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Heiko Nieder and Marie Robert win Chef of the Year awards

Zurich-based chef Heiko Nieder has been named Gault & Millau’s male ‘Chef of the Year’.

Heiko Nieder and Marie Robert win Chef of the Year awards
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Nieder, who cooks at the Dolder Grand Hotel in Zurich, becomes just the seventh chef to be awarded 19 out of a possible 20 points in the restaurant guide awards.

 

 

Speaking to Gault & Millau, Nieder’s wife Daniela said: “Chef of the Year; I’m proud of him! Heiko’s dream has come true.”

Marie Robert, of Café Suisee in Bex (Vaud), was named female ‘Chef of the Year 2019’ after being awarded a total of 16 points.  

 

READ MORE: Lovely Jubbly: UK Celebrity Chef Jamie Oliver plans to open Zurich restuarant 

Four chefs were named 'Discoveries of the Year'; Pascal Stefee (Roots in Basel), Jeroen Achtien (Vitznauerhof in Vitznau/Waldhotel in Davos) and Marco Campanella (Eden Rock in Ascona) all earning 16 Gault & Millau points, while Bert De Rycker (Le Rawyl in Randogne) picked up 15 points.

Anna Junge, of Schloss Schauenstein in Fürnstenau, was named 'Sommelier of the Year' while Sébastien Quazzola, from Le Richemond restaurant in Geneva, won the 'Pastry Chef of the Year' award.

Bürgenstock Resort, in Lucerne, was named 'Hotel of the Year'.

Gault & Millau rates restaurants on a scale from 1 to 20, the latter being the highest. Points are awarded on the basis of food quality.

The award is French originally, but has multiple editions across the world – including here in Switzerland. 

More information can be found in French on the Gault & Millau website.

 

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ZURICH

How much does a Zurich city break cost in 2024?

As Swiss cities go, Zurich is the complete package: Not only is it the country’s economic and cultural capital, but its location on the lake of the same name, the River Limmat, and the nearby Uetliberg make it a great natural beauty. The question is, how much does it cost to visit?

How much does a Zurich city break cost in 2024?

Using a weekend city trip as a yardstick, The Local looked at the average costs of a visit to Zurich, factoring in accommodation, dining, public transport and sightseeing. 

Accommodation

Based on data from the online booking platform trip.com, the average price for a hotel room per night in Zurich in 2024 is 149 francs – roughly €157. 

Of course, this greatly depends on the level of comfort you’re looking for. 

A room in a popular budget hotel near the central train station, like Hotel Bristol, can run as low as 47 francs / €50 per night for a private room. 

On the other end of the scale, a room in a luxury hotel like the iconic Hotel Storchen starts at around 547 francs / €574. 

For a two-night stay in the city, budget around 350 francs / €370 – assuming you have two people sharing.

Dining

According to the crowdsourced travel information site Budgetyourtrip.com, the average meal in Zurich costs around 24 francs / €26.

Again, this depends on what you’re looking for. Hitting up a popular street food spot like Sternen Grill will cost you around 16 francs / €15 for a Bratwurst in a roll with mustard and a drink.

Conversely, you could splurge on a Michelin-star restaurant like La Rotisserie, part of the Hotel Storchen, and spend 300 francs / €315 per person. 

For a two-night stay in Zurich, expect to pay 156 francs / €163 per person to eat. 

READ ALSO: Nine Zurich life hacks to make you feel like a local

Public Transport 

Thankfully, Zurich is serviced by an excellent public transport network, and getting around couldn’t be easier. 

It may also be the easiest part to budget for your Zürich city trip. 

The Zürich Card offers unlimited 2nd class travel on all buses, trains, boats, funicular railways and other forms of public transport in the Zürich region. 

A 24-hour pass costs 29 francs / €30.41, while a 72-hour pass costs 56 francs / €58.74.

For two nights in Zürich, it’ll cost you about 56 francs / €58.74 per person to get around the city. 

Sightseeing 

What you spend on sightseeing in Zurich can be the most variable part of your budget, depending on what you want to see. 

Strolling around the Old Town and Lake Zurich and visiting historic churches such as the Grossmünster and Fraumünster are free. 

A trip up the Uetliberg is also free, as you can take a tram covered by your public transport ticket.

You could also visit such museums as the Landesmuseum Zürich (13 francs / €13.63), the Swiss Finance Museum (10 francs / €10.49 ), the FIFA Museum (26 francs / €27.27 ) and the Lindt Home of Chocolate (15 francs / €15.73).

Gallery offerings include the Kunsthaus Zürich (24 francs / €25.17 ), the Kunsthalle Zürich (12 francs / €12.58) and the Pavilion Le Corbusier (12 francs / €12.58). 

It’s important to note that some museums and galleries offer free entry with the Zurich Card – it’s worth checking at the ticket counter. 

Enjoying a boat trip on Lake Zurich is really worth your while, and a cruise with a vessel operated by the ZVV  will cost 44.60 francs / €44.76 for first class and 27 francs / €28,32 for second class,

READ ALSO: Five beautiful Swiss villages located less than an hour from Zurich

Suppose you operate on the assumption that you might see two museums daily and take a boat cruise during your trip. 

Budgeting 120 francs / €125.85 per person, is not unreasonable in that case. 

From the Uetliberg there are stunning views across Lake Zurich and the city. Photo: Stux / Pixabay

And in the end…? 

With some quick back-of-the-napkin maths, if you’re a couple expecting to spend two to three nights in Zurich, you can expect to pay around 1,062 francs / €1114.

While not the cheapest European destination, it’s more than made up for by natural beauty in scoops, a treasure trove of art, culture and history, and some of central Europe’s best dining. 

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