The 10 best classic restaurants in Basel
Head chef Michael Baader has been cooking at the highest level for years. His cuisine is based on French gastronomic art and flavours from all over the world. It has a touch of fusion, but you can still recognise its classic roots. Great wine list with 450 items.
The brasserie at the famous Les Trois Rois hotel is always the perfect place for a sophisticated dinner or a delicious business lunch. In an elegant atmosphere with a view of the Rhine, you will be spoilt with perfectly prepared classic dishes and exquisite wines.
The neighbourhood pub St. Alban has become a popular meeting place for Basel gourmets. They appreciate the home-style, French-Mediterranean cuisine, but often also the trouvailles stored in the local wine cellar - including some very big names.
Because the real "Chez Donati" is being renovated, a temporary location has been created on Barfüsserplatz - above the "Brötlibar", which still provides uncomplicated snacks. Things are dignified here. Tables set in white, uniformed waiters. It would be unimaginable for anyone to sit around unobserved for even a minute. Regulars are greeted with a handshake and no one has to wait for wine recommendations. We start with Ferrari rosé, fine Bürli and good olive oil. The menu is dominated by classics. Gazpacho with San Marzano tomatoes, Parma ham with melon, sea bream for two. Our vitello tonnato is impeccably seasoned, the sauce is easily enough to soak the bread in. Seppie e piselli are almost a creative flight of fancy: The mixture of finely chopped and meticulously cooked strips of cuttlefish and peas is expertly seasoned and the epitome of a summery Italian dish. The maître does not advise against the requested Vermentino, but recommends an Apulian blend of Fiano and Chardonnay from Pietrabianca, while at the next table, despite the mild outside temperatures, a bottle of strong red wine is opened. That's right, why wait for winter with Amarone and Vino Nobile? The menu is well-stocked anyway, and the wines by the glass range from Lageder's Pinot Grigio to Prunotto's Barbaresco. The highlight of the Donati spectacle, however, is the dessert trolley, which you can let yourself be tempted by. We try strawberries and tiramisu, the first aromatic, the second quite sweet. Just like it used to be.
The beautiful tiled stove in the centre of the hall of Basel's oldest guild house tells a lot of history. The cuisine, dominated by classics such as cordon bleu or Egliknusperli, impresses with market-fresh business lunches at lunchtime or the gourmet menu option in the evening.
The former Basel remand centre is now an elegant venue. French cuisine is served, refined classics are perfectly executed and the kitchen team respects traditions, but is not afraid to add a modern touch here and there.
Elegant fish creations meet Mediterranean inspiration and regional classics: the kitchen refines fish in a salt crust, serves creative classics and focusses on sustainable freshness. The historic ambience directly on the Rhine and a wide selection of wines round off the experience.
In the historic Volkshaus, renovated by star architects Herzog & de Meuron, classic cuisine with a contemporary touch is served in an elegant ambience. Here, tradition and modernity combine to create an elegant and, above all, delicious whole.
In the time-honoured Hasenburg on Schneidergässlein, classic meat dishes take centre stage: the sausage trilogy with rösti, the sour veal liver or the magnificent Hohrückensteak from the Freilandsäuli. In the parlour or beer garden, local wines accompany the hearty cuisine.
Life pulsates within the historic walls of this traditional house: The cosy "Schluuch" attracts guests, while the Gartensaal offers fine dining. The large garden invites you to linger, while the seasonal cuisine surprises with a constantly changing menu.