Which Swiss cities have the best (and worst) restaurants?

If you’ve decided to treat yourself and are currently scanning the map for where to eat out, it can be tricky to find the ideal place to dine. Now, a ranking from Gastro WebReview has revealed which Swiss cities are most spoiled for choice when it comes to great restaurants.

Restaurants in Switzerland better rated than those in Germany

Based on an analysis of reviews of over 5.000 restaurants in the DACH region, the report found that restaurants in Switzerland are slightly better reviewed than their German counterparts. Diners gave Swiss eateries an average satisfaction rating of 85 out of 100, slightly higher than the German score of 84,8.

The last year has seen a significant change in who is reviewing Swiss businesses, with reviews from Chinese and Turkish tourists rising by 56 and 74,5 percent respectively between 2023 and 2024. In 2024, 86,1 percent of restaurant reviews were positive, with five-star reviews making up 70,5 percent of the total.

Winterthur and St. Gallen home to the best rated restaurants

Winterthur and St. Gallen were rated as having the best restaurants in Switzerland, with an average satisfaction score of 86,6. Chur, Zurich, Ascona and Locarno were also praised for their culinary scenes.

In terms of different categories, Chur was ranked as the best city in Switzerland for food quality and service, and tied first with Neuchâtel when it came to value for money. Ascona’s restaurants took the top spot for ambience, while Lugano had the best "restaurant infrastructure", though the report doesn't clarify what this term means.

Though its satisfaction scores have risen by 2,5 points since 2023, the best improvement on the list, Lausanne remains the Swiss city with the worst-rated restaurants in the country. Though the study did not explicitly state why the capital of Vaud was rated badly, its worst category scores were for the quality of service provided.

Swiss cities ranked by restaurant quality

In all, here are 16 of the largest cities in Switzerland, ranked by the quality of their restaurants:

1. Winterthur
2. St. Gallen
3. Chur
4. Zurich
5. Locarno
6. Ascona
7. Basel
8. Bern
9. Lucerne
10. Geneva
11. Bellinzona
12. Lugano
13. Interlaken
14. Neuchâtel
15. Biel/Bienne
16. Lausanne

For more information about the study, check out the official website.