Cantina/Tina
Munstergasse
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Situated in the bustling Niederdorfstr, Restaurant Cantina
offers good value Italian food. The menu covers a wide range of dishes, including meat
and pasta dishes as well as a reasonable selection of Vegetarian dishes. A nice selection
of Italian and Swiss wines too. Menu available in English. Around 30 CHF for a main course
and some wine.
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Turm
Spiegelgasse, off Marktgasse
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A quiet setting in a square just back from Niederdorfstrasse,
Restaurant Turm offers a rich variety of international food dishes. I personally
prefer to sit outside, but as there are only a few tables, be prepared to be "doubled-up".
Indides offers a strange dining situation, roughly translated as "eat in air-conditioned
confort under tropical plants", which about sums it up really. The food however is superb
and includes some nice Vegetarian dishes. Around 30 CHF for a main course and some wine.
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Vorderer Sternen
(Leading Stars), Bellevueplatz
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Surprisingly quiet despite being next to the busy Bellevueplatz. The first
floor terrace is the best place to sit in Vorderer Sternen, but inside
is comfortable too. Beautifully presented and superbly cooked international
cusine. Menu available in English. Around 45 CHF for a main course, a dessert
and some wine.
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Moevenpick Restaurants
All over Zurich
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One guarenteed good place to eat is any of the number of Moevenpick Restaurants
dotted about the city. Good food wherever you go. Menus subtitled in English.
Ones I have tried are: Lake front; Palavrion, Beethovenstr; Moevenpick
Paradeplatz; Moevenpick Bahnhofstr. Around 30 CHF for a main course and some
wine.
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Hotel Valhalla
Limatstrasse
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The Hotel Valhalla offers a good standard of modern accomodation in the
heart of Zurich. The hotel has been refurbished recently and offers pretty
much everything you'd expect for a very reasonable price. All rooms have
satellite TV, shower, and comfy beds - with nice warm duvets not itchy scratchy
flannelette sheets. Try to avoid rooms facing the street in summer, as there
is no aircon and the trams (which are conveniently just outside) run from about
5am - midnight! In winter the double glazing elimiates almost all street
noise. Around 50 GBP per night and 12.50 CHF (5 GBP) for breakfast.
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Bahnhofstrasse
er, Bahnhofstrasse
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Perhaps THE shopping street to be seen on. You might not be able to afford
much from these shops, but you have to window shop here. There are more
designer labels here than anywhere else in the world! Have a little look in
Bally, Cartier, Channel, numerous swiss watch and jewelery makers, selling
bigger rocks than Gibralter, watches running into 6 figures, and Faberge eggs
and animals. The only part of this that grieved me was that I saw an Armani
suit for less than I paid for my last (non-Armani) suit back home! Oh, and
don't forget that Swiss Army Knife and the chocolates...
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Antiques Market
Lake end of Bahnhofstrasse
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This has to be one of the most bizarre things to look around. Held on a
Sunday, you'll see the most intruiging collections of old junk imaginable
- coupled with the Swiss obsession with anything American, there are some odd
things on offer.
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Zurichsee
er, the lake
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If you have time, take a trip on a paddle steamer on the lake - I didn't
and really wish I had! The walks down by the lake are quite pleasant, and the
air throughout Zurich is clean and fresh. The fountain is quite impressive
too.
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The old town
Either side of the River Limmat
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An interesting collection of restaurants, bars, shops and nightclubs, situated
on winding cobbled streets. Dotted with the odd sex shop and nightclub, its an
odd collection. Most of my hit list of restaurants are situated here.
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Getting about...
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Trains run quickly and quietly to
and from the airport for around 5 CHF, and take 10-15 minutes to get there.
The whole of Zurich is covered by
and old, but clean and well run network of trams. Hopping round the city is
cheap and short journey and tram passes are available cheaply (1 month = 70
CHF). I made a lot of use of trams whilst I was there.
If you've the legs for it
though, walking is possibly the nicest form of transport and you can walk the
length of Banhhofstrasse (which is almost the whole of the city center) in
about half an hour.
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