Zurich has long been admired for its precision and efficiency. But in recent years, the city has also gained attention for something more sensory food. Behind its polished façades lies a culinary culture that values innovation, sustainability, and craftsmanship in equal measure. For event planners, that makes Zurich an inspiring destination where gastronomy can become part of the event story itself.
Cafe Babek – Copyright Cemil Erkoc/Zürich Tourismus
Fresh Thinking, Grown Locally
A short distance from the city’s business core, Umami shows how agriculture can thrive in an urban setting. Inside its vertical indoor farm, rows of micro-greens grow under controlled light and temperature herbs and vegetables cultivated for flavour, nutrition, and freshness. Groups can visit this green oasis and discover how Zurich’s entrepreneurs turn sustainability into an experience. The company’s apéros and tasting activities add a playful dimension to the tour.
Another local pioneer, Planted, has become a name synonymous with the future of protein. Founded by researchers from ETH Zurich, the start-up produces high-quality plant-based meat alternatives now served in restaurants across the city. Its mission: to make sustainable eating both accessible and enjoyable. Zurich’s emphasis on food innovation is visible here science meeting pleasure in a very Swiss way.
Umami Microgreens – Copyright Witwinkel AG / Zürich Tourismus
Dining with a Sense of Place
Zurich’s restaurant scene reflects the city’s contrasts modern yet rooted, cosmopolitan yet unmistakably local.
In the heart of the Old Town, Rechberg 1837 works with regional farmers and producers to create “uncompromisingly sustainable, exclusively local” dishes. Its concept is inspired by the year 1837, a time before industrial agriculture. The result is refined Swiss cuisine that celebrates ingredients from the region’s soil and seasons.
A few streets away, Haus Hiltl tells another Zurich story, one of quiet revolution. Founded in 1898, it is recognised as the world’s oldest continuously operating vegetarian restaurant. Today, its vast buffet and à la carte menu attract locals and travellers alike, proving that mindful dining can be both traditional and exciting.
For a taste of history, the Zunfthaus zur Zimmerleuten offers classic Swiss dishes such as Zürcher Geschnetzeltes, rösti, and fondue in a magnificent medieval guild hall on the banks of the Limmat. The setting alone makes it a favourite for group dinners that seek a touch of heritage and ceremony.
Hiltl Dachterrasse – Copyright Marius Grieder / Zürich Tourismus
Hands-On Encounters
Culinary discovery in Zurich doesn’t stop at the table. At the Stadtkäserei, the city’s first urban dairy, visitors can take part in workshops that reveal how traditional alpine cheese is made and, of course, taste the results.
Chocolate lovers can visit the Lindt Home of Chocolate in nearby Kilchberg, just a short boat ride from downtown Zurich. The visitor centre features the world’s largest chocolate fountain and offers group workshops where participants can create their own pralines. For a creative and sustainability focused activity, the “Taste the Waste” cooking course at Basecamp Zurich invites participants to turn leftover ingredients into inventive dishes. Guided by professional chefs, groups learn to cook collaboratively while exploring practical ways to reduce food waste a theme that resonates with modern event audiences.
These experiences, mixing learning and indulgence, make food a natural bridge for team-building and cultural connection.
Lindt Home of Chocolate – Copyright David Biedert / Zürich Tourismus
A City with Flavour and Purpose
Zurich’s culinary landscape tells a story of balance: between innovation and tradition, city and nature, precision and pleasure. It’s this blend that gives the destination its distinctive taste and makes it a rewarding choice for meetings and incentives that aim to engage all the senses.
Plan Your Culinary Event
The Zurich Convention Bureau supports planners in creating tailor-made gastronomic programmes from private tastings to exclusive workshops with local producers.
Zurich Convention Bureau Gregory Baur gregory.baur@zuerich.com | Linkedin | zuerich.com/business
