Words & Pictures by Shaun Troke
My (own personal) mission, while in the city of Basel, was to try two cultural dishes: Fondue and Raclette…
Did I succeed in my mission?
No.
And, there’s two reasons why:
- Both Raclette and Fondue are extremely expensive
- Eating a Fondue on your own is less fun
Switzerland is a country renowned for being high in price. It’s not somewhere you can eat well on a low budget of £21/€23 a day (this budget alone will most likely only fund ONE of your meals throughout your day)…
However, this doesn’t mean you have to struggle to eat on £21/€23 a day.
FROM LOW TO HIGH
Coop Supermarkt:
These can be found all over Basel, and they truly saved me from hunger!
Good priced food & snacks, cakes, hot pastries, fresh fruit…and, they’ve also a help-yourself buffet…
Coop has everything!
TIP: Look for the reduced section inside the supermarket! Here you’ll find food that is half price OR highly reduced in price. One time, I found a huge tray of sushi for only £5.00/€5.60!
Coffee Shops
A little bit higher in price than Coop, you’ll find many well-known franchise stores – from Dunkin’ Donuts to Hitzberger to Tchibo – around the city, offering ‘meal deals’ combining a coffee & pastry/snack.
TIP: If you dine-in with your coffee, you may receive a complimentary mini-chocolate with your drink!
McDonald’s
The one place I thought would be a easy on the wallet truly wasn’t! Though, it’s not really a ‘restaurant’ famous for its Swiss cuisine, they do offer a McRaclette Burger, which is just a larger cheeseburger with a really nice sauce.
TIP: The McRaclette Burger meal is expensive (£12.00/€13.50!), so you may want to settle for a cheaper £8/€9 Double McBacon meal!
Consum
A cosy wine bar that caught my attention when I needed to use their toilet!
The toilet aside, Consum is a lovely environment to eat in, and extremely peaceful, too.
The food is traditional & delicious (the first time I’ve ever tried pumpkin & brie together!)…
Though, a £14/€16 sandwich & coffee may slightly exceed your budget.
Consum is definitely a quaint little venue to visit, if you’re looking to escape those corporate companies listed above!
Bar Rouge
Though it’s a pricey venue, it’s worth keeping in mind that Bar Rouge will also give you panoramic views over the city. At 105 metres high, I feel this extra expense is worth it for those views!
The interior of Bar Rouge is also impressive, as are the food portions…and, the experience, I felt, was worth every penny: Drinking a cocktail and eating potato wedges, while savouring the best views over Basel.
TIP: The cost of food & drinks up here will use up your daily budget of £21/€23 a day!
COMING OUT ON TOP(?)
Overall, you WILL need a hefty budget to have a good time in Basel.
It’s a beautiful city to enjoy, yet sometimes, if you’re struggling to eat well, this can take the fun out of it…
But, if you’re happy to survive on supermarket food, well-known food chain beverages, and McDonald’s, you’ll find that you CAN do Basel on a daily budget of £21-£25!
You can find out more about Basel in our series GOING SOLO, available to watch here on YouTube!