The best addresses in Zurich
Eight addresses
There are enough good wines in Zurich’s gastronomy. However, there is often a lack of suitable non-alcoholic drinks. These eight bars refresh the clientele with homemade lemonade and spritzer – sometimes even completely without sugar.
It is a truism among food manufacturers that sugar is one of the cheapest ingredients, which is why the sweetness is high not only in many fruit spreads and other preserves, but also in classic, industrially produced lemonades and related beverages. On the other hand, savings are often made on ingredients that convey aromas, which leads to more or less bland drinks.
Ambitious restaurateurs therefore switch to the products of small, quality-conscious producers or make their own lemonade. However, only a few innkeepers act literally here, especially since most customers rarely understand lemonade as the inventors of this category of drinks had in mind. For a long time, lemonade in its original form consisted of water, sugar and lemon juice. Today, on the other hand, guests expect a carbonated mixture of water, sugar and fruit juice when ordering – it is possible without lemon or other citrus fruits for a long time. Addresses in Zurich where you can refresh yourself in a very individual way:
1. «Nude»: Alternative with sense
Homemade food has always been a priority in this urban excursion restaurant. You can tell by the homemade bagels, which are usually served as a snack, or the house-baked scones, which are of course only served on weekends. In the case of wine and vermouth, that too can be relied upon “Naked” rely on good suppliers, but the iced tea with kaffir lime is homemade, as is the perfectly seasoned ginger lemonade.
2. «Stadtkäserei»: milk with a difference
Cheese is actually made in the spot city cheese factory produced and logically also served – for example in the form of the filling in the veal cordon bleu or as a cheese variation. But you can also consume the liquids that are automatically released during production – as whey brioche (perhaps with the beef tartare) or as lemonade prepared with milk serum (!). It sounds a bit strange, but it’s incredibly refreshing.
3. «Bauernschänke»: homemade as a matter of principle
From the beginning everyone involved was in the “Farmer’s Tavern” clear that you have to focus on quality and homemade to be successful. Not only are the meals made in the own kitchen, without relying on industrial comfort, the non-alcoholic drinks are also mixed on site. Homemade Kombucha, the seasonally changing lemonade or the Shrub, a very refreshing category of drinks that is still rare to find in Zurich.
4. “Lotti”: spritzer with taste
The downtown bar for all occasions. I am “Loti” if you eat good cake, you can order meat from the grill or look for unusual bottles in the wine fridge. The home-made ice tea and the home-made fruit spritzer are good alternatives for those who don’t want to be alcoholic. Which fruits are written with depends entirely on the season and must be inquired about on site. Cherries, cassis or grapes? The main thing is surprise!
5. «Hiltl»: Lemonade as a trademark
Going out for a lemonade? Then to Rolf Hiltl and his team! That head office, but also the outlets of the “tibits” brand have made a name for themselves with the lemonade freshly mixed to order. Classics are part of the program, but it’s always being remixed. Passion fruit lemonade or a ginger and lemon variant might be available as well as pineapple and basil lemonade or raspberry ones. Important: the sweetness is lower than that of almost all industrial lemonades.
6. «Carlton»: well tuned
Out and about in Zurich city center and fancy a thirst quencher? Then go to the one belonging to the Seegmüller Group Karlton restaurant Velvet cooler bar. If you order wine now, you won’t go wrong, because the team, which includes several wine academics, has something sophisticated up their sleeve. Of course, a glass of homemade lemonade is also fun because sweetness and acidity are well balanced.
7. «Bebek»: the charm of the exotic
The cuisine of the Orient is made to be accompanied with fresh juices or lemonades. Hardly any other restaurant in Zurich does this as well as this «Bebeck», which scores not only with various homemade ice teas, but also with a homemade ginger-lemon lemonade. What is particularly appealing is that it does not contain any sugar, but is only sweetened with stevia.
8. “Charlemagne”: all very different
It goes without saying that industry has to stay outside the door here. Fresh and seasonal food with products from long-standing partners is the be-all and end-all “Charlemagne”. A beer from Brausyndikat certainly goes well with the ravioli with nut butter and Sbrinz brittle (!) or the braised pork shoulder with potatoes au gratin, but the lemonade, which is adapted to the season, is an inimitably refreshing alternative. Homemade ice tea and freshly squeezed orange juice are also available.