Pavillion at Baur au Lac is one of the most elegant fine dining restaurants in Zurich. With 2-Michelin stars, 18 Gault & Millau points, and a bright, dramatic dining room, this restaurant is a must-visit in Switzerland. The food is contemporary and seasonal, and the wine pairings are exquisite. Pavillion is also the kitchen where Daniel Humm honed his culinary skills before starting Eleven Madison Park.
Chef Laurent Eperon created a seven-course Artful Vibes menu inspired by the Gerhard Richter Landscapes exhibit at Zurich’s Kunsthaus. Each dish is a piece of art in itself and with courses representing Park, Lake, and Clouds, creates a landscape in itself. Head Sommelier Marc Almert, named ASI Best Sommelier of the World in 2019, paired each course with wines sold by Baur au Lac’s famed wine shop.
Our dinner began with an aperitivo of canapes served with glasses of André Clouet brut Rosé. Always an excellent way to start a meal.
The courses with spring vegetables were some of the most beautiful dishes we’ve seen. They just exude spring and were works of art on a plate — almost too pretty to eat. One of our favorite dishes was the John Dory, served in rich beurre blanc with chives and caviar. It was an indulgent course that we probably shouldn’t have finished, but it was just so good. We loved the pairing of 2005 Syrah from Domaine le Grand Clos with the “Cloud” pigeon course. Finally, the finale of “Sun” featured a delicate, crisp honeycomb made with honey from the Baur au Lac garden.
We finished dinner with a digestive from the hotel’s spectacular vintage Christofle bar cart filled with scotch, calvados, and aged rum. It was an experience we will always remember and would recommend for a special occasion.
Pavillon, Glärnischstrasse 18, 8002 Zürich
Note: Baur au Lac and the Swiss Tourism Board provided support for the reporting of this story.
