Marc Checkley

One of the curses of modern dining is that so much focus is put on aesthetics rather than the meal. But food definitely comes first at this no-frills Sri Lankan restaurant in Limmatplatz. Its orange-painted walls may be a bit retro for some, but the well-priced dishes get the tastebuds going. Options such as puttu (CHF18.50) – rolls of rice, white flour and shaved coconut alongside slow-cooked lamb – are all freshly prepared in the open kitchen and you can also customise your spice level.

This award-winning bar, located in the lavish D’Angleterre Hotel, has become something of a Geneva institution. With a unique converted library feel, it’s an opulent yet laid-back place that’s exclusive yet inviting, draped in gold, rosewood and, of course, leopard prints. A live jazz band croons most evenings and the convivial staff will happily guide you through the drink selections, which include around 50 whiskies and 30 cocktails. There’s also the rare Bas Armagnac from 1848 – but at CHF870 a glass, you’d be wise to drink it very slowly.

Anchored at a prime spot on Lake Geneva, this alfresco bar and event space is one of Lausanne’s best (and cheapest) summer hangouts. Open only from April to October, it serves well-mixed (read: strong) cocktails, local wines and beers, along with charcuterie platters. Bands serenade the crowd at sunset, followed by late-night funk from DJs. Be sure to pack your swimmers for a sunset dip in le lac.

While its origins are German, it's the good ol’ US of A that made the burger what it is today. And if you like yours all American, Black Tap is it. The New York chain – the brainchild of Michelin-starred chef Joe Isidori – set up shop in downtown Geneva in late 2017. While the fresh produce is 100 percent Swiss, more than 60 condiments are shipped in from the US to provide an authentic taste experience. The menu sports over a dozen burgers, from the crowd favourite All-American (CHF19) to the Greg Norman (CHF30) – a deluxe combination host of homegrown hamburger of wagyu beef with buttermilk-infused dill gherkins and rich blue-cheese sauce. Classic or twists and sweet potato fries seal the deal along with a fine selection of craft ales and ciders that change seasonally. The shakes are a story in themselves.

Giving a much-needed kick to Bern’s slightly confused dining scene, Kung Fu Burger dishes out an inviting vibe as alluring as its burgers. Going by a quality-over-quantity philosophy, its petite but precise menu delivers a sucker punch to the taste buds. Standouts include its chicken burger (CHF23) with secret special sauce and the ultraviolet vegan beetroot burger (CHF17), constructed of a beet/soya bean patty, fried onions and vegan mayonnaise with a fiery lick of horseradish. Those with more curious palates can go for the chef’s special, which changes weekly depending on the season. All burgers can be made with either classic American buns or its own German-esque rolls.

Opened at the end of 2014, this stylish brasserie occupies a prime location on the classy (and grassy) Montbenon park, a favourite Lausanne strolling and lounging spot since the 19th century. Outside, the bandstand-style structure sports a large sunny terrace with far-reaching views of Lake Geneva and the mountains beyond. Inside, the vast room combines period features (cornicing on the high domed ceiling, a stained glass window) with contemporary decor including a long chrome bar and a zig-zag shaped mezzanine. As for the food, the brasserie’s modern Swiss-French menu draws on seasonal ingredients to create generously-sized dishes including salmon tartar, crayfish terrine and chicken cordon bleu, plus at least one dish of the day. It may not be the cheapest place in town, but for the quality and upmarket atmosphere it’s reasonable. And judging by the crowds each lunch time, it’s already become a popular choice for a smart-casual business lunch. Eager to cultivate its social side, the brasserie hosts a programme of events such as chocolate tasting, garden parties and petanque nights.

This new chick on the block is already turning heads across Zurich. As the city’s first official southern-fried chicken joint, Yardbird has a lot to live up to – and it doesn’t disappoint. Selections include classic buffalo-style wings, Nashville hot chicken and the oddly alluring chicken and waffles with a lick of maple syrup and honey butter. Stellar cocktails, beers and wines help lubricate the proceedings and nightly grooves will keep you strutting all night.

This distinctive microbrewery skirting Lucerne’s fabled Chapel Bridge is a must for craft beer lovers. Award-winning beer master Reinhard Knispel keeps a keen eye on the brew, producing the bright and hoppy Rathaus signature ale, as well as seasonal Christmas and March beers. Hearty accompaniments include the mammoth Ratskellertopf of slow-cooked beef shoulder with all the trimmings and Isenegger Buurebrat sausage – a local butcher’s secret recipe. That’s wurst the journey alone.

A relative newcomer to Geneva’s bar scene, Bistro 23 has been quietly gaining cult status with the city’s bar hoppers. It’s not just the prime location – perched on the River Rhône – that has tongues wagging, it’s also the list of intriguing cocktails and diverse whiskies. Star bartender Nathalie Durrieu concocts liquid works of art, such as the Lolly Pop Martini, a mix of citron-infused vodka, limoncello and bitter rhubarb, and the Nutty Old Fashioned, an elegant elixir of bourbon, pecan and walnut wine. Add a good dose of eye candy and the night is yours for the taking.

It’s a bar, but not as you know it. This award-winning hangout by Beat Caduff makes an art of ‘limited editions’. The menu changes daily based on the ingredients Beat procures at the market that morning, creating a unique culinary journey that’s always perfectly paired with the loft’s revered wine collection (last count: 2,200 bottles). In keeping with this nimble philosophy, wines available by the glass change every two weeks. Groups can take the curated wine experience further by booking the private table in The Backroom. You’ll walk in for a tipple and saunter out a connoisseur.

The best of Switzerland’s vineyards is up for the quaffing at this laid-back bar tucked away in central Vevey. More than 150 wines and 40 grape varieties (many available by the glass) are ripe for the picking, chosen personally by the resident sommelier and paired with a small menu of classic Swiss tasting plates and entrées. Local bands provide the soundtrack on selected evenings, making this a great spot for ‘wining down’ after work.