Cheap food Zurich-Luzern-Montreux-Zermatt-Lugano?
Vishal, along with his wife, is planning a trip to Zurich, Luzern, Montreux, the Bernese Oberland region, Zermatt, and Lugano from late September to mid-October. They are looking for recommendations on popular restaurants, cafes, and street food in these areas, aiming for good food experiences without necessarily seeking expensive sit-down places.
- In Zurich and other towns, check out supermarkets like Migros or Coop for affordable food options and cafeteria-style dining.
- For authentic Swiss meals like fondue, you'll likely need to go to a restaurant; popular choices in Zurich include Volkshaus and Swiss Chuchi.
- Don't miss trying Birchermüesli, a classic Swiss dish that you can find at most Coop and Migros stores.
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Hi all
My wife and I will be visiting Zurich, Luzern, Montreux, Bernese Oberland region, Zermatt and Lugano in end Sep – mid Oct.
Would be great to get recommendations on popular restaurants, cafes, street food in the above places – from personal experience of which place, what dishes to order, not to miss, popular joints and food, etc. Both of us are quite flexible with food choices and cuisine (except beef), and would like to experience good food generally and Swiss cuisine as well.
While some websites do mention top restaurants for each place, I believe those are generally expensive (proper sit down places), so trying my luck here to see what people have found to work well for their taste and budget.
Best regards
Vishal
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I also would be interested in knowing about restaurant suggestions in that area.
In Zurich, try a University cafeteria (Google Maps: > Mensa UZH Center or > Polyterrasse). At all locations except Zermatt look for a supermarket that has a cafeteria (Migros or Coop). Large train stations also have a variety of fast food places.
In Zermatt, I believe, all restaurants are expensive, so for cheap food buy at a store and eat a picnic outside.
I am not sure you can get typical Swiss cuisine (fondue, raclette, etc.) without going to a restaurant with “proper sit down places”. But at the places I have mentioned above, you can probably get grilled sausages which are also Swiss cuisine. Ask for “Bratwurst mit Büürli”, or “Schüblig mit Büürli”, best with a beer (in my opinion).
Oh, some Bratwurst contains beef (the white ones). The red ones contain pork. And, sorry about that, Schüblig also contains beef.
Hi Vishal,
Generally speaking in all towns, the Migros and Coop supermarkets are great for fast and cheap food options.
The most reasonably prices sit down restaurant I’ve found is Manor department stores (they are found around the country in larger towns and often have a restaurant on the top floor). Good and fairly inexpensive (for Switzerland).
For fondue, you’ll need to go to a restaurant as far as I’m aware, unless there is a food market on by chance. Some options in Zurich (where I’m familiar with restaurants) are: Volkshaus, Zeughauskeller and Swiss Chuchi.
Here are some tips in saving money in Switzerland: http://www.myswissalps.com/pl antrip/doityourself/sa vemoney
You won’t want to eat it all the time, but I suggest you look for and try a very Swiss classic, the Birchermüesli. You can find it in most of the Coop and Migros stores, even those that don’t have cafeterias. There are many recipes and you can see some by googling the word. I will attach a photo of one that looks pretty delicious. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Muesli
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I’ll second Peterli on Birchermüesli. Very Swiss, and healthy too (and vegetarian!).
There is a Müuesli Bar at Zurich mainstation (see attached photo, shot yesterday).
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Dear Vishal ,
Its tough to get cheap street food as such at switzerland , and for pure vegetarian like us ,its more so more difficult because even in bread items ,you will feel and smell type like some non vegetarian taste…..so apart from suggestions from the expert and with due respect , we still further prefer to carry some of the ready to eat food packets from home and like oats, poha like many things with us…
thanks and regards
Check this video of the Müesli Bar in Zurich Hb. youtu.be/egRmTtZAUXk
It is actually a rotating food stall, the first in Europe, according to the SBB, with a Pasta Barn on one side and the Müesli Bar on the other. It is rotated around, depending on the time of day. Opening hours of the Müesli Bar are 6 AM to 9 PM Monday through Saturday and 8:30 AM to 9 PM on Sunday, and for the Pasta Barn, the hours are 11:30 AM to 9:30 PM, seven days a week. It is located down the escalators on the Sihlquai. Here is their menu (in German only): http://www.pasta-barn.ch/menu
Here is an interesting article about Birchermüesli in Zurich, the city where it was invented. http://www.zuerich.com/en/vis it/regional-specialties/enjoy-bircher-muesli
I walked by that all the time and never realized it was the same business! haha. Never saw it rotate!
My guess is that they rotate it at 11:30 AM, and then back again after 9:30 PM or before they open in the AM. I notice they have signs on each end pointing to whatever is not facing the flow of pedestrians.
Hi
Just watched the video – what a great idea! Like the look of the menu too! Must check it out next year!
Maggie
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