Sprüngli is a Zürich institution, selling chocolate, pastries, cakes, as well as sandwiches and other savory delights. The main location at Paradeplatz has a traditional café above the shop, with a cozy interior and lots of windows looking over the busy Paradeplatz.

Since they are a chocolate shop, they use their high quality chocolate for their drinks as well. We always order their house-made 70% dark chocolate with whipped cream, which is usually served on the side so you can spoon it in gradually.

Instead of a croissant, we prefer the truffle brioche, with a chocolate truffle baked inside the bread. But go early, as they can sell out quickly. We also can’t resist their very rich Bircher Müesli, often with seasonal berries.

Best to make a reservation, especially on weekends, essential if you are more than 4. If you like the hot chocolate, they sell it as a shaved chocolate mix in their shop downstairs.

What to drink: 70% Grand Cru house-made hot chocolate with cream or Chocolate Dalgona with hazelnut crunch and grand cru chocolate foam

What to eat: Truffe Brioche, seasonal Bircher Müesli

Website: www.spruengli.ch

Address: Bahnhofstrasse 21, 8001 Zürich

Confiserie Bachmann is a bakery and chocolate producer from Lucerne, well known in Switzerland but not internationally. Their shop on the Bahnhofstrasse has a bakery down stairs and a chocolate shop upstairs. 

Location: Bahnhofstrasse 89, 8001 Zürich

Open: Mon - Fri 6:45 - 20:00 / Sat 7:00 - 20:00 / Sun 10:00 - 18:00

Website: www.confiserie.ch

Their bakery has lots of very tasty treats. We particularly like their apple strudel pastry . They also sell our favorite Butterzopf bread, which is traditional for Sundays in Switzerland. They also have sandwiches and other snacky items, good for a picnic.

The chocolate shop is known for its chocolate river staircase and chocolate waterfall wall upstairs. They say the wall has 2000 liters of liquid chocolate. I don't know if that's true, but it makes for a good story.

Bachmann is known for their Schutzengeli (aka guardian angel) chocolate truffles, served on little golden wings. Part of the proceeds from this chocolate go to a charity. Of their many flavors, I enjoyed cinnamon and dark chocolate, which were good if a bit sweet for my taste. You can buy prepacked boxes or they can pack you a custom box as you choose the flavors you want.

The upstairs chocolate shop shares a space with Lindt, where you can get many of the Lindt products. But that part is not so special; better to visit the nearby Lindt chocolate factory instead.

MOON is a vegan bakery with absolutely delicious pastries and cakes. We love their cardamon buns and seasonal creme buns.

They also sell Kürzi Kakao chocolate, which is a small batch "bean to bar" chocolate maker in Zurich.

Location: Bertastrasse 4, 8003 Zürich

Open: Wed - Sat 9:00-19:00 / Sun 9:00 - 16:00 / closed Mon & Tues

Website: www.moonshop.ch • instagram