Does anyone have a favorite restaurant or a restaurant reccomendation in the center of Basel? I have a visitor coming next week and would like to try a nice new place. Doesn't have to be typically Swiss but something with options would be nice. Thanks!

Not really a recommendation, but try this web-site:
http://www.basel-restaurants.ch/english/index.html

Has categories of restaurants in Basel and will give you an idea of what's around.

Hard to recommend anything without a hint of what you're after

Sorry, the only restaurant I've been to IN Basel was La Fonda which is a Mexican place. I can recommend it but if your friend is coming from the US, it's not so special. Really good food... just not anything so different than what they may have had before.


I've been to the restaurant at Schloss Dornach a few times and while the fare isn't necessarily fantastic (I usually get wurst salat there), I've not explored the menu so can not say that it isn't fantastic. What IS fantastic about the place though is the view. So, a friend from out of town may enjoy it much like I have, and you may too.

"Unfortunately" when I have been there, it has always been with m-i-l and she's driven, I can not offer a guess how tough it may be to get there without a car.

Try the "Braune Mutz" on Barfüsserplatz

www.brauner-mutz-basel.ch


or the Aladin (Lebanese) on the same square

www.aladinbasel.ch

You can buy the "Basel geht aus!" magazine in a Kiosk. AFAIK it contains a lot of suggestions.

Restaurant Aeschenplatz would be my recommendation.

Went to Walliser Kanne on Gerbergasse the other week and had a nice meal. The schnitzel cooked in the restaurant was huge and tasty. The fondue was good too.

http://www.walliserkanne-basel.ch/en/welcome.shtml

I like the restaurant at Hotel Krafft:

http://www.hotelkrafft.ch/index.cfm/...47AD8E0B7BDA9/

For Swissity-Swiss-Swiss food: Jägerstübli or Eindracht (both in Allschwil - both very un-touristy, not expensive, dead animals on the walls, no English spoken). Walliserkanne is also very good, but chic (if you like your fondue chic). Special mention to the Hasenburg behind Marktplatz close to Andreasplatz.

For Italian: I like the Pizzeria St. Johann on St Johannsvorstadt. It's like a neighborhood pizzeria for the many Italians living in that district.

For Turkish: my favorite restaurant in Basel. Pinar. On a little side street from Petersgraben. When you go up Petersgraben (passing the hospital on the right), it's the first street on the left. Huge portions of very good food, family-owned, inexpensive, Ueli beer, always packed at lunch. Doesn't look like much from the outside though.

I love the restaurant at hotel kraft as well but it is a tad expensive (I went there by myself once and spent 70 euros without wine and just drank water!!!). I like though, Aladdin at the Barfusserplatz (Lebanese great food and nice staff) as well as a small restaurant where we have been a few times to eat local specialties, it is in the Hammerstrasse in the corner across from Hotel adagio) it has reasonable prices and the food is really good.

Enjoy!

Cantina Don Camillo is in the old brewery tower. I was amazed to be eating food in Basel that was of really high quality.

I would echo the positive comments re Aladdin, and it is nice and central - though no Swiss menu as I recall. Au Violon just above it is nice French food at the upper end (cost wise).

For Swiss option, could consider: Elsbethenstübli, just above Theatre. Fondu is their core menu...

For Asian/fusion there's Noohn or Jay's (more Indian than Asian to be honest).

In Gundeli there's Bonvivant - really nice, but simple menu and a tad dear. Usually have a choice of one or two dishes in each course only. Also has limited seating so you need to book. Also in Gundeli, for something a bit different, try the Blindekuh (eat your meal in total darkness). Or next door is eo Ipso - modernish, with trendy decor/bar (all in a big warehouse).

E guete!

All sounds good so far! Thanks for all the suggestion! Hope some of you get to try a new place as a result as well!

I second the Pizzeria St.Johann (Gianni's) and Hasenburg. Please note that at Hasenburg it is like two different restaurants if you are seated upstairs or downstairs (Entré level). At downstairs they have rösti and other typical Swiss food and very basic interior, Upstairs is a bit more "fancy" and a different menu - I personally prefer the downstairs much more....

You also have a nice place next to Münster called Zum Isaaks. Swiss-mix with other cuisines. Quite modern.

Another favorite is also a very nice tapas/Spanish restaurant Bodega Espana on Spalenberg (next to Rosarios) run by a family that directly import things from Spain. You have an entrance from Spalenberg through a wineshop, but there is also an entrance direct into the restaurant from Leonardsgraben. They close quite early on Saturdays and are closed on Sundays, but open until 23 on weekdays. Excellent tapas.

Enjoy!

I like Zum Isaak http://www.zum-isaak.ch/ informal but good food. avoid Italian restaurants, couldnt find a decent one yet..

the vierte König also is worth a check out: http://www.weinwirtschaft.ch/

oh i forgot, there is the bnew place next to Papajoe, I don't remember how it's called though... it's very nice and I liked the food

Must admit that I've also not found a decent Italian joint. They all tend to be quite stodgy.

However, I've not tried Restaurant Chez Donati (St. Johanns-Vorstadt 48). Apparently it is very good, though be warned they only take cash!

I want to try that one for my birthday this week . It is pricey also! But right across from my place, will let you know soon!

Happy birthday...

Don't forget to remind whomever is paying to bring the coloured stuff - although, I've spoken to several people who say they are really good about it and will send you a bill with eizahlungschein (personnally, I'd have to experience it to believe it )

Thanks I will tell my husband hehehe, too bad there is not an evil smiley but this will have to do -->

Hi JustRose,

If I remember correctly, you said in an earlier post you recently moved from from NYC. Comparatively, there are few really good restaurants in Basel, and very few do anything particularly interesting, adventurous or different on their menus. That said, they are rarely bad either, mostly just good average.

I would however recommend the following to go to with out of towners:

Besenstiel (by the Theatre) - Portuguese influenced food in a pleasant setting. It is a little on the pricey side though.

Jay's Indian (near Kantonsspital) - Indian (obviously) and done very well. Just make sure to reserve well in advance. Also a little pricey.

Blinde Kuh (Dornacherstrasse) - run by sight-impaired people, you eat in total pitch darkness.c Food was decent here, as were the prices, and if you go for the surprise menu when you order, you can try guessing what are eating and find out if you were right agfterwards when you leave.

Lilly's (Claraplatz) - inexpensive (by Swiss standards) Asian food. Great for a quickish meal that's tasty.

Margarita (Steinenvorstadt) - new-ish piza place that's run by the Piadina Bar people. Great, choose-your-own-topping pizza.

One place to avoid at all costs is Leon, just off Gerbergasse. It's the one and only truly abysmal place I've been to in BS.

E guete!