Switzerland is a beautiful country, surrounded by gorgeous nature and filled with fresh air. Within the north-central area the lovely city of Zürich breaks into that country landscape. Zürich is one of its largest cities in Switzerland, and has been named as one of the top 25 best cities in the world to reside. The official language of the region is German, but locally the Alemannic Swiss German dialect is more common. The city is home to some of the world’s most important banks, marking it as a global financial center. But don’t worry, you don’t have to be a financier or independently wealthy to visit. Our motivation was far from business: we wanted to enjoy the great food, delicious wine, and explore the rich history of the city.
Zürich is easily traversed and you can see quite a bit in a day, including many of the museums. The central part is small enough to get around by foot, but there are local bus services throughout as well. We stopped at the Swiss National Museum to discover more about the history of Zürich. The city was founded by the Romans in 15BC and has been settled for over 2,000 years so there is a lot to learn. The museum showcases the history of Switzerland, taking you through the evolution of the country, and creating a rich tapestry of the culture and history with many different exhibits.
Zürich is also known for its clocks; the church tower of St Peters is home to the largest clock tower face in Europe. The clock face was installed as early as the thirteenth century, and has been updated over the centuries, today it is fully automated. The Swiss have also been synonymous with world class watches. There was a time when that was not the case. If you’re interested in the evolution of the timepieces check out this New York Times article.
Zürich was a stopover on our way to Zermatt. I researched many places to stay, but am so glad we decided on the Storchen Hotel. It is a historic hotel in the center of town, right on the river. The rooms are all newly renovated, and some offer a view of the riverside. The service was impeccable; the hotel was luxurious without the highest price tag in the city (still keep in mind that Switzerland is more expensive than other European countries we will suggest visiting). The ground floor features a wonderful riverside bar, where you can enjoy a glass of wine and watch the world go by. Even if you choose not to stay at the Strochen, I recommend stopping by in the afternoon to enjoy a drink at their riverside bar with a wonderful view.
During your busy day of museums and wandering through the lovely cobble stoned streets of the old town center, make sure you stop for some fondue. Although busy with tourists, the center of town boasts Swiss Chuchi Restaurant, where you can order all kinds of variations of the classic fondue. You can mix and match different cheeses, or you can go for a raclette where there is no dipping required. Order the potato jackets too! They are perfect to dip in your fondue.
Another foodie delight includes the Swiss chocolate. Take a walk through the cobblestone streets of the old town and enjoy poking your nose in all the chocolate shops, there is one practically on every corner. You can purchase a single piece to walk with, or order a box to take back with you. Don’t forget your friends and family, It makes a great gift when you get back home.
If you find that you want to skip the tourist stops and find local restaurants, there are a few tricks to try. One option is to walk around and check out the surroundings. Look for places that don’t offer their menu in multiple languages, avoid pictograph menus that are not on a stand, and anywhere where all you hear is your own language. Another great option is to ask the concierge. It is their job to be familiar with local places that guests might enjoy. We like to take it a step further and ask where the concierge would take their own family or friends when visiting.
This time we used the wandering technique, one which my husband laments if he is at all hungry. We chose Kindli Swiss restaurant. This is a traditional place, and offers many local dishes. They do offer an English menu, but it is mostly frequented by locals. Some of our favorites included the beetroot carpaccio, it was light, thinly sliced, and delicately oiled. I also enjoyed the veal, it was seared to perfection, and dressed in a creamy mushroom sauce. My husband ordered a classic schnitzel. Everything was delicious and I highly recommend it for a beautiful evening meal and a delightful end to your day in Zürich.
Kindli had a beautiful local wine list. We enjoyed a delectable Pinot Noir, which is one of the grape styles made in the region. They boast over two hundred types of grape varietals in Switzerland and produce over a hundred million liters of wine each year. The tradition of viticulture hails back from at least the Roman era. Their main production is in the red Pinot noir grape and the white Chasselas grape. Although they produce a great amount, not much is exported, less than one percent; they are in the top ten countries for wine consumption. I definitely recommend you go for a visit if you want to try it, because they drink all the wine they make!
Written by Jess Sandberg
@have_wine_will_travel
Info@have_wine_will_travel.com
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