Swiss Garden Restaurants

Claus Schweitzer has made wanderlust his profession and is the author of numerous travel guides. Here he presents a selection of one of the best Swiss Garden Restaurants.

#1 Grotto della Salute, Lugano

Everything goes together perfectly: the pink house with its lovely terraces beneath old sycamores, the charming equanimity of the service team, the italianità. People greet each other warmly, lingering at tables here and there. This place exudes deep-rooted values. But, to tell the truth, the Grotto della Salute has little in common with a real grotto. grottodellasalute.ch

House at the Grotto della Salute in Lugano.
Everything goes together perfectly at the Grotto della Salute in Lugano.

#2 Brasserie Obstberg, Bern

Some restaurants give back its freshness to the “city oasis” cliché. And the Brasserie Obstberg is one of these rare places. Guests have been welcomed here since 1908, and the gravel terrace beneath old chestnut trees is so perfect on summer days that you can barely get hold of a seat without a reservation. brasserie-obstberg.ch

Brasserie Obstberg_Bern.jpeg
The gravel terrace beneath old chestnut trees is perfect on summer days.

#3 Écluse, Bienne

Whether you are just dropping by for a glass of Twanner or meeting friends for dinner is unimportant. In the end, you fi nd yourself staying longer than you expected anyway. The mixture of local roots and urban homeliness appeals to a broad public, and the bird-filled garden of the former watch factory in the Elfenau Park helps you leave your everyday concerns behind you. ecluse-biel.ch

Ecluse_Biel.jpeg
The bird-filled garden of the former watch factory in the Elfenau Park helps you leave your everyday concerns behind you.

#4 Brasserie au Violon, Basel

In the romantic Old-Town garden with its splashing fountain beneath sycamore trees, salmon fillet, asparagus risotto, and entrecôte taste twice as delicious. And everyone who has just spent the whole day in shops and offices can finally sit back and enjoy the birdsong and the sunbeams softly shimmering through the foliage. au-violon.com

Romantic Old-Town garden at the Brasserie au Violon in Basel.
Romantic Old-Town garden at the Brasserie au Violon in Basel.

#5 Tao’s, Zurich

A few steps from the Paradeplatz, this refuge in the secluded Augustinerhof delights with its beguiling mix of Asian chic, colonial style, and traditional Zurich down-to-earthiness. The kitchen serves up Eurasian fare for those who venture more than just a passing glance at their plate while people watching, networking, and checking their e-mails. taos-zurich.ch

Taos_Zürich.jpeg
This refuge in the secluded Augustinerhof delights with its beguiling mix of Asian chic, colonial style, and traditional Zurich down-to-earthiness. © Tina Sturzenegger

#6 Ze Fork, Vevey

The huge silver fork that juts out from Lake Geneva opposite the restaurant terrace must be the city’s most popular Instagram motif. And Ze Fork is a prime address for local bon vivants who watch the bustle of the car-free waterside promenade while leisurely enjoying an asparagus tartelette with vanilla or a turbot fillet on pea purée. zefork.ch

The Fork_Vevey.jpeg
Ze Fork is a prime address for local bon vivants.

Selection & Text: Claus Schweitzer