When in Basel, see the art… and eat, people eat!

After all, seeing art will make anyone hungry, right?

Or is that just me?

(And if you want ideas for what to do beyond eating and drinking, read my post on what to do and see when visiting Basel.)

For Traditional Food with a Local Crowd

When in a place, eat the place’s traditional food, right?

With this as a goal, we hunted around for quality Swiss-German fare and landed on Fischerstube.

And lucky we did! We loved it. Fischerstube has a warm and welcoming atmosphere where you can try the house-brewed beer and feast on local specialties on a tree-lined back terrace filled with happy locals.

Further, if you don’t need a full meal but wouldn’t mind a few light bites in good company with a local brew, this spot’s a fantastic option.

For a Riverfront Terrace

Our top recommendation for a lunch or dinner on a terrace along the Rhine River: Krafft Basel.

The menu allows you to share appetizers and entrees—or to order individual portions—depending on how you and your fellow diners choose to approach the meal. We shared appetizers and then ordered individual plates for our main course. The food is fresh, tasty, plentiful, and innovative.

Further, as Krafft Basel has a great location on a lively walkway along the riverfront, you’ll spend the entire meal entranced by the sparkling river and the truly fun people watching.

If you can’t get a spot at Krafft Basel, we recommend Whywiera as a decent second option for a Rhine River view. We found the wait staff and service somewhat lacking, the food not quite as fresh and tasty (but still very good), and the restaurant’s location a tiny bit less ideal than what we found at Krafft Basel—even if still on the riverfront. Still, this is a great second choice.

For an Elegantly Casual Lunch or Dinner

The bistro at the Kunstmuseum provides a beautiful and delicious spot to relax and replenish before or after your museum visit—and even if you don’t plan to visit the museum at all. This bistro, located on the interior courtyard of the fabulous and world-famous museum has unique and tasty lunch options at very reasonably prices (for Switzerland, anyway).

For dinner, the shaded, tree-dotted courtyard terrace at Volkshaus Basel offers excellent food and service from a fun and friendly wait staff for a relaxed and elegant meal.

For Tea and Coffee—or Wine and Cocktails

For tea, coffee, or cocktails, you can’t go wrong with the bar at Les Trois Rois.

This historic five-star hotel features an elegant bar with a gorgeous terrace overlooking the Rhine River with an extensive menu of drinks, coffees, teas, and snacks. We didn’t find the service at the level of the setting, but it didn’t detract from a quality moment of rest and relaxation in good company.

Les Trois Rois has a fine-dining restaurant as well, the Cheval Blanc, though with its impressive three Michelin stars you will need reservations well in advance, appropriate attire, and a budget to accommodate the cost.

The Dining in Basel Surprised Me!

Honestly—and I live here, so I can say this—I recommend people come to Switzerland for the views and the outdoor activity… more than for the food.

Not that the food in Switzerland isn’t perfectly fine. However, Switzerland has less of a food culture than does, for example, its neighbors Italy and France.

Yet the food in Basel pleasantly surprised me. When you visit, expect not just to enjoy the culture and activities on the river and in the region, but the dining as well. Yum!