Switzerland – Blueberrysmiles

Hello and happy Monday!

I’m finally back with some more plant-based food recommendations.

Work and moving has meant less time and energy for hobbies. But eating as much good plant-based food as possible is still very much a passion, so here are some more recommendations for vegan food in Zurich (for the first part of this series check out this post).

For every day: Simply Soup

This has become one of my favorite go-to’s for a quick & healthy lunch during the week. Their aim of making ‘delicious but healthy fast food available to everyone, everywhere at any time!‘ and their belief in fresh, seasonal andhomemade food definitely comes across in their dishes. Besides the obvious option of soup (always including a vegan choice, such as ‘lentil green-curry’ or ‘indian dhal saba’) they have salads, sandwiches and – the main attraction for me so far – their buddha-bowl style bowls. Currently they have a ‘Crunchy Kale Quinoa Bowl’ that I haven’t yet tried, as I’m too obsessed with the ‘Asian Soba Noodle Bowl’ (soba noodles, edamame, mango, avocado, carrots, broccoli, sesame seeds and a wonderfully flavorful sweet tahini dressing). They also sell delicious sweet snacks by Joeli’s (@hellojoelis) in cute little tubs: Raw Brownie Bites, Coco Kisses and Cacao Energy Balls (super yummy and they went down well with my work colleagues).

I like the bright interior, the positive and healthy vibe and the fact that Simply Soup is active on social media so you can always see what’s going on and what new items they have

Locations: There is one near the tram station Kalkbreite/Wiedikon (Kalkbreitestrasse 10), one near Stauffacher (Hallwylstrasse 24) and the most central one at Pelikanstrasse 19 (haven’t been to that one yet).

For special occasions: Marktküche

For vegan haute cuisine/fine dining this place is a MUST! All-vegan and all out amazing, this place is worth the hefty price tag. I took my boyfriend here to celebrate getting the job I wanted, and we were in heaven eating 5 courses of beautifully arranged dishes that were absolutely bursting with creativity and flavor. The service reflected the high quality of the place and added to our experience. If you’re visiting Zurich or have something to celebrate definitely make a reservation and let yourself be delighted by the amazing combinations of tastes and textures. (On the last Friday of every month they’re also open for lunch).

Location: Feldstrasse 98 (near Bäckeranlage)

Vegan buffet: Vegelateria (The Sacred)

I first found out about this fully vegan eatery and gelateria (!) via my HappyCow App, but only ended up going when one of my work colleagues mentioned it recently. Once there I kicked myself for not going earlier – this place is like a less stylish version of trendy vegetarian eatery Hiltl, but more exciting. The buffet is fully vegan and, while smaller than the one at Hiltl, has all kinds of interesting dishes (once you’ve been to Hiltl a few times, you tend to recognize most things). I was in heaven walking around, deciding which items to pick and piling a bit of everything on my plate. A serious highlight was also the chocolate truffle I got for dessert – the most satisfying chocolately experience I can remember. There are also cheesecakes and all kinds of other sweet treats, not to mention a large array of vegan ice creamsthat I can’t wait to try, now that the weather has gotten warmer.

Location: Müllerstrasse 64 (near Helvetiaplatz)

Le Cèdre

If you like Lebanese food, you should definitely give this a go. This place is quite well-known, and I’ve been loving it since before going plant-based. I went there again recently after my graduation ceremony, and was hit again by just how delicious everything is. There are many nice Lebanese places in Zurich, but this is the best in my eyes. My favorite thing is to order vegetarian mezze (most of it vegan, and they’ll tell you which ones are not) to share and then feast on the creamiest hummus, delicious falafel, moutabel etc. Be sure to make a reservation, to be on the safe side.

Locations: one near the tram stop Bellevue (Schifflände 5) and one near the stop Bezirksgebäude (Badenerstrasse 78)

Neni

Now while Le Cèdre (above) is definitely the place to go to for Lebanese food, I have to mention the delicious (!) hummus and falafels I had at the Neni (within the 25hours hotel Zurich). Some friends and I originally went there because we’d heard they do a great, veggie-friendly brunch. To me the brunch (around CHF 36) looked like a typical European hotel brunch, with Zopf, butter and jam, cheeses and meats, and I would have struggled to get a proper meal in. Luckily we were there just in time for the lunch menu (around 11.30 am), and we all ended up going for hummus and falafels while sharing super satisfying and crispy sweet potato fries. While I’d not specifically recommend it for brunch, the lunch dishes we tried were so delicious and I’d definitely order them again!

Locations: Zürich West (Pfingstweidstrasse 102; near the Toni-Areal) and Langstrasse 150

Vegan Pizza: Avanti

This (from the outside) not extremely impressive-looking Italian joint was a completely accidental discovery. When I was driving into Zurich to bring more of my things to my new place, we took a wrong turn. Somewhat grumpy by that point, my mood immediately changed for the better when I saw the words „vegan pizza“ – all irritation at the traffic and false turns vanished as I delighted at the prospect of a new place to try. I went there on Friday evening around 8 pm and was surprised to see the place completely crowded, with young couples and groups of friends sitting in the tiny dimly-lit restaurant, the TV on in the background, and a queue of people ordering takeaway while an authentically rotund, Italian-looking guy was preparing pizza after pizza. I was so impressed that this (non-vegan) Italian place had specifically designated vegan options. I went for a vegan vegetable pizza (they use a soy-based cheese) and enjoyed every bite. While no Pickywops or Fed by Watersensation you can get in London, this is definitely the place to hit up in Zurich for pizza cravings – both vegan and regular.

Location: Stationsstrasse 1 (near Kalkbreite/Wiedikon)

That’s it for part II of my Zurich recommendations – as vegan options are becoming more and more widespread here, I’m sure I’ll be back with another part in the not-too-distant future

Have a lovely evening and a great start to the week!

Celine

xoxo

Good morning and happy Saturday!

This post is way overdue – It’s been a bit over 4 months since I’ve moved back to Switzerland, and I’ve had some great plant-based food I want to share with you! I’ll be doing this in several parts, with this one focusing just on Zurich – the largest city in Switzerland. (Check out Part II here).

Juicery 21

I first tried this place when I came home the Christmas before last, and I absolutely loved it. It’s probably one of my favorite health food spots in Switzerland, as it serves delicious and creamy açai bowls (tip: ask for some peanut butter on top!), super comforting bowls of porridge (love the mango and passionfruit one) that you can get topped up with extra almond milk and really nice hot chocolate. They also have juices and some savory options like bagels and a quinoa bowl, but I always go for a breakfast-y option. Add to this the generous portions, reasonable prices and relaxed vibe, you have no reason not to go here on your next visit to Zurich 😉

Roots & Friends

This place had just opened before I moved to London, and it was the first fully plant-based restaurant I’d been to in Switzerland. They serve fresh, nourishing bowls and also do a good açai bowl (Juicery’s is my #1 favorite though). Besides the location near Zurich main station you can also find them close to Paradeplatz, as part of Balboa Bar & Gym (really awesome HIIT/strength classes!). The Balboa location also does a weekly Sunday brunch (for CHF 35, last time I checked).

Hiltl

I already did a full blog post on the oldest vegetarian restaurant in Europe, so check that out if you want to know more. This place is veggie paradise, with all kinds of fantastic options, warm and cold. Every dish is clearly labeled, and most things are vegan (there are only some with dairy). I definitely recommend piling up your plate at the buffet, but there’s also a menu you can order from instead. There are several locations throughout Zurich and the original one (Sihlstrasse 28) also has the Hiltl Shop (see below) around the corner, where you can shop for Hiltl brand goodies, order a matcha latte or pick something up from the veggie butcher’s section 😉 (They also sell some UK goodies, like Trek and nakd bars, Rude Health mylks as well as great quality vegan chocolates from Naturkostbar and Löwdelights).

Tibits

Tibits is another awesome veggie place – very similar to Hiltl, to which it belongs, but buffet-only. If you have to choose between them, I’d definitely go for Hiltl, as the options are just that little bit better in my opinion, but a meal at Tibits is always a treat. There are quite a few Tibits throughout Switzerland (St Gallen, Basel, Lucerne, Winterthur), plus, as you may know if you live there, there are also two in London (one off Regent Street and a new one on Southwark Street, near the Tate Modern). They also do nice drinks, my most recent try being the rooibos cappuccino, which I can only recommend!

Elle ‘n’ Belle

This fully vegan restaurant is one of my favorite places I’ve been to here, which is why I’m so sad that it’s closing soon! If you have the chance you definitely should take it – the place has a really fun and relaxed rock ‘n’ roll vibe (try to bag the comfy armchairs by the window front) and both times I’ve been there I’ve loved every bite. I first went with my boyfriend for some burgers (his – the Manson Burger – was the best!) and another time I had “Vish” fingers (tasted like the real thing) with pumpkin mash and creamy spinach. So so good.

Vegan Velo

This little joint is located in the Seefeld area, near the lake, and will deliver any food you order before 10 am to you by bike. I once stopped by for the ‘cactus burrito’, which was yummy (and very spicy!!), but a bit small. Maybe it’s because I’d just come from a workout, but I could have eaten three of those things! Nevertheless, I’d definitely try more of their food – maybe I’ll order some to work sometime.

Beetnut

This plant-based place offers healthy options, most of which are vegan (it’s possible to add things like eggs or cheese). I have slightly mixed feelings about this place, as my first two visits there left me feeling quite disappointed. I definitely do not recommend the açai bowl (go to Juicery 21 instead – cheaper and so much better!), which was watery and almost tasteless, and the “power bread” was nothing special. Why am I including this place here? I recently went back to try one of their savory bowls, and I absolutely loved it! ‘Khaled’s Favorite‘ is a bowl of quinoa, kale, aubergine, cauliflower, chickpeas, avocado, pomegranate, fresh mint, slivered almonds and lime – so delicious! I was initially a bit irritated by the fact that the white hummus sauce is not vegan (it contains yogurt), but the incredible tomato balsamic dressing completely made up for this. Conclusion: I’d go back for Khaled’s Favorite, and try other savory bowls – for breakfast options I’d go elsewhere.

Gärtnerei

This place focuses on fresh, nourishing ingredients and, while not fully plant-based, does offer vegan options. I’ve had their smoked tofu burger (with hummus and in a wholewheat bun) and, more recently, the ‘Fall by Fanny‘ bowl (black rice, pumpkin, carrots, purple cabbage, marinated tofu, fresh figs and mixed seeds), created by food blogger Fanny the foodie. It was a dream! Gärtnerei has several locations around Zurich as well as some stores.

Cupcake Affair

This cute little place is not vegan, however, there is a vegan cupcake every Tuesday as well as a daily vegan mini cupcake. When I was there I had a matcha cupcake (yummy, but could have had a stronger matcha taste) and a delicious soy milk matcha latte. It’s definitely a nice little place to warm up in and have a little treat. Other locations are: Aarau, Berne and Basel. Speaking of cupcakes, Michelle’s cupcakes has vegan ones every day – I haven’t been yet, but it’s definitely on my list!

That’s it for today – I hope you enjoyed reading, and please let me know what you think of these places, and if you have any recommendations of your own!

Have a lovely weekend!

xoxo

P.S. For more information on vegan options around Zurich, definitely check out @vegansofzuri 🙂

Tag: Switzerland

Plant-Based Eating – Zurich, Part II

Plant-Based Eating – Zurich, Part I