Gifthüttli: Basel's tavern for cordon bleu
The tavern on Schneidergasse, built in 1913 in Swiss style, is the place for cordon bleu in every variation, schnitzel and spätzli, open daily from the morning.
Photo: Nathalie, via Google Maps
Our verdict
The Gifthüttli is the tavern you go to for a cordon bleu. The menu offers it in many variations, alongside Wiener schnitzel, veal cordon bleu and spätzli.
The panelled dining room is cosy, a classic Basel "Beiz" in the middle of the Old Town.
Where does the name come from?
The place used to be called "zum Ritter St. Georg". According to myBasel, the nickname goes back to an article in the Basler Nachrichten that called the beer brewed here "poison" if you did not drink it at the brewer's.
In 1913 the landlord Paul Weiss-Lipp had a new Swiss-style building put up opposite, to plans by the architect Rudolf Sandreuter. It was given the name Gifthüttli.
Location
Schneidergasse runs from Marktplatz to Spalenberg; the Gifthüttli is two minutes from the square. The Mittlere Brücke is four minutes away.
Our advice
Book for the evening, as the place is popular with locals and visitors alike. To eat for less, come at lunchtime for the set menu.
Read next: Eating in Basel: specialities, prices and where locals eat and Basel Läckerli: history, recipe and the best addresses in Basel.
Sources: the establishment's website, Basel Tourismus, Google Maps (address, reviews, October 2026), timetables from transport.opendata.ch, walking times calculated on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Gifthüttli in Basel known for?
When is the Gifthüttli open?
Samuel Tschudin
Samuel spent eight years guiding groups through the Old Town, from Münsterplatz to the Rhine promenade. He builds his routes on foot, watch in hand, and cuts whatever does not fit into a real day. He would rather write that a visit is not worth the ticket than pad out a list.
