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With its location in the middle of Europe and surrounded by countries with Mediterranean influences, Zurich is a small city bursting with diversity. French bistros can be found next to Italian restaurants, Greek taverns and Spanish tapas bars in the immediate vicinity. On a warm summer's weekend, you can seemingly eat and drink yourself through every Mediterranean country here and experience the art and cuisine of the Riviera.

Photo Credit: https://www.leraymond.bar/

Saturday:

We start the morning with coffee and croissant in the Le Raymond Bar , right on Schanzengraben. Here, you can read the daily newspaper and watch the hustle and bustle towards Bahnhofstrasse, the main shopping street. Before the city center gets too crowded, we escape to Bürkliplatz , where we board a lake tour boat. We take the small lake tour to Thalwil, which takes just under an hour. The shipping company provides food on their larger boats. This means you can enjoy your first glass of Prosecco on the sun deck. In Thalwil, right on the lake, we have lunch at Portofino. A relatively new restaurant in classic Italian style with a beautiful pavilion. Here, you can find everything from Pizza Napoletana to Bistecca Fiorentina to Pasta Frutti di Mare.

Credit: https://www.portofino-am-see.ch/

Then we return to Zurich by boat. Summer afternoons can get quite hot here. So we now head to the air-conditioned Kunsthaus Zurich . While France boasts museums dedicated to individual artists, this small museum boasts everything from Renaissance to Abstract Expressionism. Stunning works by Picasso, Monet, Magritte, Renoir, Gauguin, Cézanne and many more are waiting for you. Once you've been sufficiently cultured, the newly opened Kunsthaus Bar provides refreshments.

Credit: https://www.kunsthaus.ch/

It's really hot outside now and the only thing that helps is a jump into the cool lake. The best place for this is one of the numerous lakeside beaches. The beach is the Seebad Utoquai on the left bank of the lake. You can chill in the shade of one of the numerous parasols and have a dip in the gorgeous mountain lake. If your palette is craving a refreshment, too, take a stroll along the lake until you reach Gelati am See. Their wide selection of sorbets, from classic chocolato to exotic black sesame leaves nothing to be desired.

Photo Credit: https://www.gelati1998.ch/en/am-see/

In the evening we visit one of three brasseries, which are only a few minutes' walk from each other. We choose the long-standing Brasserie Lipp , followed by a visit to the Jules Verne Bar right next to the observatory. The perfect spot to enjoy classics such as Moules et Frites or Café de Paris. If you want to get back into the Riviera mood, choose one of the Plateaux Fruits de Mer with mussels, snails and oysters.

Photo Credit: https://www.brasserie-lipp.ch/

You will stay in the newly renovated Ameron Hotel Bellerive Au Lac . The hotel is located directly on the lake promenade, directly behind the Utoquai seaside resort - a distant relative of the sophisticated Hotel Negresco in Nice on the Côte d'Azur.

Photo Credit: https://www.ameroncollection.com/ (also cover photo)

Sunday:

We use the morning to walk from the hotel to the famous Hotel Baur au Lac. We have a reservation for brunch there at 11 a.m. Brunch is a long-standing tradition in Zurich and is usually served until late in the afternoon. At Baur's, this tradition is taken to a new level. With avocado toast, eggs Benedict and countless varieties of bread, cheese and muesli, you will kick off your Sunday suitably nourished.

Photo Credit: https://www.baurs-zurich.ch/

After all this delicious food, a little walk is in order. This time we stroll along the right side of the lake, past the aviary with its exotic birds on the Mythenquai, the boat docks and rowing club, to the succulent gardens at Sukkulenten-Sammlung Zürich, which has been home to the world's most extensive collection of succulent plants since 1931. In the shop you can buy everything you need to grow your own cactus collection at home.

Photo Credit: https://www.stadt-zuerich.ch/

On the way back we stop at Samigo Amusement . A combination of outdoor restaurant, club and entertainment venue and probably the closest to one of the beach clubs in Saint Tropez or Positano. Under yellow and white striped parasols you can get everything from Caesar salad to Neapolitan pizza. If you come in August, you can end the weekend here at a Day Rooftop Party. You close your eyes for a moment after a bite of pizza and for a moment you are completely transported to the Riviera after this weekend in Zurich.