Haus Hiltl

Haus Hiltl opened in 1898 as the Vegetarian Home and Temperance Café; locals nicknamed it the root bunker. Ambrosius Hiltl first came as a guest on his doctor's advice to ease his joint pain, married the chef, Martha Gneupel, and took over the business. In 2012 Guinness World Records recognised Haus Hiltl as the world's oldest vegetarian restaurant. Rolf Hiltl, the fourth generation, took over in 1998, exactly a century after the founding.

The menu reflects that long history. Margrith Hiltl, of the second generation, began cooking Indian food after travelling to Delhi in the 1950s as Switzerland's delegate to the World Vegetarian Congress, and Indian dishes and curries are still a strong thread through the cooking. Today the whole menu is vegetarian, and the third generation, Heinz and Hanni Hiltl, joined the business in 1959 before handing over to Rolf. Alcohol was introduced in the 1990s, ending the temperance tradition, and the business was refurbished and renamed Hiltl Vegi in 1973.

There are two ways to eat. The Hiltl Buffet is the quick, flexible option and suits a short lunch between sights. The à la carte restaurant, described by the company as the historic heart of Hiltl, is calmer and better for a longer meal or a special occasion. In summer, Marthas Innenhof, a courtyard named after Martha Hiltl, becomes one of the most pleasant outdoor dining spaces in the centre. The Hiltl Academy runs cookery courses for anyone who wants to learn the recipes, and since 2009 Hiltl has also worked in partnership with the airline SWISS.

Haus Hiltl is open 365 days a year: from 11:00 to 22:00 on Monday to Wednesday, 11:00 to 23:00 from Thursday to Saturday and 10:00 to 22:00 on Sunday. The buffet closes 30 minutes before the restaurant. For the à la carte restaurant, reserve by phone or email, particularly for dinner. Prices are moderate, and it is one of the easiest places in Zurich to feed a group with different diets.

The restaurant is on Sihlstrasse in the city centre, within easy reach of Bahnhofstrasse, the main station and Paradeplatz. It suits vegetarians and vegans, of course, but also anyone who wants a lighter alternative to the city's traditional meat-heavy dishes.