What to eat in Switzerland? - 15 classic dishes you must try

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: May 2026 | What do you eat in Switzerland? We list 15 Swiss specialties and tell you about our experiences with Swiss food. In Switzerland you will find everything from cheese fondue and raclette to rösti and Swiss chocolate. It's time to taste Switzerland in text and pictures!

What to eat in Switzerland? - a quick overview

We have previously written about German food and Austrian food, and now it's time for Swiss cuisine! Swiss food is rustic, cheesy and clearly characterised by the country's different regions - with influences from France, Italy and Germany. Here are some typical examples of what to eat in Switzerland:

• Main dishes: Cheese fondue, raclette and St. Gallen bratwurst
• Accessories: Rösti, polenta and risotto
• Snacks: Malakoff and Swiss cheese
• Desserts and sweets: Zug Kirschtorte and Swiss chocolate

We have visited Switzerland on several occasions and always fascinated by the country's amazing nature. We also love to try local food when we travel! Here we list a number of classic Swiss dishes to taste.

Typical Swiss cuisine - 15 classic dishes

Here we list Swiss dishes that are interesting to try, including small dishes, snacks and sweets.

1. Cheese fondue

One of the most typical dishes in Switzerland is cheese fondue. This is simply melted cheese, together with white wine and garlic, served in a communal pan. The fondue can be made with different types of cheese (often equal parts of two types) such as Gruyère, Comté, Emmentaler or Vacherin Fribourgeois.

Either bread cubes or potatoes are dipped into the stew. Small pickled cucumbers and pickled onions can be added. A dream come true for all cheese lovers!

2. raclette

Another classic dish that focuses on cheese is raclette. Raclette is actually both the name of a special type of cheese and the name of a dish. The traditional way of serving the dish is to scrape off melted cheese from a larger piece of cheese. Today there are also pre-cut raclette that can be reheated.

The melted cheese is served with boiled potatoes, pickled cucumbers and pickled onions. Sometimes there may also be other side dishes on the table, such as vegetables and cold-cut meat.

READ MORE: Raclette in Switzerland - eating cheese for dinner?

3. the Älplermagronen

Älplermagronen is a traditional dish from the Swiss Alps made with pasta, potatoes, cheese, cream and onions. Sometimes bacon is also added, and the dish is usually served with apple sauce.

4. Zürcher Geschnetzeltes and other veal dishes

More veal is eaten in Switzerland than in Sweden. Zurich prawn dumplings is a Zurich stew made with veal, sometimes including calf's liver and mushrooms. The stew is made with a creamy sauce and is often served with rösti. Veal is also sometimes used for this dish Cordon Bleu escalope, which can also be called Swiss Schnitzel.

5. St. Gallen bratwurst and other sausages

Sausages are popular in Switzerland, and one sausage that is particularly famous is St Gallen bratwurst. This bratwurst contains veal and pork and has a white colour, which is partly due to the addition of milk, and it is often eaten with a bun. Of course, there are many other types of sausages too!

6. Rösti

A classic dish in Switzerland. These are simply small flat cakes made from grated potatoes and fried in butter. Typical of rösti is that no binding agent is used at all, except the starch naturally present in the potatoes.

7. Polenta

A popular dish throughout Switzerland, and especially in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino. Polenta is made from cornflour and turns into a yellow mash. It can be eaten as a simple dish with butter, cheese or milk, or it can be served as an accompaniment to meat or a meat stew.

8. Risotto

Another dish that is popular in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland is risotto, especially saffron risotto. There are, of course, many different recipes for this dish, sometimes including mushrooms, asparagus or other vegetables.

9. Soupe de Chalet (cabin soup)

A soup made with cream and vegetables, among other things. For example, the soup can contain potatoes, onions, carrots, spinach and pasta.

10. cheese tart

Did we mention that they like cheese in Switzerland? Swiss cheese cheese tart is a type of cheese pie available in different sizes and for different occasions. The pies are suitable for picnics and parties, and can be flavoured and garnished in many different ways.

11. Malakoff

A kind of round ball filled with melted cheese. Malakoffen is usually served as an appetiser and is often enjoyed with pickled small gherkins, pickled onions and mustard.

12. Swiss cheese

As I said, Swiss cuisine is very much about cheese. Each region and each area has its own cheeses, of which they are proud.

One of our favourites is the Appenzeller cheese from the village Apenzell. Another cheese that is world famous is Gruyère cheese from the village of the same name. You can try the cheeses in many different ways, and one way is of course a classic cheese and charcuterie tray!

13. birchermüesli

Around 1900, Swiss doctor Maximilian Oskar Bircher-Brenner developed a muesli that has since become popular. Muesli contains oatmeal, grated apples and hazelnuts or almonds.

14th Zug cherry cake

A delicious cherry cake that comes from the city of Zug. The main ingredients are sugar cookie crusts, hazelnut meringue, kirschwasser (made from cherries) and buttercream.

15. Swiss chocolate

Switzerland is known worldwide for its high-quality chocolate, which is associated with Rodolphe Lindt, among others. Other famous chocolate brands in Switzerland include Toblerone, Cailler and Frey.

Swiss food in restaurants

You'll find traditional Swiss food in restaurants in Switzerland, although the range can vary slightly in different parts of the country. At the same time, of course, you'll find everything from fine dining to fast food and food from other countries around the world.

Beer, wine and other drinks in Switzerland

So, how do you combine Swiss food and drink? It is common to drink both beer and wine in Switzerland, and there are also various local spirits. You can also try the popular soft drinks Rivella.

Oil is a popular drink in Switzerland, especially in the German-speaking parts, and there are many craft breweries around the country.

Wine is produced in Switzerland to a relatively large extent, but exports are negligible. So it might be worth taking the opportunity to try the wine when you are there! The main grapes are:

• Pinot Noir
• Chasselas
• Gamay
• Merlot

The country's most important wine canton is Valais, which accounts for around a third of production. We have visited Lavaux wine region, which is beautifully located next to Lake Geneva.

Spirituous beverages produced in Switzerland include absinthe, Zuger Kirsch and Appenzeller Alpenbitter.

More about food in other countries

Here you can find more stories about food in different countries:

• French cuisine - 25 French dishes
• Italian food - 25 Italian dishes
• Belgian food – 20 Belgian specialties
• German food - 25 German dishes
• Austrian food - 15 Austrian specialities