On our first evening in Zurich, Dimple and I walked into the Old Town for dinner, our first proper Swiss meal of the trip.
The walk in
Like on our first walk in Zurich, we started on the old-town streets, with their tall painted houses and little turrets, then crossed to the river. The clock tower of St. Peter’s was right behind us, and the lights along the water were just coming on.
Lindenhof, just before dinner
We climbed up to Lindenhof, the tree-covered lookout above the river. From the wall you can see the whole Old Town: the church spires, the rooftops and the windows lighting up one by one. Dimple and I sat on the old stone wall for a while and just took it in. It’s a short walk from there to dinner, so it’s an easy stop on the way.
Swiss Chuchi
Swiss Chuchi is inside Hotel Adler in the Old Town. It’s all warm wood, with a big carved pillar in the middle of the room, funny paintings on the walls, and paper placemats printed with a Swiss papercut scene of cows, trees and mountains.
Chicken raclette for me
I had the chicken raclette. They bring a small grill to your table, plus a plate of raclette cheese slices, little potatoes, pickles, pearl onions and baby corn. You melt the cheese in small pans under the grill, cook the chicken on top, then scrape the cheese over everything. It’s slow, a little messy and a lot of fun.
Zürcher Geschnetzeltes for Dimple
Dimple had Zürcher Geschnetzeltes, Zurich’s classic dish: thin strips of meat in a cream sauce, served with a crispy rösti potato.
Heading home
After dinner we walked back down to the river. At night the Old Town looks completely different: the St. Peter’s clock tower is lit up and the bridge glows over the water. We took one last selfie there, then got an Uber back to our hotel, the Radisson Hotel & Suites Zurich. Full, happy and ready for bed.
Our review of Swiss Chuchi
Swiss Chuchi is a cosy place. It’s warm, with wood everywhere, families and couples sharing grills, It feels like a Swiss mountain hut, right in the middle of the city.
The food is the reason to go. The chicken raclette is fun to eat because you cook it yourself at the table, and there’s plenty of cheese, potatoes and pickles to go around. Dimple’s Zürcher Geschnetzeltes came in a creamy sauce with a big rösti on the side. If it’s your first time in Zurich, order one of each so you get to try both.
It isn’t cheap, but it’s about what you’d expect in Zurich. From the menu, the raclette is CHF 32.50, the chicken raclette is CHF 37.50 and the Adler fondue is CHF 36.50. You can see the full Swiss Chuchi menu (PDF) before you go.
You need a reservation
Book ahead. The evening slots were full when we booked online, so we took an earlier table. A few things to know:
- Your table is held for 2 hours and released if you’re more than 15 minutes late.
- Everyone orders at least one main course.
- No luggage inside, so drop your bags at the hotel first.
- Cancelling less than 24 hours ahead costs CHF 50 per person.
You can book through the Swiss Chuchi page.
Would we go back?
Yes. For a cosy, very Swiss first dinner in Zurich, it’s hard to beat. Just book first.
How to eat raclette at Swiss Chuchi
If it’s your first time, here’s how it works at the table:
- Put a slice of raclette cheese in the little pan and slide it under the table grill until it bubbles and goes soft.
- Scrape the melted cheese over the boiled potatoes (the pale yellow pieces on the plate).
- Eat it with the pickles and silver onions. They cut through the richness.
- With the chicken raclette, the chicken comes already cooked. Put some on your plate with a potato and scrape the cheese over both.
- Load the next slice and repeat at your own pace.
Not sure? The placemat has a “How to eat Fondue & Raclette” QR code you can scan.
Earlier on the trip: our room at Radisson Hotel & Suites Zurich.
More from our Europe trip coming soon.