If you've been reading this blog for awhile, you know that I'm all about busting stereotypes about travel destinations where it's supposedly difficult to be vegan. Think Italy is all about cheese? Nope, it isn't!
Think you'll starve as a vegan in Spain? I promise, you won't! Italy, Spain, Greece, Portugal – these countries are all much more vegan-friendly than your guidebook would have you believe.
I make no such claims about Switzerland, however. Having lived in Geneva for more than six years, I can say with authority that Switzerland is NOT a vegan-friendly country.
It should come as no surprise that, in a nation whose name is synonymous with cheese, the national cuisine is centered around ... cheese, meat, and more cheese.
Remove the animal products from most any Swiss dish and you'll be left with...bread or potatoes. And maybe a few onions. Heck, even the national beverage is a soft drink made out of whey.
This doesn't mean it's difficult to find vegan food in Switzerland – you can always opt for one of the many other ethnic cuisines represented in the increasingly varied culinary landscape.
Chinese, Ethiopian/Eritrean and Middle Eastern restaurants are all very common, and even many small villages will have a local pizzeria.
If you're hoping to experience Swiss culture through the national cuisine, however, you may be worried that you're going to feel left out.
I've shared my thoughts before on why vegan travellers aren't missing out, but just in case you're not convinced, here are 10 traditional Swiss foods that can be enjoyed by vegans too!
Some are already naturally vegan, while others are available in vegan versions. All are delicious!
Looking for vegan food in a particular part of Switzerland? Check out these articles on Geneva, Zurich, Graubünden and Evolène.
Table of Contents
Chocolate
You're spoiled for choice when it comes to vegan chocolate in Switzerland
Nothing says “Switzerland” like the smooth, velvety mouthfeel of a Swiss chocolate bar. It was Rodolphe Lindt who, in the 19th century, invented the conching process that creates the creamy texture for which Swiss chocolate has become world famous.
The Lindt & Sprüngli company still makes premium chocolate today, including a number of dark chocolate bars of varying intensity, and many of their bars in the 70% to 99% cacao range are vegan.
And if you prefer milk chocolate over dark, Coop (a major supermarket chain in Switzerland) sells a “lactose-free” milk chocolate that's actually made with rice milk. For more discerning palates, Migros (Coop's main competitor) offers a high-end chocolate bar made with coconut milk that is simply divine.
Brezel
The pretzels at Brezelkönig are scrumptious!
If you grew up in suburban America like me, you probably know these as the soft pretzels sold at the mall.
While Americans tend to think of pretzels (brezel in German) as the hard, baked snack food that comes in several shapes and sizes, the original brezels were actually the large, soft variety, twisted into the classic knot shape. “Pretzel sticks” is thus a bit of an oxymoron in the German-speaking world.
While brezels are sometimes made with butter, there is a well-known chain called Brezelkönig where the brezels are all vegan. Yep, even the ones with seeds on the top.
Brezelkönig can be found in many Swiss train stations, making this the perfect fuel for a train journey through the beautiful Swiss countryside.
Spéculos/Spekulatius
Traditionally a Christmas specialty, spekulatius can be enjoyed year round.
Known as spéculos in French-speaking areas and spekulatius in German, these shortcrust biscuits flavoured with cinnamon, cloves and other spices originated in Belgium but are equally popular in Switzerland and neighbouring countries.
They are traditionally eaten at Christmas time, though they are now sold year round. The cookie moulds used to bake them have been around since ancient Roman times, though the gladiatorial combat scenes and emperors' portraits have now been replaced by windmills and flower baskets.
Recipes can vary (and can change from year to year), so check the label to make sure they are vegan. At the time of writing, the ones produced by Favorina around Christmas time were (pictured), and so were the Lotus Biscoff brand that is sold throughout the year.
Lotus even makes a vegan spekulatius-flavoured spread, which I hear is now being marketed by Trader Joe's in the US as “cookie butter”.
Roasted Chestnuts
Winter weather brings hot roasted chestnuts (heisse marroni) in Switzerland
Thanks to Nat King Cole, I came to associate roasted chestnuts with winter weather and Christmas merriment long before I knew what they were. Growing up in Mobile, Alabama, I thought of chestnuts the same way I thought of snowmen – as part of the backdrop to a fairytale Christmas wonderland that I would only ever read about in storybooks.
Then I moved to Switzerland and discovered that, lo and behold, roasted chestnuts are real! As soon as the temperatures drop, stalls pop up all over town selling them by weight in paper cones.
I'll be honest, I'm not a huge fan of the taste of chestnuts, but sometimes I buy them anyway just because I love the idea of them. And the smell. I'm a sucker for the smell.
Birchermüesli
The Swiss invented overnight oats more than a century ago!
Are you a fan of overnight oats? Did you think it was a hip, new food trend invented by some busy food blogger who didn't have time to make breakfast one morning? Wrong!
The concept was first created more than 100 years ago by a Swiss doctor named Bircher-Brenner, who advocated a whole foods diet (“vollwertkost”) and promoted the revolutionary idea that fruit and vegetables were healthier than meat.
Bircher-Brenner ran a health clinic in Zurich, where he treated his patients with a combination of whole foods and exercise. The menu plan included a recipe he called birchermüesli, which consisted of oats mixed with lemon juice, fruit, nuts and, oh yeah, condensed milk or cream. Bircher-Brenner may have been ahead of his time, but he was still Swiss, after all.
While the pre-made birchermüesli served up at hotel breakfast buffets will normally be made with cow's milk or yogurt, you could ask in advance if they are willing to make a soy version for you.
If not, it's the easiest thing in the world to make on your own, and all the ingredients you'll need can be purchased at mainstream Swiss supermarkets. Even soy yogurt!
Cenovis
Brits and Aussies aren't the only ones to go nuts for yeast spread!
The Brits have their Marmite, the Aussies have their Vegemite, and the Swiss have their...Cenovis? You may never have heard of it, but this salty yeast spread is remarkably similar to the stuff spread on toast at breakfast tables in the UK and Australia.
A by-product of the beer-brewing process, Cenovis is purely plant-based and is high in vitamin B1 (thiamine). As with its cousins from the English-speaking world, less is more. If you're trying it out for the first time, don't make the mistake of slathering it on like you would strawberry jam (or cookie butter!).
The main difference between Cenovis, Marmite and Vegemite seems to be that Cenovis comes in a tube that's plastered with bucolic scenes of children frolicking in Alpine scenery and edelweiss growing the shape of a heart. Just in case you were doubting its Swissness.
Rösti
Hash browns are a real art form in Switzerland
Remember how I said that if you remove the animal products from pretty much any Swiss dish you're left with potatoes? OK, so that's basically what we've got here: grated, pan-fried potatoes. You probably know them better as “hash browns”.
Rösti can be found on the menu of just about any traditional Swiss restaurant, either as a side or as a stand-alone main dish. While animal products such as cheese or bacon are commonly thrown in, there's also a version made with apples.
And really, the kitchen staff should be able to make it with any vegetables you want, on request. Just make sure they fry the potatoes in oil instead of butter.
Dinnete
Look out for vegan Dinnete at the Basel Christmas market!
Dinnete are a baked, bread-based speciality similar to the flammkuchen of Alsace. They can be made either round like a pizza or in a more oval, elongated shape. They're best when fresh out of the oven, and they can be topped with pretty much anything.
They even come in sweet varieties with fruit toppings! It's true that the savoury varieties usually include animal products of some kind, but vegan versions are starting to pop up too. Yep, the vegan movement has made it to Switzerland!
I snagged this vegetable dinnete at the Basel Christmas market, where is was specifically advertised as vegan. Yay! It only takes a few minutes to bake them, so even if you come across a vendor that doesn't offer vegan ones, you can ask if they'll make one to order while you wait.
Kirsch
Kirsch - not to be confused with cherries!
(Photo by Gürkan Sengün, used under CC license.)
The word “kirsch” in German literally means “cherry”. Of course, cherries do grow in Switzerland, and they are most definitely vegan, but that's not what we're talking about here.
“Kirsch” can also refer to a fruit brandy made from cherries that are fermented whole (with the pits still inside). Don't mistake this for a fruity liqueur; kirsch is not sweet, and in fact the cherry pits give it a slightly bitter almond taste.
It's typically drunk on its own, without any mixers, as either an apéritif (before the meal) or a digestif (after the meal). However, it's also used by confectioners to make chocolate-covered cherries, and it even makes its way into fondue. More about that in a minute, but first, let's talk about the other famous cheese dish in Switzerland...
Raclette
It sizzles, it bubbles, it melts!
Raclette is the name of a type of cheese and also the meal based around it. While it can be ordered in typical Swiss restaurants, it's also very common for Swiss people to invite friends over to their home for a raclette dinner.
There's even a special type of grill made specifically for this purpose (affiliate link). The cheese slices are placed in little individual pans, then placed under the grill until they melt. The melted cheese is then poured on top of (you guessed it!) potatoes, and eaten with pickles and onions.
So, why am I telling you about this? Because the geniuses at Vegusto have made a vegan raclette! Vegusto is a Swiss company that makes all kinds of vegan cheeses and meats, including a cheese they call No-Moo Rac.
I'll admit, I was a bit sceptical when I saw that it comes in a tube. In its uncooked state, it looks more like a vegan sausage than a slice of raclette. But when you put it under a grill it totally melts and gets all bubbly and sizzly and stuff. It's pretty amazing! You can even see a video of the sizzling action on the Vegusto homepage.
Vegusto products can be hard to find in stores, but you can order directly from their website and have it delivered anywhere in Switzerland or in the EU.
So, next time your Swiss friends invite you over for a raclette dinner, you can bring your own No-Moo with you! Since each person at the table cooks their own individual portion anyway, you'll be participating in the festivities just like everyone else.
Vegan cheese is really gaining ground in Switzerland, and even Domino's Pizza now offers three different pizzas with vegan cheese! The vegan range is currently available at Domino's restaurants in Zurich, Winterthur, Dietikon, Basel, Bern, Neuchâtel, Lausanne and Geneva.
There's the Veganita (a Margherita with vegan cheese), the Vegan Heaven (with baby spinach, red onions, fresh tomatoes and garlic) and the Vegan Supreme (with baby spinach, mushrooms, bell peppers, fresh tomatoes and olives). You can see photos by clicking here and scrolling down to the vegan range.
Fondue
Grab an extra-long fork and dip in - it's vegan fondue time!
Fondue is THE typical Swiss meal, so it should come as no surprise that it consists of nothing but animal products (melted cheese) and a starchy food (chunks of bread).
The veggies commonly used as dippers in fondue restaurants abroad are unheard of in Switzerland. If you're worried about missing out on this Swiss cultural experience as a vegan, here are a few things you should know.
First of all, Swiss people only eat fondue in winter, so anyone who orders it outside the appropriate season is scoffed at as a silly tourist. If you're visiting in summer and you want to do as the locals do, you can start by NOT ordering the fondue.
Second of all, you can buy vegan fondue! That's right, it's Vegusto to the rescue again – this time with a cheese they call the “No-Moo Due”. All you have to do is throw it into a fondue pot or, failing that, a microwave, heat it until it melts, and you're all set.
Vegusto cheese is amazing! I was over there 2 years in a row & made the trip to the small town where it’s made and bought a year’s supply each time. I hoard it like gold. No one who’s not vegan gets any (they have their own cheeses to eat). When we were there in 2013, no one in the town seemed to know where they were. It’s a small building and easily missed. Definitely worth a detour if you’re in Zurich or within a few hours!
That’s awesome that you went there Cara! I might try to seek it out the next time I’m in that area.
If you live in Geneva or near it, you can buy the Vegusto fondue or raclette and other vegan cheeses on my vegan food stall at the Sunday market of Plainpalais. But as I’m not there every Sunday, please check on facebook “vegan à Genève et région” Saturday evening between 20.30 and 21.00h to see if I’ll be there or not.
I agree with you, the Vegusto owners are amazing people. They really changed the lives of vegan cheese lovers!
Yes, I highly recommend stopping by Ursula’s stall, whether it’s to buy Vegusto cheese or to taste some of the delicious vegan food she makes herself!
Wendy! What a fun post!
I NEED to have those brezels (loved those soft pretzels at the mall so much… guilty!) and especially that rosti! It reminds me of a potato latke which is one of my favorite things. I love vegusto too but I have never ever bought the tube because like you I’m always skeptical! Ha ha! But their blocks are so good that I think I’ll try this one too. Thank you for the fondue recipe in the newsletter!! 🙂
Hi Kim!
I agree, brezels are definitely a guilty pleasure. It’s funny that you commented just now, because I just finished signing up for my Brownble membership! So cool that we were thinking about each other at the same time 🙂
Ohh…so rosti is Swiss! I’ve had rosti many times at Terre a Terre (a vegetarian restaurant in Brighton, England) and I’ve always wondered where the word came from. Terre a Terre are forever writing complicated and somewhat unreadable menu descriptions so I always thought maybe they just made up the word ‘rosti’!
Hi Caitlin,
Yep, rösti is definitely Swiss! It’s most common in the German-speaking parts of Switzerland. In fact, “röstigraben”, which means “the rösti ditch”, is a funny term used to refer to the language and cultural barriers between the German-speaking and French-speaking parts of the country.
Hi! I’m a Swiss vegan and I really enjoyed reading your article! I even learned some stuff, how great is that? I had no idea those chocolate brands had vegan options, and heaven knows I’ve checked the ingredients of quite a lot of chocolates, but I got tired and finally I sticked with the vegan labelled chocolate! But thanks to you I’m definitely gonna try those too now! 🙂 I had never heard of Dinette before — I know, shame on me! –, that’s definitely something I wanna try! I wonder if they make these in Geneva… I didn’t even know Cenovis was vegan, what kind of Swiss am I? Hahah, I remember that I never really liked it when I was younger, but now I know it’s vegan I might wanna gonna give it another shot! 🙂 I haven’t tried the No Moo Rac or the No Moo Due yet, but thanks to you I have definitely made up my mind, and I’m ordering it right now! I read you’ve been living in Geneva for 5 years, but where are you from? Thanks for that article, really, it was a real pleasure reading it! I love the tone you’ve used 😛 Have a nice vegan Christmas 🙂
Hi Clem, it’s great to meet you! I’m so glad you found the post interesting and informative. As for the chocolate, I believe the Torino and Rosemarie bars are special kosher ones that are only produced around the time of Passover, so it’s a good idea to stock up then! Notice the word “parve” on the Rosemarie, which means that it doesn’t contain any dairy (or meat) as per Jewish dietary laws. There are a few vegan Migros Sélection bars that are available year round, though, in addition to the 100% cacao bar that you see in the photo. I love the 100% myself, but it’s pretty intense! There’s also a coconut milk bar, and another one whose name I forget.
I’m originally from the US, but I left there many years ago and have been travelling the world ever since. It’s now been more than six years that I’ve been in Geneva, and I’ll actually be moving on very soon. My husband and I are moving our home base to Lisbon, Portugal next month. Merry Vegan Christmas to you too!
Super article. Cheese is generally made of out of milk & its derivatives. SO what is the base for vegan cheese?
We eat light cheese & cannot take too much smell. Which cheese do you recommend for us? We are not vegans but we are vegetarians (no meat, no fish, no chicken,no eggs but milk products are ok for us)
Hi Sunil,
Good question, thanks for asking! Vegan cheese can be made from a number of different ingredients. In my opinion, the best ones are artisanal cheeses made from nuts. Cashews work particularly well for this, and it’s even possible to make them yourself at home. For recipes, check out Artisan Vegan Cheese by Miyoko Schinner or The Non-Dairy Evolution Cookbook by Skye Michael Conroy. As for purchasing ready-made cheeses, the available brands will change depending on where you live. For a description of some of the most popular vegan cheese brands in the US, see this article. And for vegan cheeses in the UK and elsewhere in Europe, see this one.
Is there a beer for vegans?
There are many beers that are vegan, though not all of them are, as some are filtered with egg whites, seashells, isinglass (the swim bladder of a fish) or other animal products. For example, Guinness used to be filtered with isinglass, but in response to demand they have now changed their process so that Guinness is vegan. Barnivore has a large database that shows which beers and wines are vegan: http://www.barnivore.com/
Thank you so so much for this post .Spot on, solid info and great advice for me (vegan expat in Lausanne). I’ll bring raclette to the raclette now!
Yay! I’m so glad it’s helpful, John. And yes, you don’t have to miss out on all the cheese-filled social events in Switzerland. You can bring your own!
Hi Wendy, thanks for the great article. Note that not all Lindt & Sprüngli chocolate over 70% cocoa is vegan. I bought a Lindt 70% extra noir / extra dunkel chocolate bar in Switzerland and I see that the ingredients list contains butterreinfett (butterfat) and vollmilchpulver (whole milk powder).
Hi Brian,
I’m sorry to hear this, thanks so much for pointing it out! I have just changed the wording of the relevant part of the article so readers won’t be misled.
I know this article is old, but people will still come across it I think. Well, ad least I did! 🙂
Much has changed in the last 10 years in Switzerland. The vegan isles in the common supermarkets are growing month by month. The countryside is still not vegan-friendly (many places outside of the big cities offer nothing but ‘green side-order salad’ and fries for les végétaliens…)
Getting better though!
Thanks for the update! Yes, I’m sure the situation has improved greatly for vegans in Switzerland, at least in the larger towns and cities. I think the concept of this article remains valid, though, which is to point out the few vegan-friendly foods/dishes that are part of traditional Swiss cuisine.
I’m glad I found this article. Last time I visited, 10 years ago, I wasn’t vegan. This is so helpful, thank you.
I’m really glad it’s helpful for you, Cindy! I think you’ll find that Switzerland has become a lot more vegan-friendly in the past 10 years. The supermarkets especially have quite a few options now.