Old Swiss House

The house

The Old Swiss House stands on the Löwenplatz, a few steps from the Lion Monument. It is a half-timbered wooden house: permission to build it was granted on 17 December 1858, and before becoming a restaurant it was a museum of stuffed Alpine animals and a photography studio. In 1931, Wilhelm Buholzer transferred the inn licence from the old Hotel Mohren and Ida Buholzer opened the kitchen. During the Second World War, General Guisan held discreet meetings here, and in 1951 August A. Busch, owner of the Anheuser-Busch brewery, who married the Buholzers' daughter, dined at the house.

Inside it keeps a collection of antiques: heraldic stained glass from 1575, a stove from 1636 and a coffered ceiling. The cellar holds more than 30,000 bottles, mostly Bordeaux, with a complete collection of Château Mouton-Rothschild. Since 1 August 2026 the house has been run by the Studer-Friedli family, who keep the concept and the signature dish.

The schnitzel at the table

You come for the Wiener Schnitzel, which the house has prepared for more than 70 years, about a thousand times a month. It is a ceremony: the veal, already thin, comes to your table; the waiter dips it in an egg bath with Parmesan, nutmeg and a house secret, and then in crustless breadcrumbs; he fries it in butter in a copper pan, on the trolley, for about ten minutes. It arrives with ribbon noodles, crisp crumbs and cranberry compote. On the 2026 menu it costs CHF 66.

Hours and reservations

It is open Tuesday to Saturday, 11:30 to 14:30 (kitchen until 13:30) and 18:00 to 23:30 (kitchen until 21:00). Closed on Sunday and Monday. It opens at Christmas and New Year's Eve. Book online on its website or by phone, +41 41 410 61 71, during opening hours.