Probably France’s most important contribution to the Swiss culinary melting pot, fondue (from the French verb ‘fondre’, meaning ‘to melt’) is a must when you’re in Zurich. Typically a winter dish – eat it when there’s snow on the ground is the local rule of thumb – it’s nevertheless ace all year round. Apparently you’re not advised to drink water with it, as it reacts badly with the cheese in your tum. White wine, for the record, is just fine. Here’s a few of our fave fondues in Switzerland’s largest city.
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But hey, if it’s food, not grappling, you’re after – these are the best restaurants in Geneva.
eCHo
Cheese-filled gondola, anyone?
First, don’t be put off by the fact it’s in a branch of the Marriott hotel chain. Here, the fondue is lovingly prepared with milk sourced from a dedicated herd of alpine cattle, and the ‘wine buffet’ is a lovely gimmick after a long day slogging around the city. The main draw here, however, is the opportunity to dine in an actual cable-car gondola. In the middle of a restaurant, sure, but with sweeping photos of alpine peaks you could just about be fooled. Is it kind of cheesy? Well, that’s surely the point.
42 Neumühlequai, Unterstrass
echorestaurant.ch
Le Dézaley
Situated in an alleyway at the foot of the glorious Grossmünster – that massive church, you can’t miss it – this traditional spot has been serving gooey cheesy goodness to locals and international travellers for over a century. Why is it so good? Classic, mature sur choix cheese from the French-speaking Vaud region. Try their take with ‘morels’ – mushrooms – or the lavishly indulgent Burgundian beef fondue. With a giant glass of white wine, the way god intended.
9 Römergasse, Altstadt
le-dezaley.ch
