Acqua

One of Basel’s trendiest nightspots, this lounge bar and Italian restaurant makes the most of its setting in a renovated waterworks. The decor retains elements of its industrial past – steel grey walls, exposed pipes and brickwork – whilst being firmly contemporary at the same time. The low-lit main dining room, with its chandeliers and candles, will make anyone look good, while in summer the outdoor terrace is an inviting place to sit for lunch. The Osteria’s menu is split into three themes – for meat-lovers, fish fans and vegetarians – and includes classics such as wild ragu pasta and daily changing risottos, as well as larger mains. If you're here to drink rather than eat, visit the bar for a grappa by the fireplace or a cocktail and a spot of late-night dancing to its regular line-up of DJs.