I am a bit suprised about the answers here... As a German, I always thought I am from a place with no service.

I find it totally ok to friendly ask if I can use the toilet and would frankly expect a positive answer. In the worst case an answer like "sure, but we charge non-customers CHF 1,-". Definitely nothing worse.

McDonalds has only pin codes near stations. Not because they don't want you to use their loos, but they don't want junkies or drug dealers using them for other business than the one they are intended for.

I thought everyone named them wherever they live.... or is it just me?

Only if you are pretentious prick

so is this a tripadvisor candidate ??

And that of course begs the question ............ if youre brave enough of course grumpy.............. on a public forum ............

Little Mike?

Thanks.
"...carrying on with their lives.. "

Sounds like a good idea.

At least thanks for letting me steam out a little bit.

Nah, the McD's near us (and the Starbucks for that matter) both have PIN access to the loo, and neither are near a railway station.

Good man, now go bring wifey out for a nice lunch after she's washed her face.
Pssst...the Dolder has nice toilets.

Cool. Now get over to the Introductions forum and tell us a bit about yourselves.

'Nuff said.

Bassiq, don't let yourself be angered or poked so obviously by certain... how to put it... trollish posts

The attitude towards your wife was extremly rude, no matter whether she was foreigner or not. She asked permission to use the toilet, opposite to some that just use and abuse. And this is the proper place to ask for similar situations.

Don't let yourself be flamed or further angered: I find it quite nice that you are defending your wife (but hei, I'm a big fan of Medieval styled maidens in distress). Contacting the cafe won't bring you anything other than dragging the situation further.

Xenophobia is a very nasty dirty thing, but best to learn from mistakes to be prepared for the next encounter. I was shocked the first time I tried to buy bread on a German backery. But now? No one gets the best on this Portuguese hot blooded woman

Well if you stopped nicking the bog rolls they might relent.......

First of all, sorry that your wife had to go through that but she has to get some thick skin, I would have b1tch slapped both women and told them to go yell to their @!(*$&$#) )(#$*#%)!!!!
Then again it's me and not everyone has their hormones in dissarray ...hope the wife feels better soon!

Yes everyone one has different standards, and ways of treating people.

It's just a toilet and even in NYC you wouldn't get some asshats grumbling about manners and how the country is going to hell because these damn furriners need to pee just like everyone else. What would they say if it were a child? Are the Swiss such incredible rigid automatons that human decency comes second only after following the rules?

When you get that sort of treatment as a foreigner/expat, it can be very difficult to simply move on. I lived in another country where an old woman came to pet my dog whilst I was walking him. I had only just arrived so I wasn't very fluent in the local language and politely said that I didn't understand her....when she proceeded to spit on me and yell something about f-ing foreigners. It tainted my experience of a country that has, over the years, become much more xenophobic (or more open to expressing it) and I'm glad I escaped. It's an experience I will never forget.

When people humiliate you on the basis of your foreignness and no other, it's not something you can simply shrug off or forget.

I find it very funny and just laugh..... but then I`m English and therefore superior to any other nationality.

Er, really? When people have nothing other than my nationality to complain about I frankly care the least.

Ok, so you live in a inner city place without station but with loads of people? Same story. They might even have UV lights installed.

Any McDonald's, BurgerKing or other restaurant that is a bit outside doesn't have locks.