History of Hiltl

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The vegetarian restaurant shortly after its opening in 1898. © Hiltl

Zurich's Sihlstrasse with the restaurant (left), early 1900s. © Hiltl

"Non-alcoholic drinks": a century ago abstention from meat often went hand in hand with abstention from alcohol. © Hiltl

Ambrosius and Martha Hiltl ran the restaurant until the end of the 1930s. © Hiltl

Advertisement from 1913. © Hiltl

The restaurant interior in 1931. © Hiltl

"Eat better - drink a good cup of coffee": advertisement from 1921. © Hiltl

Advertisement from 1933: The restaurant was not much affected by the crisis years of the 1930s and 40s when there was a general shortage of meat in Switzerland. © Hiltl

Interior, 1948. © Hiltl

The second generation: Leonhard and Margrith Rubli. © Hiltl

The fourth generation: Rolf Hiltl has run the restaurant since 1998. Keystone

The restaurant has built up a far greater range over the past few decades. The menu now includes vegetarian dishes from a number of countries. Keystone

Every day some 1500 people come to the Hiltl restaurant, which now includes a bar, a lounge, a discotheque and courses in vegetarian cookery. Keystone

At the celebrations marking its 111th birthday the guests included the then mayor of Zurich, Elmar Ledergerber. Keystone

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The historic vegetarian restaurant in Zurich from its beginnings until today.

The Haus Hiltl, which opened in 1898 is Europe’s oldest vegetarian restaurant. It is still one of the most popular eating places in the ctiy, and is mentioned in every guide book. (Fotos: Hiltl)