Budget
Lily's Stomach Supply
Claraplatz. (http://www.lilys.ch/index...) "pan-asian" bench table type restaurant think wagamama if you know it, but with more than just noodles. inexpensive, good asian food, though it can be a bit crammed and a bit smoky. outside terrace in summer. no reservations needed, and they do takeaway as well.
Marktplatz
And barfã¼sserplatz. usually you can find some street vendors in these areas selling pretzels, sandwiches, pizzas, and sometimes crãªpes, for around 3-5 chf each. on many days in marktplatz you can buy a variety of tasty sausages wurst hot off the grill from the yellow cart of the eiche butcher for less than 6 chf each. these are served with a piece of bread and a condiment, and there are usually stands nearby where you can eat. during herbstmesse see to do, other events, there are significantly more wurst and other fast food carts and booths in various locations where the fair takes place.
Mister Wong
Good asian food, as cheap as 7-8 chf to around 16 chf for a meal, situated at the steinenvorstadt near barfã¼sserplatz and at the centralbahnplatz by sbb station. many vegetarian options. self-service.
McDonald's
Central basel has several locations, and the ones in the greifengasse between rhine and claraplatz and barfã¼sserplatz are open until early in the morning. be prepared for sticker shock, though, as a combo meal costs well over 10 chf. americans may be amused by the walk-up window in claraplatz.
Hirscheneck
Lindenberg 23. (http://www.hirscheneck.ch/) traditional left-wing / punk-run restaurant. you get a relatively cheap square meal. always serves vegetarian and vegan food too. breakfast on sundays until 16.00.
Brötli-Bar
The Brötli-Bar at the Stadthof Hotel, Barfüsserplatz, has a large selection of open sandwiches "Brötli" to the Swiss.
Mensa Universität Basel
At bernoullistrasse 14. one of the students cafeterias. serves an inexpensive lunch menu not only to students from monday to friday. by no means 'gourmet' food, but you can eat your lunch on the terrace during warm weather.
Coop Pronto
If you are looking for a snack, the Coop Pronto convenience stores usually have fresh baked breads and pastries, and sometimes heartier pastries filled with meat and some packaged sandwiches. As can be expected, drinks are much cheaper at grocery stores than at cafés or restaurants.
bakeries and confiseries
Many of the excellent bakeries and confiseries in town sell petite sandwiches that you can take away, and usually you can get some kind of small snack at any street café.
department stores
Some of the large department stores in the city center, Coop City, Pfauen, Migros and Manor, have self-service restaurants/cafeterias on the top floor. While they are not particularly cheap, they serve good food that is a reasonably priced alternative to a full-service restaurant. Note that salad bars often sell food by plate, not by weight.
Migros Gourmet
In bahnhof sbb, the swiss train station, a store of the largest grocery store chain in switzerland, provides sandwiches, tarts, fresh-baked bread, pizza, dã¶ner kebab, etc. at very reasonable prices, perfect for picnic lunches on outings. similar: the coop shop opposite the station centralbahnstrasse. unlike all other grocery stores in the city, both are open late at night and on sundays.
Food in Switzerland is generally more expensive than other countries in Europe, and those on a budget should consider preparing their own food from the grocery store closed in the evenings, or taking a trip up to nearby France or Germany.
Midrange
Restaurant Zum Braunen Mutz
Barfã¼sserplatz 10, +41 61 261 33 69, city center. great local food such as bratwurst with rosti around 20chf served in a traditional beer hall setting. a perfect place to eat, drink and meet the locals in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. also ideally placed during fasnacht, frequently visited by itinerant guggi bands.
Bodega zum Strauss
Barfã¼sserplatz 16, +41 61 261 22 72, city center. italian and spanish dishes in a noisy but friendly atmosphere on the ground floor. artsy, and favored by creative types from the local advertising scene, and by certain basel 'originals' a moniker for which some of the waiters qualify as well. slightly more elegant reservation recommended on the upper floor.
Alter Zoll
Elsã¤sserstrasse 127, tram no. 11 to hã¼ningerstrasse, +41 61 322 46 26, (http://www.alterzoll.ch/i...). serves excellent, homemade food for moderate prices lunch chf 17.50, dinner chf 20-30. calm atmosphere to relax, no bells and whistles.
Zum Goldenen Fass
Hammerstrasse 108, in kleinbasel, +41 61 693 3400. one of basel's most venerable "alternative" restaurants. originally a spin off of the more anarchist-minded hirscheneck see budget, this is a somewhat more upmarket restaurant, but it still retains a certain laid back flair. food is excellent, and for a an after dinner drink you can head to the fassbar next door and fraternize with local hipsters over a few rounds of pinball.
Osteria Donati
Feldbergstrasse 1, +41 61 692 33 46, at the kleinbasel end of johanniter bridge, tram 11 to johanniterbrã¼cke or bus no. 33 to erasmusplatz, (http://www.osteriadonati.ch/). not to be confused with the "famous" chez donati to which it has no relation, but see splurge at the other end of the bridge, this charming family-run operation offers excellent italian dining from the emiglia-romania region in a less high-powered and far less pricey but still beautiful atmosphere. has outdoor balcony seating with views of the rhine. next door is a very good wine and italian groceries shop.
Restaurant Erlkönig
Erlenstrasse 21, +41 61 683 33 22, tram no. 14 to musicaltheater. organic food, heavy on old-fashioned meat dishes, at reasonable prices in a trendy setting. even further in kleinbasel, near the german railway station badischer bahnhof and the messe basel basel fair, hidden away in a former industrial area - the areal (http://www.areal.org)., which also features other watering holes and a night club to dance away the calories.
Blindekuh
Dornacherstrasse 192, 15 minute walk from the train station, phone 061 336 33 00 (http://www.blindekuh.ch/e...) a trend spreading world wide, diners eat in copmpletely in the dark. with a group of professional and blind wait staff, the purpose of this experience is to allow the darkness to sharpen your senses to touch, taste and sound. truly one of a kind.
Nooch
Gerberstrasse 73, near barfã¼sser platz (http://www.nooch.ch). fairly recently opened, this restaurant has a range of asian dishes to suit most tastes. exceedingly quick cooking times: during quiet periods your meal may arrive in five minutes! everything is freshly made with healthy ingredients and you can have dishes made hotter or milder to taste. good range of vegetarian options, as most dishes can be made with tofu.
Many of the restaurants in the historical part of Basel near Marktplatz are generally of good quality, these include the easily located Löwenzorn (http://www.loewenzorn-bas...) "lion's fury", Gifthüttli (http://www.gifti.ch/en/) "poison cabin", and Hasenburg "hare's castle", all of which serve traditional Swiss dishes in a rustic environment - don't be scared by the names, no one gets devoured by wild animals or poisoned.... These places are always packed during Fasnacht. In addition, here is a list of places, not necessarily in the old town but still worth a visit:
Restaurant Birseckerhof
Binningerstrasse 15, +41 61 281 50 10, close to city center, tram 6 to heuwaage, (http://www.birseckerhof.c...). edging on the more expensive end of "moderate" priced eating. daily changing menu of creative italian influenced food, with great desserts try the schoggi mousse if it's on! and a good wine list. can be noisy, service isn't necesarily fast, but it's a great way to wile a few hours away with friends.
Top end
Restaurant Kunsthalle
+41 61 272 42 33, steinenberg 7, (http://www.restaurant-kun...). a basel classic, divided in a casual beer hall type of place - the "brown" or schluuch shlookh = tube section, serving more rustic fare but don't expect it to be cheap, and a a more elegant dining hall - the "white" section - for which a reservation is necessary. features basel's finest beergarden in the summertime, which some winters doubles up as a romantic ice-rink. at the far end of the garden is the campari bar, an italian style bar, where basel's cool and wannabe-cool like to hang out.
Café Spitz
Rheingasse 2, overlooking the rhine just across mittlere brã¼cke in kleinbasel, +41 61 685 11 11, (http://www.hotel-merian.ch/). not simply a cafã© - excellent seafood, with a nice terrace overlooking the rhine. in the summer, there is a special menu with a variety of grilled fish to choose from. the outdoor seating area overlooking the rhine has a reduced and less expensive menu.
Chez Donati
St. johannsvorstadt 48, at johanniterbrã¼cke, +41 61 322 09 19,. reservation necessary. arguably one of basel's classiest and most beautiful restaurants, with a beautiful colletion of modern art adorning the walls - some of it by former patrons it used to be andy warhol's favorite hangout when he came to visit artbasel. if you are lucky you might even get a table with view on the rhine. heavy but exquisite northern italian fare, particularly an outstanding osso bucco braised veal knuckles.
Restaurant Stucki Bruderholz
Bruderholzallee 42, +41 61 361 82 22, (http://www.stucki-bruderh...). reservation necessary. among the finest restaurants in basel - and indeed switzerland - is this gem situated in an old manor serving classic french cuisine. for lovers of fine food, it is well worth venturing just outside the city center to dine here 10 minute taxi ride. the restaurant has been awarded 18 gault-millau points and one michelin star. it is also listed in the popular book 1000 places to see before you die. - say no more.
Basel has a thriving restaurant and café see below Cafés culture, and the streets of the old town are lined with outdoor seating in the summer.
Not all restaurants in Basel accept credit cards though an increasing number do. If in doubt check first.
As in most of Europe, tipping is not a requirement. It is common but not universal, to round up to the nearest 10 or 20 Franks, for example by refusing the change from a note.
An exhaustive list of eateries is at the Basel Hotel restaurant and Bar Guide (http://www.basel-restaura...).