Absorbing influences from French, German and Italian food, Switzerland has a wide range of local cuisines. Beyond famous national staples like Swiss cheese, Swiss chocolate, and fondue, which attract international acclaim, you’ll find regional dishes cooked from local ingredients. Read on to discover the answers to all-important questions about food in Switzerland, from “what is Switzerland’s national dish?”, to “what is Switzerland’s most famous food?”.
Eating out in Switzerland
When it comes to food in Switzerland, the Swiss take the joy of communal eating to heart. From lunchtime diners in Zürich’s financial district, to remote Alpine eateries, you’ll find rustic decor, hefty helpings of Swiss cowbell kitsch, and a hearty atmosphere.
The line betweencafésandrestaurants in Switzerlandis blurred.While either can normally do you a full meal, these are generally only available at set times — mostly noon–2pm and 6–10pm — with snacks available in between.
Sampling cakes and cookies in a local cafe is a highlight of eating out in Switzerand © sidefin/Shutterstock
Tips for eating out on a budget in Switzerland
Put simply, eating out in Switzerland is expensive. To avoid haemorrhaging cash, make lunch your main meal, and always plump for the “menu”, or dish of the day.
This comprises two or three courses of substantial, quality nosh, whether in a café or a proper restaurant.The same meal in the evening, or choosing à la carte anytime, can easily double the cost.
Budget travellers should also head for the often surprisingly goodself-service restaurantsin town-centre department stores nationwide.
Pricing generally goes by the size of the plate, and they offer a variety of generic dishes – soups, casseroles, pasta, with buffets of fresh salads and chicken-and-rice staples, plus fresh-squeezed juices and fruit smoothies.
What is Switzerland’s national dish?
Cheese fondue, arguablySwitzerland’s national dish, can be found everywhere, but it’s really a speciality of French-speaking Switzerland.
The word “fondue” refers to the broad, shallow earthenware or cast-iron pot used to heat the cheese.
Myriad varieties are served nationwide. The classic style, found in the fondue heartland of Fribourg and the Vaud countryside, is amoitié-moitié(“half-and-half”), using eitherGruyèreandVacherin Fribourgeois cheese, or Gruyère andEmmental.
Others may use several grades of Gruyère, or mix in some local Alpine cheese, Valaisian raclette cheese or Appenzeller.
Alongside standard fondue, you’ll also findfondue chinoisethroughout Switzerland, which will have you dipping slivers of meat into spicy bouillon.
Also look out forfondue bourguignonne(dousing lumps of red meat in hot oil),fishfondues, Valaisianfondue Bacchus, which involves mulled wine, and noveltychocolatefondues.
Fondue, Switzerland’s national dish © Shulevskyy Volodymyr/Shutterstock
The fondue ritual — how to enjoy Switzerland’smost famous food
There’s a ritual surrounding fondue consumption, which most Swiss take rather seriously.
First the cheeses are melted together behind the scenes, generally with a shot of some kind of alcohol cider in the orchard-rich east, Kirsch in the cherry-growing central regions, and white wine in Neuchâtel and Vaud.
Next, the aromatic pot is brought to your table and set over a small paraffin burner.
You use a special long fork to spear a small cube of bread from a separate dish. Some places also serve little chunks of boiled potato and/or vegetables.
Then you swoop the bread through the cheese, twirl off the trailing ends, and pop it in.
- Fondue is a winter dish — avoid restaurants offering it in summer.
- Since they’re never eaten alone, fondues are priced as a two-person (or more) deal, or as “fondue à discrétion” or “fondue à gogo”, both of which mean “all you can eat".
- To stop the cheese mixture from separating, give it a vigorous swirl through the pot.
- Lose your bread in the fondue, and traditionally the drinks are on you. To avoid this, adjust the heat regularly. Have it high enough to stop the cheese solidifying, but not so high that the mixture boils or scorches the pot.
- With 150–250g of molten cheese usually consumed per person, fondue is heavy on the system. The Swiss-German remedy is to gulp hot herbal tea, so the cheese doesn’t solidify in your innards.
- Alternatively, follow the fearless Romands and chug chilled white wine. Theircoup de milieuof a shot of Kirsch halfway through the meal also supposedly helps things settle.
Fondue tips for first-timers
Brush up on more culture and etiquette in Switzerland.
What to eat in Switzerland —Swiss cheese
Cheesehas been an institution in Switzerland since the time of the Romans. Along with chocolate (more on that soon) and fondue, it’sSwitzerland’smost famous food.
Some Swiss cheeses are still made the traditional way — by hand on summer mountain pastures, though these days a lot is made factory-style in dairies.
As pasteurization is frowned upon by Swiss cheesemakers, all Swiss cheese is made fromraw milk, so not a good option if you're pregnant.
In terms of varieties, there are dozens, mostly named after their town or region of origin.
Distinctive cheese includes pungent Appenzeller, whose smelliest variety, Räss, gains its odour from a herb-and-brine marinade.
The holey mousetrap classic Emmentaler hails from the Emmental region near Bern. Strictly speaking, though, “Emmental” is the name given to any cheese in Switzerland with holes in it — the holes are formed by the CO₂ given off by bacteria during the final stages of production.
Then there’s smooth, rich, creamy Gruyère from the mountainous region north of Lake Geneva, while Raclette is a spicy, easily-meltable cheese produced throughout Switzerland for the popular Alpine winter dish.Food in Switzerland doesen't get more satisfying.
Eating raclette is a top Swiss food experience © bonchan/Shutterstock
What to eat in Switzerland — chocolate
Chomping on locally-producedchocolatecomes near the top ofSwitzerland food experiences.Indeed, more chocolate is sold in Switzerland per head of population than any other country.
However, chocolate isn’t actually a Swiss invention — its origins as a drink lie in Mexico, while the solid chocolate “bar” was developed by the Bristol-based confectioner Joseph Fry in 1847.
That said, many early pioneers of chocolate-making were Swiss, includingFrançois-Louis Cailler, who started production of what was then largely sold as a restorative tonic at Vevey in 1819. Cailler was soon followed by Philippe Suchard in Neuchâtel.
All chocolate was dark and bitter until 1875, when Vevey-based Daniel Peter, a candle-maker who married Cailler’s daughter, inventedmilk chocolate. This came courtesy of the condensed milk manufactured by his neighbour, Henri Nestlé.
In 1879 Rudolphe Lindt of Bern invented “conching”, a process which created the smooth, melting chocolate loved by millions today.
Jean Tobler, also of Bern, was another pioneer. Even today, every one of the seven billion triangles of Toblerone eaten annually are produced in Bern.
Switzerland also has a long tradition of confectioners creating hand-filled luxury chocolates for special occasions, including chocolate-covered chestnuts in autumn, and chocolate bears, which are a Bernese favourite.
Chocolate — almost a national dish of Switzerland © KelaVi/Shutterstock
Best experience for Swiss chocolate lovers
Tour theesteemed Cailler chocolate factory in the village of Broc, near Gruyères.
- Best for couples:Fleur de Lys. In the heart of Gruyères, rooms overlook the square or south-stretching scenery.
- Best for cosy comfort:L’Hôtel de Gruyères. This homely three-star offers fine views from the terrace.
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Where to eat in Switzerland —Swiss regional specialities
Bern
In and around Bern, you’ll findBernertellerorBernerplatte. This hefty pile of cold and hot meats — including pork sausage, bacon, various hams, smoked pork, knuckles and beef tongue — is served with beans andSauerkraut.
- Best for luxury-lovers:Innere Enge. This hosted Empress Josephine in 1810 and boasts Art Nouveau styling.
- Best for history buffs:Hotel Landhaus. Overlooking the river, these are Bern's most attractive budget rooms.
- Best for budget travellers:Bern Backpackers/Hotel Glocke. Excellent dorms and facilities in the Old Town.
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Meiringen
Meringuewas invented in (or near) Meiringen in the Bernese Oberland.
Given that the town is also blessed withlovely scenery, and opportunities to enjoy some of the best outdoor experiences in Switzerland, it’s well worth a visit.
For example, the Reichenbach falls, where Sherlock Holmes apparently met his end, reveal why you voted Switzerland one of the most beautiful countries in the world.
- Best for Art Nouveau style:Parkhotel du Sauvage. A former Conan Doyle haunt with atmosphere.
- Best for foodies:Hotel Victoria. A three-star with smart contemporary style and equally stylish restaurant.
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Reichenbach falls, Meiringen — awe-inspiring nature and the chance to try top Swiss food © Shutterstock
Zürich
Zürich is famed forZüri Gschnetzlets, diced veal in a creamy mushroom sauce. To the west, St Gallen is known for its pale, milky veal sausages.
Best Swiss food experience in Zürich
Book afood-themed sightseeing tourto indulge in Swiss cheese fondue and fine wine while seeing the city.
- Best for culture vultures:Alma Hotel. An upmarket lakeside designer hotel focused on sustainability.
- Best for couples:Hotel Kindli. One of Zürich’s most charming small hotels.
- Best for nightlife-lovers:Pension Furdich. This quaint hotel is close to bars and clubs, and backs onto a park.
Best places to stay inZürich
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Graubünden
Graubünden is best known forBündnerfleisch— prime beef air-dried and served paper-thin as part of an aromatic plate of mixed meats known as aBündnerteller.
It’s also a prime ingredient inBündner Gerstensuppe— barley cream soup with vegetables.
You’ll also see lots ofgameon Graubünden’s autumn menus — a fine example of the heartiness of food in Switzerland.
- Best for couples:Arosa Kulm, Arosa. An historic palace hotel right on the edge of the slopes.
- Best for families:Sunstar Hotel, Arosa. A casual hotel near Untersee Lake with its own ski school, spa and pool.
- Best for budget travellers:Viva Hostel., Chur. This modern, lively hostel has a range of rooms, some en suite.
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Charming Chur is a top place to sample regional Swiss food © Avatar_023/Shutterstock
Valais
While the prime speciality of French Switzerland isfondue, another cheesy dish,raclette, is known countrywide, but best savoured in the canton of Valais.
As for what this is (and involves), a large half-round of cheese is held in front of a fire. Then, as it melts, it’s scraped (raclé) onto a plate, and served with boiled potatoes, pearl onions and pickles.
- Best for families:Alpe Fleurie, Villars-Gryon. This chalet-style hotel has a long history of catering to families.
- Best for couples:Auberge de la Poste, Les Diablerets. This rustic 200-year-old inn hosted Stravinsky and Lenin.
- Best for luxury-lovers:Art de Vivre, Crans Montana. A quiet upmarket four-star east of central Crans.
Best places to stay in the canton ofValais
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Lausanne
Capital of the canton of Vaud, Lausanne’s lakeside resorts prepare fresh fish in a hundred different ways, most deliciously astruite meunière — fresh trout floured and sautéed in butter.
Another local speciality is thesaucisson vaudois, or pork and beef Vaud sausage. Famed for its delicately smoked flavour, it's served boiled or steamed with a purée of potatoes and leeks.
Best Swiss food experience in Lausanne
Gourmands will want to go on aself-guided food tour of Lausanne.
- Best for couples:Angleterre & Residence. This classsy waterfront hotel once hosted Byron.
- Best forluxury-lovers: Beau-Rivage Palace. One of Switzerland’s finest hotels, with award-winning food.
- Best for families:Elite. Situated on a quiet, centrally located street, this is Lausanne's best mid-price hotel.
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Wondering where to eat in Switzerland? Lausanne isn't short of places to enjoy ome of the best Swiss food © Mihai-Bogdan Lazar/Shutterstock
Ticino
Ticino has its own cuisine, more akin to the flavours and methods of neighbouring Piedmont and Lombardy.
Polenta(cornmeal),risotto, leafy salads dressed lightly with olive oil, and fresh pastas andgnocchi with tomato or pesto sauces, are all staples.
The Ticinesi also love their sausages, especially richluganega. Spicymortadellais unlike the Italian version, and is either cooked or air-dried for eating raw.
- Head to Lugano to relishaself-guided food tour of town.
- For an immersive experience that combines history, scenery, fashion, and food, book aguided tour of Lugano with lunch— a chef will help you create the perfect risotto.
Best Swiss food experiencesin Ticino
- Best for understated style:Giardino Lago, Locarno. This quietly opulent hotel opens onto the waterfront.
- Best for families:Lugano Dante, Lugano. A quality four-star in a converted townhouse.
- Best for couples:Romantik Hotel Castello, Ascona. This four-star has a distinctive tower and romantic rooms.
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Ascona is the perfect place to enjoy Swiss food in all its Italian glory © Boris Stroujko/Shutterstock
Drinking in Switzerland
Wateris safe to drink everywhere, whether from taps or public street-fountains. These fountains, even though they (or the horse-trough beneath them) may look grimy, invariably flow with spring water purer than anything you can buy in bottles.
The only exceptions are fountains clearly marked “kein Trinkwasser”, “eau non potable” or “acqua non potabile”, with a pictogram of a crossed-out drinking glass.
Teais invariably drunk without milk, and coffeehas some local variations. In German-speaking areasKaffee creme, coffee with sugar and cream, is popular, as isMilchkaffee, with fresh milk.AKaffee fertigis coffee with Schnapps.
After work, bars and terraces fillwith people enjoying anapéro — derived from the Frenchapéritif, and meaning a drink before dinner.
A cosyBierstubeorStübli is the evening meeting place of choice in many parts of German-speaking Switzerland.
Beer and spirits in Switzerland
Beer(Bier,bière,birra) on draught (vom Fass,à la pression,alla pressione) comes as a flavourful lager-type brew, always served with a large head of foam.
Fancy something lighter? Apanachéis a beer–lemonade shandy.
Switzerland’s most famousdistilled spiritor liquor (Schnapps,eau de vie,aquavite) is Kirsch (cherry spirit) from Zug and around Lucerne, which also happens to be the perfect place to embrace slow travel.
- Best for style-seekers:Art Deco Hotel Montana. Often rated the best four-star hotel in Switzerland.
- Best for nature-lovers:Seehotel Kastanienbaum. In a village outside the city, this has a lovely lakeside terrace.
- Best for romantics:Wilden Mann. This historic hotel dates back to 1517 and occupies seven townhouses.
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Try local beer when eating out in Switzerland © Shutterstock
Wine in Switzerland
Wineis one of Switzerland’s best-kept secrets — quality is high, annual production tops 200 million bottles, yet only one percent of Swiss wine is exported.
Switzerland’s best-known wines come from the steeply terraced vineyards of theValais. Meanwhile, CantonVaudhosts the celebratedCôteandLavauxvineyards above Lake Geneva.
- Best for lakeside luxury:Le Rive, Nyon. An opulent four-star in a quiet but central lakeside location.
- Best for couples:Romantik Hotel Mont-Blanc au Lac, Morges. An elegant, historic waterside hotel.
- Best for buzz:Les Négociants, Vevey. A reliable family-run hotel just steps from the main square.
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Chillon Castle, Lake Geneva — not a bad spot to enjoy some of the best Swiss wine © FenlioQ/Shutterstock
Hungry for more about Switzerland? The Rough Guide to Switzerlandand our run-down ofthings not to miss in Switzerlandwill help you plan.
If you're not a fan of planning, you could book a hassle-free tailor-made trip to Switzerland, with customisable itineraries curated by local experts covering everything fromunforgettable highlights of Switzerland, totouring theGrand Circle.
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