Restaurant Oepfelchammer

Dating from 1801, and once the haunt of Zürich's beloved writer Gottfried Keller, this lively restaurant serves traditional meat dishes—Geschnetzeltes Kalbfleisch—lightened up with fresh seasonal vegetables and a champagne sauce. One section is a dark and heavily graffitied wine bar, with sagging timbers and slanting floors; there are also two welcoming little dining rooms with coffered ceilings and plenty of carved oak and damask—choose the cozy, charming Gaststube (not the more staid Stübli). It's always packed, and service can be slow, so stake out a table and plan to spend the evening.

If you’re looking for history, you’ll find it in spades at Restaurant Oepfelchammer, whose first-floor wine tavern—the oldest in Zürich, once the haunt of local poet Gottfried Keller—dates back to the 14th century. Imbibers come for the drinks, of course, but also to take the infamous “beam challenge,” which involves climbing over two suspended wooden ceiling beams and drinking a glass of wine while hanging upside down.

Strange and cool would probably make for a weird combination but those two words exactly describe Oepfelchammer. It has been in existence for two centuries – 212 years to be exact. Those years of serving good wines – mostly local – came to entail quirky traditions among other strange sort of practices such as hanging upside down to write a memento on the wall.

Opened in 1802, Oepfelchammer is Zurich’s oldest remaining wine tavern. Go to enjoy traditional Swiss fare like geschnetzeltes kalbfleisch (sliced veal) and also (if you can find the space) to etch your name on its ancient wooden walls. An Oepfelchammer tradition is to give any guest able to successfully climb the ceiling’s wooden beams a free glass of wine.

(Rindermarkt 12, Zurich) Oepfelchammer is best known for its tavern on the first floor. A special challenge awaits you there: Climb over two ceiling beams and drink a free glass of wine while hanging upside down. If you do, you will be allowed to have your name carved into the wooden walls.

Oepfelchammer is a nice pub, which is famous for its association with the city’s literary son, Gottfried Keller. Located in the heart of the Old Town, this is the oldest, originally preserved pub in Zürich and where typical Swiss cuisine and high-quality wine can be enjoyed.

Stammgäste begrüssen Oepfelchammer-Geschäftsführer Thomas Trautweiler oftmals mit: «Wir wissen noch nicht, was wir essen werden. Aber zum Dessert kannst du die Höngger Öpfelringli bestellen!. » Die typische Schweizer Nachspeise gehört zur Niederdorfinstitution.

No student in Zurich has managed to get around the Oepfelchammer. The legendary pub in Zurich's old town was already the regular pub of Gottfried Keller himself. Here, the atmosphere is uncomplicated, hearty and honest.