegans and non-vegans alike. We think that Haus Hiltl is our best place to eat in Switzerland. And with over a century of plant-based experience, it’s not surprising that they know exactly how to bring out the best in every vegetable.
While it’s hard to pick just one, Switzerland is a leading country in vegan cuisine. The European country is home to a myriad of vegan restaurants. It has wholesome vegan buffets, plant-powered fine dining and everything in between. Plus as the oldest vegetarian restaurant in the world, Haus Hiltl has become one of the best attractions in Switzerland and is well worth a visit.
Vegans won’t be disappointed with the array of plant-based options available in Basel. As one of Switzerland’s most popular cities, it is home to many gourmet vegan restaurants. Our favorite evening spot has got to be the Za Zaa—an eco-conscious explosion of Lebanese flavors. And the Tibits buffet is an effortless stop for on the go wholesome lunches.
Zurich is one of the best places for vegans to visit. We recommend Haus Hiltl as the world’s oldest vegetarian restaurant and one of the best attractions in Switzerland. The Artisan is a must-visit for passionate foodies and flavor connoisseurs. While a smoothie bowl at Roots is the perfect nourishing start to a morning of sightseeing.
