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The west side's foodie credentials have

swelled in recent years with the arrival of Il

Tavolo ('The Table'), a  ve-day summer food

festival launched in 2012 that's reminiscent

of Taste of London. The festival's grand  nale

is a colossal 200-metre-long table, dubbed

Il Mercato, around which the city's top hotel,

restaurant and street-food options are

presented for sampling. Housed at Zürcher

Engrosmarkt, it was a fun way to try out lots

of morsels in rapid succession.

By the time I left Il Mercato I was stu‡ ed,

but luckily was soon lounging on the terrace

of the 25hours Hotel with a cold lager. The

hotel is colourful and modern, but its trump

card is the vast breakfast bu‡ et (including

Prosecco) served in an open-plan dining

room that spills out onto the alfresco area.

For grander tastes in every sense of the word,

Zurich's  ve-star Dolder Grand hotel sits on

the edge of the lake and hosts its own food

festival, The Epicure, every September. While

Il Tavolo invites the city's chefs to cook up a

storm, The Epicure brings in Michelin-starred

chefs from neighbouring countries.

View from the top

My own gastronomic quest ended with a trip

to the Uto Kulm restaurant atop Uetliberg, a

breathtaking spot, accessible only by rail. The

Italian-leaning food is packed with strong

Š avours and complemented by fabulously

elegant Swiss wines. The glass-walled dining

room overlooks rolling green hills and the

mountains beyond. It's proof that Zurich has

plenty more to o‡ er for your money than

somewhere safe to deposit it.

If you're interested in � nding out more about

Swiss wine, visit squaremeal.co.uk/news/

make-time-for-swiss-wine

GETTING THERE

SWISS Š ies from London City

and Heathrow 10 times a day from

£129 return, including taxes and free ski

carriage. Flight time from London City is

1 hour 35 minutes. swiss.com

GETTING AROUND

ZürichCARD allows for unlimited

use of Zurich's public transport

network, as well as free entry and

discounts at selected museums, shops

and restaurants. zuerich.com/en/visit/

your-city-travel-pass

WHERE TO STAY

25hours Hotel Zürich West,

P ngstweidstrasse 102, double rooms

from £104 per night. 25hours-hotels.com

The Dolder Grand, Kurhausstrasse

65, double rooms from £418 per night.

The Epicure 2015 will take place 17-20

September from £1,275 per night for

two people. thedoldergrand.com

WHERE TO EAT

Clouds, Prime Tower,

Maagplatz. clouds.ch

Markthalle, Limmatstrasse 231.

restaurant-markthalle.ch

Uto Kulm, Gratstrasse,

8143 Uetliberg. utokulm.ch

Zeughauskeller, Bahnhofstrasse 28.

zeughauskeller.ch

WHERE TO GO

Il Tavolo/Zürich bei Tisch

('Zürich's Table'), June 2016, various

locations. il-tavolo.ch

FIND OUT MORE

myswitzerland.com

swisstravelsystem.co.uk

Clockwise from far left: the view from the bank

of Zurich's River Limmat; sky-high views from

Clouds restaurant; a breath of fresh air on the

terrace at Uto Kulm; well-earned R’R at 25hours

Hotel; canapés galore at Il Tavolo's table

CLOUDS PHOTO: ZÜRICH TOURISM AND ELISABETH REAL

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