This lunch has got to be the highlight of my trip to Zurich last September. The food was delicious, the ambience and setting gorgeous and the views were hands-down fantabulous!
UTO Kulm Restaurant ‘Allegra’ is perhaps the highest restaurant in Zurich. It is located in the only mountain of the city, Uetliberg which is a 15-minute ride with the train from Zurich Hauptbahnhof. They call this place – Top of Zurich.
I learned about this restaurant because I was staying at the UTO Kulm Hotel, the only resident hotel in Uetliberg mountain, which, by the way, I will blog soon separately. I was going to meet with Bubbles and M and suggested to them that we’ll see each other for lunch at my hotel’s restaurant, mentioning on the side, of course, the great views.
It was easy to convince the girls who were looking for some adventure and fun outside the city centre. They even said, “Oh, this feels like going on a day trip.”
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Indeed, going to Uetliberg is like going on a day trip from Zurich Old Town! Even if you just come here for lunch or for the views.
LUNCH AT UTO KULM Restaurant ‘ALLEGRA’ ON THE TERRACE
I am not sure how popular this restaurant is but it is advisable to reserve a table in advance if you want to dine on the terrace. I did by speaking to the head waiter, and informing him on the side as well that I am a hotel guest. I specifically reserved a table on the corner railing of the terrace, so as to give us privacy from others.
Cheers! Prost! Proost! Cincin! Saluti! Sante!
When the girls arrived they were wowing about the place and the views. I got the approval and before we knew it we were led by the wait staff to our table. Once settled and having taken photos (selfie sticks et al), we ordered lunch.
Our idea for lunch is sharing so we agreed on the Buffalo Mozzarella salad with tomatoes and pesto and the Bundnerteller (Grison plate) which consists of air dried beef, raw ham, mountain cheese and pickles. We ordered bread as well and of course, some chilled (white) wine. I cannot remember which wine it was, though.
This lunch was as lazy (and fulfilling) as it can be, and right so. This is exactly how I lunch. Easy, slow, lots of chatting over food and drinks with good friends (or family) in a very conducive and relaxing environment, preferably on an open terrace with a fantastic view. I mean how can you not be pleased with the spectacular panoramic view of Zurich and beyond? No wonder they call this place, Top of Zurich. It sounds very epicurean and self-indulgent but I am not apologising for it.
It was also great to be able to catch up with Bubbles after SO MANY YEARS. It’s been 2 decades since I last saw her and this place and the whole ambience was just the perfect setting for us to reconvene again. Talk about making it really worthwhile =)
I love charcuterie and anything thinly sliced dried meat or salami.
My plate, of course, =)
HOW TO GET HERE
PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Take the SZU (Sihltal Zurich Uetliberg) train in Zurich Hauptbahnhof. This is the S10 train on platforms 22/21. It takes approximately 20 minutes to reach Uetliberg. Once you have reached the final station, take the road going up through the woods for about 7-10 minutes’ walk. The restaurant is just beside the hotel in front of the TV tower.
The S10 train goes every 30 minutes and on weekends, every 20 minutes.
OWN CAR: The hotel restaurant is located in a car-free recreation area so you will need to park the car somewhere (nearest is Parking Feldermoos) and take the SZU – S10 train to Uetliberg.
It is approximately 30 minutes in total with the train and including the walk from the final station to the restaurant hotel.
This is the S10 to UetlibergS10 train on platform 22 in Zurich Hauptbahnhof.
The hotel & restaurant offers assistance for mobility challenged guests. They actually have a service car running between the hotel and the final station which is mainly for hotel-staying guests use.
If you have an extra day or even half a day in Zurich, by all means, visit Uetliberg and have lunch or drinks here. There are 2 other restaurants and 1 café in the mountain as well, namely: Berggasthaus Uto-Staffel, Restaurant Gmuetliberg and Jurablik café.
RESTAURANT ALLEGRA TOP OF ZURICH VIEWS PICTURE GALLERY
Zurich views and beyond...
I could not help but admire how colourful Swiss money is! The girls paid me in cash and I, in turn, have the lunch billed through my room, which is the reason why I ended up with this cash. I rarely walk around with cash in my wallet.
The terrace here at UTO Kulm Restaurant Allegra is huge. You've got an inner and outer terrace. When the weather is great, the outer terrace is obviously better.
Behind us is Zurich City in the far distance... and you can even see Lake Zurich.
Travel Period: September 2016
Destination: Uetliberg (Zurich), Switzerland
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Happy Travels! Enjoy Life =)
All pictures were taken by a point and shoot pocket camera or a smartphone.
