Where to eat in Basel
With over 160 nationalities represented and situated at the meeting point of France, Germany and Switzerland, Basel is one of Europe’s most diverse and culturally rich cities and this is perfectly represented in its food culture. You can eat well from a wide variety of interesting locations, from market halls to food courts to street food trucks. From Thai, Indian to Syrian to Mexican, there is a big range of international dishes you can choose from. Basel, however, like the rest of Switzerland is an expensive place to visit and the average price of a main dish will start at around 20 CHF. However, the main supermarkets, Migros and Coop have their own branded restaurants which are great value for money and there are also a few notable cheap eats in Basel, which I have listed below. Plus, there are number of excellent doner kebab joints in Basel ( Kebab Square is excellent ) where you enjoy a classic doner for are around 10 CHF.
1. Sapori Del Sud
Address: Spalenvorstadt 34, 4051 Basel
Beloved Italian-Sicilian takeaway near Spalentor, famous for pastrami sandwiches and arancini
Right next to the Spalentor lies a slice of Italian and Sicilian heaven – Sapori Del Sud is a takeaway run by the affable Antonio Russo and his mother, Grazia who specialise in preparing paninos and their signature pastrami sandwiches, which in a bite takes me back to New York. The prices are very reasonable – 11 CHF for a Jumbo Sandwich, which is enough to feed two people
2. Coop Restaurant Basel Pfaufen
Address: Freie Strasse 75, 4051 Basel
Self-service Coop buffet restaurant atop the Pfauen department store, pay-by-weight salad and hot buffet
Whether you are looking for takeaway sandwiches, snacks or a proper sit down meal, Coop is your life saviour in Switzerland. If you are looking for simple, affordable meal in Basel with lots of good options that include their signature salad buffet plus chicken and fish, prepared on demand in front of your eyes, then definitely pop into Coop Restaurant at the top of the Pfaufen department store on Freie Strasse, Basel’s popular shopping street. The buffet which you pay by weight and plate size, includes plenty of vegan/ veggie options that include fresh salads and self-serve dishes to sandwiches, soups, desserts and both sweet and savoury snacks. For a stacked plate from the buffet with a mix of items, expect to pay around 15 CHF. It can get crowded around lunch time so be prepared to wait a little. They also have daily value specials that range from pastas to Asian classic dishes. Currently they are offering Fried Halloumi on Mediterranean-style rice for just 9.95 CHF or Arabic casserole with aubergines, tofu, herby bulgur and cucumber salad with pomegranate for 13.95 CHF. If you are looking for a great breakfast buffet, they also offer a all-you-can-eat breakfast for CHF 19.95 per person- you can refill your plate and cup as often as you like, until 10.30. Plus they do a coffee and cake combo from 2pm everyday for 5.95 CHF too.
3. Buon Gusto Streetfood Basel
Address: Marktplatz, 4001 Basel
Food truck serving Sicilian-inspired burgers and steak paninis
Dominated by its vibrant rouge red 16th century town hall, the Marktplatz is a definitely worth wandering, especially during the week when there’s a busy weekly market on where locals come to buy fresh vegetables, fruit and flowers. If you are looking for good quality burgers and panini sandwiches at the market at a reasonable price, then Buon Gusto Streetfood truck is a popular choice with locals and visitors. Burgers ( veggie, cheeseburger ) and Paninis ( include famous steak panini ) start at 13.50 CHF and portion of fries is 5 CHF.
4. Pilz Hüsli
Address: Marktplatz, 4001 Basel
Mushroom and truffle specialist stand also serving risotto and pasta dishes
If you are a mushroom and pasta lover, then the Pilz Hüsli food truck at the Marktplatz is also a great choice. Open from Monday to Saturdaym ( till 2.30pm ) besides offering fresh and dried mushrooms, they also serve an inexpensive delicious lunch, from an excellent mushroom risotto to a four cheese ravioli with mushroom sauce, all from 13 CHF.
5. Mum’s Kitchen
Address: Margarethenstrasse 45, 4053 Basel
Cosy Vietnamese restaurant near the SBB train station, known for pho and lunch menus
Close to the main train station, this Vietnamese restaurant offers a lunch menu offer of a choice of main dishes ( from thai red curry chicken to fried tofu with veggies ) and water for 18 CHF. Good price-quality ratio for Basel
6. Za Zaa
Address: Petersgraben 15, 4051 Basel
Stylish Syrian-Lebanese restaurant for mezze, salads, hummus and falafel
A stylish Syrian-Lebanese eatery in the heart of Basel, Za Zaa offers a nice range of dishes, from homemade soups ( Yellow Lentil soup with Curkuma: 9.50 CHF) to traditional salads ( from 12.50 CHF) , excellent hummus, both cold and warm mezze and great falafel teller. ( from 23.50 CHF)
7. Lily Maxim
Address: Rebgasse 1, 4058 Basel
Modern Asian eatery blending Thai, Indian and Chinese dishes
Serving a mix of classic Thai, Indian and Chinese dishes, if you are looking for an unpretentious dining experience with fast, good service, then you will like Lily Maxim. The food is adapted to local tastes but there is a good range of condiments to customise the dish to your style. Curries ( Thai Green or Red of Yellow Curry start from 23.50 and their Lentil Dahl Curry is 19.50 CHF)
8. Klara
Address: Clarastrasse 13, 4058 Basel
Kleinbasel food court with nine international kitchens around a central bar
Another excellent option for dining is Klara, a food court that serves culinary treats from Japan, Argentina, Thailand and Africa. Locals rave about the hummus and pita from Yoya Pitabar and the pasta and pinsa from Lamia Pastaria. Our pick of the bunch was the Vietnamese Diner, Nón Lá Vietnamese Corner. Sabrina loved the Bun Bo Nam Bo ( 24.30 CHF with 10% discount for takeaway ) and I tried the Banh Mi with their special lemongrass chicken ( 16 CHF) and it was fab.
9. Markthalle
Address: Steinentorberg 20, 4051 Basel
Historic market hall turned lively international food court near the train station
Located near the train station in a beautiful listed building that originally served as the local market lies the Markthalle. Since 2014 it has been repurposed into an international food Court featuring dishes from all around the world at very reasonable prices. There is a great variety of choice here, from delicious empanadas to ceviche to kebabs and also delicious curries. When we visited, late on the weekend, we also found an excellent local preloved clothes market packed with locals.
10. Coffee at Café Unternehmen
Address: Gerbergasse 30, 4001 Basel
Grand former-bank coffee house is “Basel’s living room” with organic lunches, cakes and coworking space
This architectural gem dating back to 1912 was formerly the Swiss Volksbank and is Basels unofficial living room where you will find people hunched over their laptops working away, tired shoppers lounging on the stylish Eames chairs sipping on coffee or locals enjoying their excellent terrace, scoffing one of their delicious range of cakes and pastries.
11. Jakob’s Basler Leckerly
No trip to Basel is complete without sampling the famous Basler Leckerli biscuits, a ginger biscuit popular in the region that reminded us a lot of the popular German Xmas treat, Lebkuchen gingerbread cookies. The place to try the Basler Leckerli is Jakob’s Basler Leckerly, the oldest biscuit manufacturer in Switzerland, dating back to 1753.
