Guidebook for Basel
Food Scene
Definitively the best coffee in town! And what luck: Just around the corner.
Open only on saturdays 11am until 3 pm.
Haenowitz & Page GmbH
46 GärtnerstrasseDefinitively the best coffee in town! And what luck: Just around the corner.
Open only on saturdays 11am until 3 pm.
One of my favorite places to eat. With an alternating menu (unfortunately sometimes also quality-wise) and always reasonably priced.
Verein Stellwerk
1 Vogesenpl.One of my favorite places to eat. With an alternating menu (unfortunately sometimes also quality-wise) and always reasonably priced.
A good restaurant with changing menus and reasonable prices. If you eat there be sure to take a drink after in the adjacent bar (Fassbar) or the Sääli (little hall) upstairs.
53 locals recommend
Zum goldenen Fass
108 HammerstrasseA good restaurant with changing menus and reasonable prices. If you eat there be sure to take a drink after in the adjacent bar (Fassbar) or the Sääli (little hall) upstairs.
Small and very cosy restaurant with good local food. Be sure to make a reservation beforehand as there are only few tables. The bar downstairs is also quite good and still very authentic.
6 locals recommend
Manger & Boire
81 GerbergasseSmall and very cosy restaurant with good local food. Be sure to make a reservation beforehand as there are only few tables. The bar downstairs is also quite good and still very authentic.
In my opinion the best thai food in town with very reasonable prices. Unfortunately these facts seem to be more widely known these days, so the place is always packed – so make a reservation.
15 locals recommend
Bhf. St. Johann Thai Restaurant
2 HüningerstrasseIn my opinion the best thai food in town with very reasonable prices. Unfortunately these facts seem to be more widely known these days, so the place is always packed – so make a reservation.
In Summer, there is no better place to hang out, with a great selection of homemade ice cream and the cutest back yard of the city. They also serve good cake and sandwiches through the year.
38 locals recommend
Eiscafé Acero GmbH
2 RheingasseIn Summer, there is no better place to hang out, with a great selection of homemade ice cream and the cutest back yard of the city. They also serve good cake and sandwiches through the year.
Tiny café in a church. A very nice place to warm up in winter or to cool down in summer. Also my sister works there.
Café-Bar Elisabethen
14 ElisabethenstrasseTiny café in a church. A very nice place to warm up in winter or to cool down in summer. Also my sister works there.
I wasn’t ever there yet, but since it looks nice and is so close, I guess it has to be in my guide. I’m glad for some feedback though.
Wielandpl. 8
8 WielandplatzI wasn’t ever there yet, but since it looks nice and is so close, I guess it has to be in my guide. I’m glad for some feedback though.
Kaffebar Saint Louis
29 ElsässerstrasseA good brunch (only) on Sunday.
They serve very cheap but good lunch menus each day from Wednesday to Friday and enormous brunches on Sunday.
Turbinenhaus / Aktienmühle
46 GärtnerstrasseThey serve very cheap but good lunch menus each day from Wednesday to Friday and enormous brunches on Sunday.
A very cosy restaurant with proper fresh food. Not very close to anything really, but if you happen to be around there, be sure to pay a visit. Actually it is even worth a trip.
Platanenhof
241 KlybeckstrasseA very cosy restaurant with proper fresh food. Not very close to anything really, but if you happen to be around there, be sure to pay a visit. Actually it is even worth a trip.
Good real italian bar and restaurant (although I suspect both owners are actually Swiss). They serve very good antipasti and the best risotto of Basel! Try the beer too, it’s simple but very good.
Oetlingerstrasse 63
63 OetlingerstrasseGood real italian bar and restaurant (although I suspect both owners are actually Swiss). They serve very good antipasti and the best risotto of Basel! Try the beer too, it’s simple but very good.
This is a special restaurant. It has no “owner” but is owned by the collective working there. Good food with an “alternative” touch. And they also serve brunches on Sundays.
25 locals recommend
Hirscheneck
23 LindenbergThis is a special restaurant. It has no “owner” but is owned by the collective working there. Good food with an “alternative” touch. And they also serve brunches on Sundays.
A take-away/shop that sells homemade pasta. Definitively worth a try. They also have a real restaurant with the same name on the other side and a bit further down the river.
Santa Pasta
47 RheingasseA take-away/shop that sells homemade pasta. Definitively worth a try. They also have a real restaurant with the same name on the other side and a bit further down the river.
The restaurant for homemade pasta. They also have a take-away/shop with the same name on the other side and a bit further up the river.
Sankt Johanns-Vorstadt 13
The restaurant for homemade pasta. They also have a take-away/shop with the same name on the other side and a bit further up the river.
For every vegan visiting Basel definitively a must. The restaurant has a very special atmosphere because it is in the second floor of a former brewery.
8 locals recommend
Don Camillo
7 BurgwegFor every vegan visiting Basel definitively a must. The restaurant has a very special atmosphere because it is in the second floor of a former brewery.
Drinks & Nightlife
Simple and not to hip bar. (Adjacent to a very recommendable restaurant, see “Zum Goldenen Fass”.)
Hammerstrasse 110
110 HammerstrasseSimple and not to hip bar. (Adjacent to a very recommendable restaurant, see “Zum Goldenen Fass”.)
Haven’t been there for quite a while, but it might still be one of the best places to party. There’s not much else in Basel…
Feldbergstrasse 45
45 FeldbergstrasseHaven’t been there for quite a while, but it might still be one of the best places to party. There’s not much else in Basel…
If you want a good glass of wine and a plate of antipasti or cheese, this is the place to go. Might make a slightly posh impression at first, but the wine card is worth it, believe me.
24 locals recommend
Consum
19 RheingasseIf you want a good glass of wine and a plate of antipasti or cheese, this is the place to go. Might make a slightly posh impression at first, but the wine card is worth it, believe me.
A nice authentically Italian bar, serving good coffee, panini and cold drinks. I think they might also serve breakfast.
10 locals recommend
Bar Caffetteria Amici miei Azzarito & Co.
99 AllschwilerstrasseA nice authentically Italian bar, serving good coffee, panini and cold drinks. I think they might also serve breakfast.
If you swim in the river in summer, get out here and drink something cool. Also if you don’t swim. But then go swimming after.
They sell water proof bags too, if you want to dip in the river.
26 locals recommend
Buvette DreiRosen
Unterer RheinwegIf you swim in the river in summer, get out here and drink something cool. Also if you don’t swim. But then go swimming after.
They sell water proof bags too, if you want to dip in the river.
A nice place to drink something in summer. Always quite packed, but you can sit on the river bank, which is better anyway.
They sell food and water proof bags too (if you want to dip in the river).
21 locals recommend
Buvette Kaserne
A nice place to drink something in summer. Always quite packed, but you can sit on the river bank, which is better anyway.
They sell food and water proof bags too (if you want to dip in the river).
A nice place to drink something in summer. Always quite packed, but you can sit on the river bank, which is better anyway. They sell food and water proof bags too (if you want to dip in the river).
Unterer Rheinweg 96
96 Unterer RheinwegA nice place to drink something in summer. Always quite packed, but you can sit on the river bank, which is better anyway. They sell food and water proof bags too (if you want to dip in the river).
Sightseeing
If you’re in Basel you simply have to take the ferry (small traditional ferry boats for people only). There are four lines, all are cute and worth taking to get to the other side of the river.
15 locals recommend
Klingental
20 KlingentalIf you’re in Basel you simply have to take the ferry (small traditional ferry boats for people only). There are four lines, all are cute and worth taking to get to the other side of the river.
If you’re in Basel you simply have to take the ferry (small traditional ferry boats for people only). There are four lines, all are cute and worth taking to get to the other side of the river.
10 locals recommend
Münsterfähre
MünsterfähreIf you’re in Basel you simply have to take the ferry (small traditional ferry boats for people only). There are four lines, all are cute and worth taking to get to the other side of the river.
If you’re in Basel you simply have to take the ferry (small traditional ferry boats for people only). There are four lines, all are cute and worth taking to get to the other side of the river.
Sankt Alban-Fähre
Sankt Alban-FähreIf you’re in Basel you simply have to take the ferry (small traditional ferry boats for people only). There are four lines, all are cute and worth taking to get to the other side of the river.
If you’re in Basel you simply have to take the ferry (small traditional ferry boats for people only). There are four lines, all are cute and worth taking to get to the other side of the river.
Sankt Johanns-Fähre
Sankt Johanns-FähreIf you’re in Basel you simply have to take the ferry (small traditional ferry boats for people only). There are four lines, all are cute and worth taking to get to the other side of the river.
A good place to see the city roof tops from. Take the ferry either to get there from the other side of the river and/or after to get back there.
130 locals recommend
Basel Minster
9 Münsterpl.A good place to see the city roof tops from. Take the ferry either to get there from the other side of the river and/or after to get back there.
The bar on top of Messeturm (fair tower) isn’t my favorite place to hang out, as it is quite far in the lounge/VIP section of the spectrum, which I personally hate. But it offers a spectacular view.
9 locals recommend
Basler Messeturm
10 Messepl.The bar on top of Messeturm (fair tower) isn’t my favorite place to hang out, as it is quite far in the lounge/VIP section of the spectrum, which I personally hate. But it offers a spectacular view.
On a hot summer day, take your bikini/swimming trunks, buy yourself a waterproof bag for your clothes (see Buvette) and take a swim in the river. There’s nothing better!
10 locals recommend
Mittlere Brücke
Mittlere BrückeOn a hot summer day, take your bikini/swimming trunks, buy yourself a waterproof bag for your clothes (see Buvette) and take a swim in the river. There’s nothing better!
The natural history museum of Basel. Especially nice for kids, also grown up kids.
Naturhistorisches Museum Präparatorium & WerkstättenBasel
5 SchlüsselbergThe natural history museum of Basel. Especially nice for kids, also grown up kids.
Arts & Culture
Art Basel
10 Messepl.Not much to ask here…
Baselworld
1 Messepl.Not much to ask here…
Theater Basel
5 KlostergasseAn art house cinema, with a good program.
Entertainment & Activities
Nice green park with a pavilion in the center where you can get ice cream and cold drinks in the summer or tea and cake in the winter. Also there are several playgrounds for kids in the park.
27 locals recommend
Schützenmatt Park
1 Im SchützenmattparkNice green park with a pavilion in the center where you can get ice cream and cold drinks in the summer or tea and cake in the winter. Also there are several playgrounds for kids in the park.
Shopping
If you need a present for your kids or any kid, this is the store to go. All the bric-a-brac you can think of and carefully handmade furniture (possibly by me, as the firm I work in makes it).
Elisabethenstrasse 40
If you need a present for your kids or any kid, this is the store to go. All the bric-a-brac you can think of and carefully handmade furniture (possibly by me, as the firm I work in makes it).
Essentials
On Neuweilerplatz you’ll find two grocery stores at once. Coop and Migros (the latter does’t sell alcohol, if that’s what you want).
Neuweilerplatz
NeuweilerplatzOn Neuweilerplatz you’ll find two grocery stores at once. Coop and Migros (the latter does’t sell alcohol, if that’s what you want).
Wanderstrasse 121
121 WanderstrasseA small store which is open every day, selling all the basics.
Weiler is a traditional health food shop, for the ones who prefer organic groceries. The prices are obviously quite a bit higher than in Migros or Coop, but I think this is worth it.
Zum Kleeblatt
158 HoleestrasseWeiler is a traditional health food shop, for the ones who prefer organic groceries. The prices are obviously quite a bit higher than in Migros or Coop, but I think this is worth it.
If you desperately need wifi, this place has an open network. The coffee is good, but a bit overpriced and the atmosphere is a bit outdated. Still, open wifi.
48 locals recommend
unternehmen mitte
30 GerbergasseIf you desperately need wifi, this place has an open network. The coffee is good, but a bit overpriced and the atmosphere is a bit outdated. Still, open wifi.
One of my favorite bakeries. Neither the look nor the product range are ever changing – luckily, because both is as it should be. An all time favorite: Whisky truffles!
Spalenring 100
100 SpalenringOne of my favorite bakeries. Neither the look nor the product range are ever changing – luckily, because both is as it should be. An all time favorite: Whisky truffles!