Over the past few years, the number of vegans and vegetarians in Switzerland has continued to boom. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the country’s largest city, where what was once a desert is now a vibrant mix of fantastic vegan restaurants.
Whether you are looking for a sit-down vegan meal or just a tasty plant-based snack, here are some of the top vegan eateries in Zurich!
What better way to start than talking about the first-ever vegan restaurant in Zurich and Switzerland as a whole: The Sacred Restaurant and Vegelateria. Opened in 2013, the restaurant on Müllerstrasse has been delighting customers with its delicious vegan wares for over a decade.
Try meat-free versions of Zürcher delights like a hearty Züri Geschnetzeltes or break the bread over a vegan Swiss fondue. If you just have time for a sweet treat, then the Vegelateria is your one-stop shop for refreshing vegan ice cream.
If you are in the mood for some fast comfort food, you can’t go wrong with visiting Vegitat Cigköfte on Langstrasse. The restaurant itself is most famous for its recipes with vegan çiğköfte - bulgur wheat with a delectable Turkish spice mix. Whether you want it in a wrap or as a burger, Vegitat has you covered.
Had a heavy day or night before? The restaurant also features vegan kebabs and various tasty wraps.
From daily delights to a very highbrow night out, the 15-Gault Millau, Michelin Green Star Restaurant Marktküche on Feldstrasse gives fine dining a welcome vegan twist. As its name suggests, most of the dishes on offer are based on what is most fresh from the local markets.
Set menus of four to eight courses dance on your palate as diners are taken on a journey through the very best meat-free food on the market.
Meaning "home" in Morrocan and "to give" in Spanish, DAR seeks to combine both cuisines in a delightfully vegan way. The 100-percent plant-based menu features an eclectic mix of Arab and Iberian dishes which have to be tasted to be believed.
Want a cosy place for a date, dinner or brunch with family? DAR is for you!
With five locations spread across the city, roots has really taken Zurich by storm! Rather than a dinner spot, their selection of sandwiches, smoothies, shakes and juices is an ideal lunch date or mid-morning or afternoon pick-me-up.
Be sure to try their delectable berry pancakes and brunch tacos!
While we respect some restaurants for the amount of options they offer, it’s often best to visit an eatery which focuses on one dish which it cooks to perfection. Case in point: Veganitas on Brauerstrasse and their legendary pittas.
Be it vegan chicken, faux salmon or a taste of Berlin with their Döner kebabs, Veganitas has the concept of a pitta down to a tee, perfect for lunch or quick dinner before heading out on the town. You don’t have to go to Zurich to get your fill, either, with Veganitas also operating branches at the main stations in Bern and Lucerne.
Another member of the haut cuisine club is KLE on Zweierstrasse. Its pure and uncomplicated mix of Moroccan and Mexican cuisine is so mindblowing that it is one of the few vegan restaurants in Switzerland that sports a Michelin star.
Delight at the surprise menu of modern and creative dishes and discover why KLE has the world’s premier food guide salivating!
Finally, if you are looking for the best plant-based breads for the day-to-day, and the shelves of Swiss supermarkets aren't satisfying, then the Bakery Enzian in Oerlikon is a great place to go. At their in-house bakery, staff at Enzian prepare a bevvy of vegan breads, sandwiches and sweet treats.
Whether it's stopping awhile in their cosy cafe or grabbing coffee and cake to go, you can’t go far wrong with a visit to Enzian.
With more and more people in Switzerland adopting a flexitarian, veggie or vegan lifestyle, the diversity of plant-based restaurants in Zurich is only going to get stronger. Have a favourite vegan restaurant in Zurich that we haven't mentioned? Let us know in the comments below!