Zurich Gourmet Tour (Self Guided), Zurich

If you long for a break from sightseeing in Zurich's Old Town, Schwarzenbach Kolonialwaren may be a good place to stop by for a drink and some sweets. This historic gourmet grocery store and coffee roastery has its origins in the family business that was established by Heini Schwarzenbach in 1864 and by now has become one of the most recognizable and popular destinations for local foodies and tourists alike.

The historic interior and old-world charm of the place make it a unique and memorable shopping experience. Indeed, the store is known for its impressive variety of products of high-quality and superb flavor such as dried fruits, natural honey, jams, syrups, pulses, rice, wine, chocolate and sweets, and other gourmet items, not to mention great choice of coffee beans and teas sourced from all over the world.

At Schwarzenbach Kolonialwaren they still roast their own coffee using only the best beans, which you may sample in their small café next door. There, along with a cup of coffee or tea, customers can also enjoy a selection of baked goods.

Operating hours:
Mon-Fri 9:00-18:30; Sat 9:00-17:00; Sun closed.

Nicknamed by the locals as “Bürklimäärt”, this cozy open-air market sits at the far end of Bahnhofstrasse, on Bürkliplatz, between the banking district and picturesque Lake Zurich. If you're keen on fresh herbs, seasonal and regional fruits and vegetables, this place is for you!

Here, under the canopy of horse chestnut trees you will find stalls laden with organic products, exotic foods from all over the globe, and many other savory delights. The market offers a large choice of fresh products, such as mushrooms and berries, different sorts of cheese, fish, fresh bread, bakery and confectionery, as well as numerous regional farm specialties.

A visit here can be easily combined with a leisurely stroll along the lake, the wonderful sight of which alone makes it well worth the while. In addition to the idyllic location, the market is also famous, not to a lesser degree, for its beautiful cut flowers and potted plants which are much popular with those eager to make a gift for their loved ones.

Opening Hours:
Tuesdays and Fridays: 6 am–11.00am

Founded in 1836 by Rudolf Sprüngli, the luxury confectionery Confiserie Sprüngli is one of Zurich’s very first chocolate makers. However, the company has been renowned internationally primarily for its signature macarons, "Luxemburgerli" invented by a Sprüngli confectioner from Luxembourg. In 1892, the chocolate-producing branch of the business split off from the confectionery and now operates independently as Lindt & Sprüngli. Their assortment includes an immense range of chocolates with various fillings, pralines, and truffles, of which the most recognizable are the Grand Cru truffles.

Now in the hands of the family's sixth generation – since 1994, Sprüngli has several locations in Zurich: one in the central train station and two on Bahnhoffstrasse, at No. 21 and 67.

The Sprüngli café on Paradeplatz, Bahnhofstrasse 21, is a traditional meeting place for the elderly ladies of Zürich's upper class. Local folklore has it that the young men who attend this café alone may signal their availability to the well-to-do females by turning over coffee spoons in their cups. But according to the company's director, this is a persistent myth reflecting Zurich's more puritanical past, when the Sprüngli café was one of the few places where upper-class women could talk to strangers without risking their reputation.

Operation hours:
Monday-Friday: 7:00-18:30; Saturday: 8:30-18:30; Sunday: 9:30-17:30.

Headquartered in Zurich with a flagship store in the Old Town's building of 1647, Teuscher Confiserie has been in business since 1932. The company ensures highest quality of their products using only the natural ingredients without any chemicals, even in their sugar-free varieties.

As Swiss confectioners generally do not distinguish themselves from patisseries, the Teuscher brand also creates a wide range of pastries and cookies, hand manufacturing over 200 varieties of confections and pastries. Their signature product are Champagne Truffles, the first of its kind, made with champagne, butter cream, and surrounded by dark cream ganache made from 66% dark base chocolate. Each is enrobed in milk chocolate and dusted with confectioner's sugar, or dark chocolate and dusted with bracingly dry unsweetened cocoa powder. Aside from a wide-ranging selection of truffles, pralines, marzipan and other items, Teuscher also produces dark chocolate ranging from 55% to 99% in increments of 11%.

The company's main store is on the famed Bahnhofstrasse. Much as any other Teuscher outlet in the city, it represents a sweet fairy land, brightly decorated and filled with charming boxes of chocolates, pralines, fruit jellies, marzipans, and amazing truffles. The ambiance here is very perpetually warm and the staff are always polite and friendly.

No passionate carnivore gourmet visiting Zurich should ever pass by Prétôt Delikatessen on Kuttelgasse. The name of this street (“Tripe alley”) rings the bell and fits the profile perfectly. As for the place itself, this treasure-trove of a sausage shop offers a wide range of smoked and air-dried meats from all over Switzerland, boasting the highest quality and appealing to different tastes. The large slates on display announce all the current and seasonal specialties, and lure passers-by in their numbers. Even with your eyes closed, you can't miss it, really, as the smell of something deliciously smoked greets you at the door.

Here you will find superb Bündner and Walliser beef, St. Galler bratwurst and smoked Röteli from Lake Zug, St. Gallen sausage for children and Olmabratwurst from several butchers available in different sizes and tastes. There is Andouiette de veau, the wonderful inner sausage with tripe; small, spicy salice from Ticino and all kinds of saucissons raw and cooked to eat, such as thick boutefas from Welschland, dried beef and lamb from Engadine and Valais. Boiled sausages from Appenzellerland, Schüblige from Zurich and the surrounding area, plus the numerous blood and liver sausages, merguez and luganighe, are also present in rich supply. The list is almost endless.

Practically every Swiss village with a good sausage butcher is featured in this sausage paradise, which stands almost exotic amid the neighboring boutiques.

Operation hours:
Monday-Friday: 9:30 am-6 pm; Saturday: 9:30 am-4 pm.

A symbol of quality, freshness, variety, and overall excellence, when it comes to chocolate-making, the premium manufacturer of finest handcrafted Swiss chocolate Läderach was founded in Ennenda (Switzerland) in 1962 by Rudolph Läderach. Since 2018, this family-owned business has been run by the third generation of Läderach chocolatiers, maintaining the tradition of discovery and innovation.

In 1970, Rudolf Läderach Jr. invented a revolutionary process of manufacturing thin-walled hollow balls for truffles, rendering the professional manufacture of chocolate truffles easier and significantly improving their quality, taste and texture. In 2008 the company launched a new brand “Läderach Chocolatier Suisse” timed with the opening of show confectioneries in their spacious boutiques on Bahnhofstrasse, Zurich and Spitalgasse in Bern. In 2018, Elias Läderach of the the world-famous family beat 19 international competitors to win the title of World Chocolate Masters in Paris.

The inventor of FrischSchoggi (Fresh Chocolate), MaClair, Mini Mousses and other finest premium chocolates and pralines with incomparable tastes, today Läderach stands not only for finest premium products, but also for a family-minded social responsibility, fostering ecological thinking.

All Läderach chocolates are handcrafted masterpieces made of handpicked and selected ingredients, with great passion and professional handcraft ensuring their utmost quality.

Operating hours:
Mon-Fri 9 am-8 pm; Sat 9 am-6 pm.