Exploring Swiss Cuisine: What to Eat and Drink

With four official languages yet a strong sense of national identity, Switzerland blends various cultures while remaining distinctly Swiss, and this is reflected in its food.

Each region showcases culinary influences from neighboring Italy, Germany, France, and Austria, while also celebrating local produce sourced from the stunning landscape: beef and dairy from alpine pastures, fish from Lake Geneva, wheat from the 'breadbasket' region north of Lausanne, and fruit from sun-kissed plains. The country’s vineyards contribute to a vibrant wine culture that the Swiss tend to keep for themselves.

Here’s a guide to the must-try foods and beverages in Switzerland.

Indulge in the joy of melted cheese

The dish most emblematic of Switzerland, fondue – derived from the French verb fondre, which means to melt – can be found in restaurants across the nation, and some mountain villages even offer vending machines that dispense packets of fondue mix for home preparation.

A traditional Swiss fondue is moitié-moitié, which means half Gruyère cheese and half Vacherin Fribourgeois, melted together in a caquelon (fondue pot) with white wine, garlic, and kirsch (brandy). It’s served with cubes of bread for dipping into the rich mixture using a long fork. There are also variations that include tomatoes or bolet mushrooms, served with boiled potatoes. Regardless of the type, the meal isn't complete until you’ve contended for the religieuse – the crispy layer at the bottom.

While fondue is typically enjoyed in winter, raclette is a delightful hot cheese dish perfect for any occasion, whether at a restaurant, a gathering with friends, or a quaint summer festival in a remote location. A half wheel of Raclette du Valais cheese is placed on a special machine to melt the top layer, which is then scraped onto a plate and served with boiled potatoes, gherkins, and pickled onions. The idea is to keep indulging until the wheel is finished or your stomach can’t take anymore, whichever comes first.

Where to experience it: Restaurant Les Armures in the Old Town of Geneva is renowned for its fondue and raclette.

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Get ready to savor rösti, the nation’s beloved potato dish

Most commonly linked to the Swiss German region, rösti is so ingrained in Swiss culture that it has even inspired the term Röstigraben, referring to the linguistic divide between French and German speakers. This crispy, fried grated potato cake is enjoyed nationwide, from urban eateries to mountain restaurants. Popular toppings include lardons, mushrooms, a fried egg, and – naturally – cheese. It’s also a great side dish to accompany Bratwurst sausage or kalbsgeschnetzeltes, a Zürich specialty featuring veal in a creamy white wine sauce.

Where to sample it: Visit Zeughauskeller in Zürich, a traditional tavern that offers rösti with various accompaniments, or pick up a packet of rösti at any supermarket and try making it at home (though it may not compare to the authentic taste, it’s still quite delicious).

Savor filets de perche from Lake Geneva

The expansive waters of Switzerland’s largest lake, Lac Léman (Lake Geneva), are home to fish like trout, perch, and fera, making them a common sight on local menus. Order the classic filets de perche meunière and enjoy around ten fillets of this small fish, served with a zesty lemon and butter sauce alongside fries. However, be mindful that due to its popularity, demand often exceeds supply, leading to much of the fish being imported.

Where to taste it: Café de la Poste in the picturesque village of Lutry serves an excellent filets de perche meunière along with other delightful seafood dishes. Be sure to reserve a table on the terrace in advance.

Indulge in älplermagronen

Carb enthusiasts, rejoice! This hearty dish was designed to fuel local farmers as they toiled in the rugged alpine landscape. But you don’t need a day of hard work ahead to enjoy a steaming bowl of this alpine macaroni.

Essentially Switzerland's take on macaroni and cheese, it features a blend of pasta and potato cubes enveloped in a creamy cheese sauce, topped with crispy fried onions and served alongside apple sauce. While the fruit might seem like an unusual pairing, the sweet tanginess of the apples balances the rich sauce, making it even easier to savor another delightful bite.

Where to taste it: Many mountain restaurants offer their own take on this dish, including the one at Engstligenalp near Adelboden. Just a heads up – the portions are quite large.

Explore Switzerland’s diverse selection of sausages

In Switzerland, you won't have to wait long before coming across a sausage or two. The St Galler Bratwurst, a light-colored sausage made from pork and veal, is a festival favorite, grilled and served with mustard and a chunk of bread. Often found grilling beside it is the schüblig, a smoked sausage made from pork or beef. In the French-speaking regions, try papet vaudois, a delightful pork and cabbage sausage cooked with leeks and potatoes. Don't forget to sample the country's national sausage, the modest cervelat, a small smoked sausage traditionally roasted over a campfire; simply cut a cross at each end, skewer it, and watch it curl up over the flames.

Where to enjoy it: Visit Le Vaudois in Lausanne for a classic papet vaudois experience.

Savor risotto or polenta at a Ticinese grotto

Heavily influenced by Italy, the southern Swiss canton of Ticino has a distinct character. Its numerous grotti – rustic eateries often featuring shaded gardens – offer traditional dishes like polenta and risotto, with the rice cultivated right in Vallemaggia. Chestnuts also thrive here, used to create cakes, honey, jams, and vermicelles, a beloved dessert made from chestnut puree popular throughout Switzerland.

Where to savor it: Enjoy authentic Ticinese cuisine at the well-loved Grotto Morchino, located just outside Lugano.

Indulge in meringues and cream in Gruyères

While Gruyères is celebrated for its cheese, it’s almost equally renowned for its double cream, made from the fat skimmed off milk used in cheese production. This isn’t just any double cream; it’s a luxuriously thick version (not quite clotted but nearly so) that pairs beautifully with the village's light-as-air meringues. This beloved Swiss dessert even has a dedicated double cream festival held annually in Gruyères.

Where to find it: You can purchase la crème double de la Gruyère and its meringue companions at any Swiss supermarket, or reserve a table at Le Chalet de Gruyères to enjoy local specialties right where they originate.

Pour yourself a glass of Swiss wine

Although Switzerland isn't globally recognized as a wine-producing nation, many visitors are astonished to find vineyards sprawling across the slopes of Lake Geneva and the Rhône valley. The country boasts 1,500 producers across six wine regions, but very little of its wine makes it to export, leaving the Swiss to enjoy it with great enthusiasm.

Chasselas, known as Fendant in the Valais, is the most commonly found white wine, while Pinot Noir and Merlot are popular red varieties, particularly in Ticino. In addition to wine, the fruit orchards in Valais produce schnapps, with Williamine (from Williams pears) and Abricotine (from apricots) being the most well-known. For those not drinking alcohol, the refreshing Swiss soft drink Rivella, made from milk whey, and herbal teas infused with alpine flowers and herbs are widely available in restaurants and supermarkets.

Where to experience it: Sample wines from the Lavaux region at Tout Un Monde in Grandvaux, where the stunning terrace offers views of the historic vineyards that produce these exceptional wines.

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Don't overlook the chocolate

Switzerland has long been a leader in the creation of milk chocolate and solid chocolate bars, maintaining its sweet legacy through renowned brands like Nestlé, Lindt, and Cailler, all still based here more than a century and a half after they began. Today, the selection is vast—if you're looking for something unique, try Villars’s blond chocolate or Callebaut’s ruby chocolate, the newest trend in chocolate innovation.

Where to find it: Every Swiss town boasts chocolate shops. Keep an eye out for the popular chain Läderach, known for its extensive range, or visit independent chocolatiers like Auer in Geneva or Schiesser in Basel.

Vegetarians and vegans

Switzerland is generally friendly for vegetarians, as many traditional cheese dishes are either naturally meat-free or can easily be made so. Vegans may face more challenges due to the country's strong dairy culture. However, the plant-based food movement has gained significant traction recently. Hiltl, a historic vegetarian restaurant in Zürich, is now complemented by Tibits, a well-loved meat-free buffet chain found throughout the country, along with various independent spots offering fully or partially plant-based menus, such as the upscale KLE in Zürich. Supermarkets are also increasingly featuring plant-based meat alternatives.