With the largest vegetarian population in the world, India is the obvious answer when it comes to the oldest vegetarian restaurant in the world. However, that is not really true. World’s oldest vegetarian restaurant is in Zurich, Switzerland. Haus Hiltl, the oldest vegetarian restaurant, is also a Guinness Book record holder for catering vegetarian cuisine. It was established in 1898 and has been successfully running for over a century now.
Hiltl Is The Oldest Vegetarian Restaurant In The World
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The history of this restaurant is quite interesting and starts with a man in Bavaria, Ambrosius Hilt, suffering from arthritis. In 1890, he came across the fact that his unbearable pain could be lessened by giving up meat in his diet and adopting a completely vegetarian diet.
Vegetarian meal was an alien concept in European countries, especially in restaurants. However, there was one cafe in Zurich, Abstinence, that served a few vegetarian dishes. Ambrosius Hilt bought the restaurant in 1898, after moving to Zurich, and turned it into a full-fledged vegetarian restaurant, known today as Hiltl.
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Restaurant With An Extensive Vegetarian Menu
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Over the century, the Hiltl family worked towards making this vegetarian restaurant a success and keeping its spirit alive. The owners even travelled to India to an in-depth understanding of vegetarian cuisine and lifestyle. The research turned out to be so successful that today, the restaurant serves a North Indian Thali with impeccable taste. Their spice palette has ‘Garam Masala’ on it and that definitely says a lot about their attempt at achieving perfection.
The family’s determination to stay ahead of their game and adopt the changes as time changed helped this restaurant to stay relevant, sought-after and ultimately become the oldest vegetarian restaurant in the world.
This is a heritage restaurant that has modernised with time and needs and has become a part of Zurich’s tourism.
Whenever in Switzerland, don’t forget to try their Rajma Chawal!
Cover Image Courtesy: Instagram/Hiltl