Vallocaia — Restaurant in Zurich

Review of Vallocaia Restaurant – Niederdorf, Zürich

We live in Zürich and have visited Vallocaia many times over the years. Unfortunately, after our most recent visit, we will never return.

The evening began with an unpleasant encounter with an arrogant, impatient waiter. When he came to take our order, we were still finding the page in the menu. Rather than waiting the 15 seconds it would have taken, he simply turned and walked away without a word. I have never experienced such dismissive behaviour from waiting staff.

I immediately got up and spoke to the head waiter, pointed out the server, and explained what had just happened. His reaction? Complete indifference. No apology. No effort to resolve the situation. This was despite the fact that we already had an open bottle of water on the table and were ready to order both our meals and a bottle of wine.

To confirm what happened, I even asked a lady seated at the table next to ours whether she had witnessed the incident, she agreed she had. Still, the head waiter showed no concern whatsoever.

This experience perfectly illustrates the kind of incompetent and rude service that can be found in some Zürich restaurants. They seem to care little for returning customers, relying instead on a steady stream of unsuspecting tourists who will tolerate overpriced food and poor service.

My advice: avoid Vallocaia. There are far better places in Zürich where your business, and basic courtesy, will be...

The atmosphere of this restaurant is very Italian and the outside seating results in being able to hear the church bells nearby and creates a very authentic feeling environment for being in part of the old city.

The food was good and the restaurant was able to accommodate using oil instead of butter in my food to avoid lactose. Getting a gluten-free dish was relatively easy and my fish tasted great.

Our server was very busy as it looked like he had the entire outside area we sat in (and maybe more tables inside) so I do think that perhaps he should've had additional help. A very American complaint, but I was not given water until the end of my meal (even though I asked earlier) and even though I said still/tap water is fine, was brought a glass bottle of water that cost extra on top of the wine I paid for.

I understand Zurich has expensive overhead costs to maintain a business, especially as the city economy recovers from pandemic stress over prior years, but my recommendations would be to:

Give guests tap water as a starting point (especially if catering to international visitors who mostly walked to the location). Increase the amount of servers helping outside to give the guy we had a break from running about catering to everyone. Continue with current food menu. I have no complaints about the meal itself and appreciated being able to get a non-pasta dish at an Italian restaurant with perfectly...

While most restaurants in Zurich close after 2pm, Vallocaia is a true lifesaver for hungry travelers. On a scorching August afternoon (August 13, 2025, with temperatures soaring to 95°F!), we were fortunate to find this charming spot still open -- and what a find it was.

Look out for Giuseppe -- the heart and soul of the restaurant. On this particularly hot day, he was a one-man show, handling the front of house with calm, kindness, and incredible efficiency. His warm hospitality made us feel instantly welcome, and his dedication truly stood out.

The food was delicious -- thoughtfully prepared and beautifully presented -- a testament to the passion behind the scenes. From the first bite to the last, everything hit the spot.

Another big plus: the location. Vallocaia is centrally located, just a short walk from Zurich's key landmarks, making it the perfect stop for a late lunch or early dinner while exploring the city.

Thank you, Giuseppe and Vallocaia, for staying open and understanding the needs of international travelers. In a city where lunch hours can be rigid, your flexibility and warmth made all the difference.

Highly recommended!

Off note:

By far the best bathroom in Zurich! Clean and equipped with a washcloth - not only environmentally friendly, but also perfect to cool off in the...