"Sunday Opening" Restaurants in Switzerland
This romantic castle is seventh heaven for gourmets. Here you can unwind and indulge in the gastronomic delights of the iconic chef Andreas Caminada and his team. He proves time and time again that gourmet cuisine works perfectly without exotic ingredients.
At Magdalena, the cuisine is based on local produce. Vegetables take centre stage. The dishes are elegant and full of finesse. This is precisely why they create a gastronomic link to the original, authentic mountain world of Central Switzerland.
The celeriac in the "7132 Silver" - there was something about it ... Even predecessor Mitja Birlo amazed guests in the two-star restaurant of the "7132 Hotel" in Vals with this inconspicuous vegetable. His successor Marcel Koolen does the same. But in a Thai dish. But more on that later. We start with a glass of Cristal 2015 in the kitchen. One snack stands out: the frikandel, a nod to the chef's Dutch homeland. Instead of deep-fried sausage, Koolen opts for smoked eel and - so that the snack is not too intense - sea bass, topped with pickled onions, a dill emulsion, kohlrabi pickled in yuzu and crystal caviar. Several times on the menu, the chef indulges his penchant for Asian cuisine, such as with the celeriac cooked for two hours. He then glazes it with a reduction of soy, agave, roasted garlic, chili and star anise. An emulsion made from the oil in which he previously roasted the latter three ingredients enhances the flavor. On top: a celery chip with five-spice seasoning. And carrot salad, inspired by a classic Thai papaya salad, and a light sauce based on coconut milk and lemongrass. Earthy, sweet notes, freshness and acidity, a citrusy kick from galangal oil and finger lime - an amazing dish! Two highlights alongside the perfectly cooked lobster and the bisque made from smoked lobster mousse. the deep-fried ball, filled with a ragout made from the lobster claws, and the lobster shell, which Koolen transforms into an artistic presentation plate.
Marco Campanella's cooking at La Brezza is as individual as it is confident. His menus - "Ispirazione" or the plant-based "Moving Mountains" - are well thought out and full of character. It is impressive how Campanella manages to show such a clear signature at such a young age.
The Locanda Barbarossa draws on the full range of flavours. It celebrates the diversity and excellence of Ticino produce, complemented by exquisite international specialities. This creates space for creative cuisine that is both a feast for the palate and a feast for the eyes.
At over 1000 metres and with a view over Lake Constance, the Gasthaus zum Gupf delights with regional gourmet cuisine - precise, light and hearty. Enjoy selected wines from the impressive wine cellar in the stylish wooden parlour or on the sunny terrace.
Well, the "Igniv" at the "Grand Resort Bad Ragaz" has always been excellent. But now Joel Ellenberger, who has been the head chef for two years, has put his own stamp on Andreas Caminada's sharing concept. His style is characterised by freshness, acidity, variety and a good dose of courage. Trout with green mango. Mackerel with sea buckthorn and caviar - it's amazing how the Zurich chef manages the balancing act between the fruity acidity and the iodine-salty grain. It's all a question of balance for the talented chef. The brilliant pairing: Sauvignon Blanc "Privat" 2019 from the Gross winery in southern Styria, a rare wine monument that is only produced in the best years. Beef tongue aspic with bean salad - a hearty Bavarian country house classic becomes a delicate gourmet dish. When it comes to breaded cauliflower with miso hollandaise, connoisseurs know straight away that Ellenberger has incorporated a Schauenstein classic into the menu! You would love to dive into the beurre blanc that accompanies the halibut with beans. Not a drop remains in the plate. Patissière Lisa Oestreich can be relied upon for dessert: the tonka bean soufflé is a poem, as is the cherry sorbet with poppy seeds that accompanies the poor knight. Lorenz Tesar comes up with exciting gimmicks to accompany the wines: The blind comparison of the 2018 Bündner Pinot Noirs from Gantenbein and Möhr-Nigglis Pilgrim - both from large bottles - is spectacular. The clear winner is: let yourself be surprised. Yes, Ellenberger is climbing the imaginary ranking list of top Swiss chefs in leaps and bounds. It doesn't get much more fun and enjoyment to share.
At Mammertsberg, Silvio Germann and his team serve creative, award-winning cuisine with regional roots. The stylishly renovated restaurant offers a fine dining experience with a view of Lake Constance - and the option to stay overnight on site.
Alpine tranquillity meets creative fine dining magic in the former underground chapel. A two-star tasting menu with a focus on seasonal flavours creates fireworks on the plate. Purist, elegant - spectacular in Engadin style.
It's not just the cuisine that is excellent here, the panorama is also impressive: At Da Vittorio, top Italian cuisine meets Alpine luxury. Classics such as Paccheri alla Vittorio and Maialino da latte con tartufo are artfully presented on the plate.
La Brezza in Arosa is Marco Campanella's alpine gourmet hotspot. "Ispirazione" focuses on fine fish and meat dishes, while "Moving Mountains" is plant-based. Both menus show attitude instead of effects. A unique experience with a view of snow-covered mountains.
Jérémy Desbraux and Anaëlle Roze's new restaurant looks elegant and sophisticated, we notice as we eat the amuse-bouches: we start with mushroom tartelette, salmon blini, a cheese-filled air cushion and the Totché cake typical of the region. We opted for the tasting menu, with an à la carte menu for those with a smaller appetite. The first course is appropriately staged for the Jura: Beans are served on fir branches under a glass with a bean vinaigrette and a mousseline of fir shoots. After the artichoke à la barigoule (Provençal style, stuffed with ham and mushrooms) with a hearty bedstraw broth comes Chef Jérémy Desbraux's signature dish: the surprise egg with a summer mushroom rim and meadow queen emulsion. How he prepares it remains his secret. Our discussion about the egg is interrupted by the next course, moules marinières with a ratatouille juice. A course with depth, followed by another fish course: a trout marbré with a lemon verbena broth. Fantastic! The main course is a perfect fillet of beef with reduced dark berries and a layered salad. We skip the cheese course, even though the cheese trolley is certainly tempting. The pré-dessert reminds us of the altitude of the Jura: the strawberries - served with farm milk and croquant - are only ripe here at the beginning of September. As a brilliant finale, Valais apricots are served as a warm Amandine tart, accompanied by elderflower ice cream. A dinner for which there are simply no words.
Everything here revolves around vegetables - fresh, regional, seasonal. Meat and fish? Only as a delicate addition. Everything is sourced directly from the local farmers. And it's all very uncomplicated: no stiff dress code, just a relaxed lounge feeling with gourmet cuisine.
Tsutomu Kugota is a sushi master and one of the best chefs for omakase cuisine in Switzerland. His creations enrich the gastronomic tradition of Japan with surprising combinations that will remain unforgettable after a visit. The sake selection is superb.
No, Reto Brändli is not dogged. Although, back at the "Ecco", he naturally wants stars again - two please - he approaches the matter with an enviable composure. And serves French cuisine that is as light-footed and self-confident as he is. Brändli was part of the "Giardino" family for four years before star gastronomy took him to Berlin and St. Moritz. But the connection to Ascona remained - perhaps because of the delicate scent of lemons here, which he loves so much and which accompanies Brändli's signature in many dishes. Such as the greeting from the kitchen: crispy roll with gamba blanca and citrus, a delicate tartelette of old dairy cow with beetroot, radish, caviar and smoked mayonnaise. And a personal favorite: an egg royale with imperial caviar and potato foam that is so creamy and light you want to lie down in it. The star of the show, the iced foie gras filled with orange and lobster espuma, is as delicate as a sorbet. Brändli proves why he is considered an exceptional talent. Fresh turbot follows, flown in from Portugal less than 24 hours ago, accompanied by horseradish, apple, beef tongue rolls, kohlrabi and oxtail essence with lovage. Accompanied by a complex Viognier, recommended by the hostess of the house, Theresa Windhofer. By the way, non-alcoholic diners don't have to miss out on pairings at the "Ecco": The accompanying teas from "Saveur" are so finely tuned that they are in no way inferior to the wine accompaniment. Pastry chef Antje Hauser creates the sweet finish: yoghurt foam, pear sorbet and mousse, iced berries in a lemon sauce. Conclusion of the evening: The stars should come back - please!
Silvia Manser has been cooking here for years with great expertise and wonderful lightness. Her cuisine is somewhere between local and Mediterranean, sometimes with an exotic twist. Meanwhile, her partner Thomas looks after the guests and the well-stocked wine cellar.
In the modern dining room of Au 1465, with its large windows overlooking the lake and mountains, you can enjoy top-class Alpine gourmet cuisine. Head chef Mariano Buda originally comes from Italy, but cooks here primarily with local ingredients.
At the Bijou des Kreuzes, eating becomes almost a ritual: in the evening, the historic restaurant is transformed into a micro fine dining venue with just a few tables. A surprise menu that combines Swiss and Asian flavours - personal, intimate and brilliant.
In a stylish yacht club atmosphere with a view of the lake, Mediterranean-Italian finesse meets laid-back elegance: open kitchen, green tiles, leather lounge and a unique wine list - relaxed, sophisticated, perfect for that Nice feeling on Lake Zurich.
The chef has to deliver twice, because communication with the guests is part of the job in Fürstenau. Customers sit at the kitchen counter and eat what Simeon Nikolov prepares into a veggie menu under the motto "From garden to table". The wine pairing is also exciting.