Die Bank Restaurant & Café at Helvetiaplatz

Swiss banks can also be different. It's not about money but rather about culinary enjoyment at the restaurant Die Bank on Helvetiaplatz in Kreis 4. Although the large golden letters of the former bank are still set into the brickwork at the entrance, a thick black bar in the logo makes it clear that bankers no longer work here.

The restaurant, which doubles as a cool café bar, offers Mediterranean dishes with oriental influences, speciality coffees and signature cocktails. Bread and pastries come from the wonderful John Baker bakery right next door. When the weather is nice, sit outside and watch the lively hustle and bustle of Helvetiaplatz. The interior is furnished with an open kitchen in industrial chic. So you always have an eye on what's about to be served.

Breakfast, for example, can be chosen from a rich menu: the classic Bircher muesli, smoked salmon and eggs, or hummus, avocado and oriental beef chilli. This variety of delicacies can lead to a brunch with a very long dwell time at the weekend. At lunchtime, an Easy Lunch is offered with salads and meat dishes as well as finger food, burgers and deliciously filled pita bread.

1 | 3

Eating together at Die Bank is even more fun in the evening, sharing dishes like Tuna Tartar and roasted cauliflower, almonds and pomegranate seeds or Baked Sweet Potatoes. But, of course, signature dishes such as homemade burgers, vegetable-filled pita bread or sound fulls like chicken and lamb don't make the choice any easier.

The various add-ons, such as lima bean hummus or a feta cream with roasted pepperoni salsa, are a real highlight. With homemade chocolate cake, fruit tartlets or knafeh - kadaifi pastry filled with ricotta cream, pistachios, thyme and coconut glacé - Die Bank also has a lot to offer for dessert.

Maria Meiners

Autorin Zürich