Relaxed animals, relaxed guests, relaxed payment at the oldest vegetarian restaurant in the world

One in twenty people in Switzerland does not eat meat. This figure is 35 percent higher than five years ago. Almost a quarter of the population (23.9%) have consciously reduced their meat consumption, according to the Svissveg Study 2025.
Ambrosius Hiltl in Zurich recognized the benefits of a vegetarian diet as early as 1898 due to health problems. According to Guinness World Records, HILTL in Zurich is the oldest vegetarian restaurant in the world. Here, innovation and tradition combine to create a healthy and enjoyable experience for guests.
The figures from the study are not only reflected in the shopping baskets of the Swiss. Enjoyment, animal welfare and a balanced diet are also increasingly prioritized when “eating out”. HILTL Managing Director Patrick Jungi provides insights into an innovative and forward-looking gastronomic concept.

Why do you think the trend is so strong in Switzerland?

People are taking their health more and more seriously and optimizing where they can. There is also an increased focus on animal welfare. The fact that a healthy, balanced and varied diet also contributes to mental well-being is much better known today than it used to be and was the message of our latest HILTL campaign by Ruf Lanz. At HILTL, we cover precisely these needs in line with our slogan “Healthy indulgence”.

Do non-vegetarians also come to HILTL?

The vast majority of our guests at HILTL are non-vegetarians. We estimate that more than 70 percent of our guests are flexitarians and that the proportion of guests who eat a vegetarian or vegan diet is much lower.

Which generation is more veggie?

We believe that younger people tend to eat a vegetarian diet because there are so many choices and alternatives today. It used to be more difficult to eat a balanced, varied and healthy vegetarian diet.

Do young people pay differently in restaurants?

Young people mainly pay cashless or with their credit from the HILTL Rewards app.

Are there any bestsellers in your restaurants?

Depending on the season, the HILTL buffet contains around one hundred home-made hot and cold dishes and desserts. The HILTL tartare, the mango mousse and the eggplant curry are among our best-known and most popular dishes at the buffet. In our à la carte restaurant on the 1st floor of Haus Hiltl, we serve the Züri Geschnetzelte with Rösti, the HILTL Burger and the Red Thai Curry most frequently. When it comes to drinks, our homemade ginger and lemon soda is our bestseller.

What do your guests expect? Is service also a criterion for success? Does the payment offer count?

We want to inspire our guests without pointing a finger. We offer our guests a varied, seasonally changing and home-made menu and provide friendly, warm and uncomplicated service. Of course, this also means that they can pay quickly and easily at the end of their visit or at the checkout and leave a tip if they wish, which is why the payment process is also important in our customer journey.

What is the share of cashless payment transactions?

The proportion is around 90 percent and rising. However, cash payment will always be possible at HILTL.

Do guests and hosts find the payment processes convenient?

Yes, we are very satisfied with SwiPay’s terminal and checkout connection. Our team relies on everything working quickly, easily and smoothly.

Where does SwiPay score in cooperation with HILTL?

We benefit from a personal contact person who knows our company and can also help on site at short notice if necessary. The partnership with SwiPay is therefore more than just software integration.

Has HILTL been able to save costs with the SwiPay payment concept?

We have received structured payment benchmarking and are making measurable savings, particularly in the micropayment area, where small transaction costs quickly become significant in large quantities.

Which solution did HILTL choose?

SwiPay 360 consulting forms the technical basis: seamless checkout integration and the high-performance connection of SwiPay-mediated PayTec terminals throughout the HILTL network. The result is a point of sale that not only works today, but is also designed for the growth of the business.

Thanks for the insights.

HILTL stands for attitude and quality. The fact that payment is not a stumbling block, but an invisible tailwind, is the claim that SwiPay wants to live up to every day.

What SwiPay actually does for HILTL

Your personal contact on site is Navin-Paul Boxall, regional payment consultant at SwiPay in Zurich. He supports HILTL during ongoing operations – and is available at short notice when needed. It is precisely this local anchoring that makes the difference between a service provider and a partner. The HILTL stands for attitude, for quality, for an experience that is right from the door to the till. The fact that payment is not a stumbling block, but an invisible tailwind – that is the claim that SwiPay wants to live up to every day.

With passion. With focus. With you.

Contact us

HILTL AG
Patrick Jungi | Management | patrick@hiltl.ch | www.hiltl.ch

SwiPay – THE PAYMENT NETWORK
Martina Schaba | Media contact on behalf of SwiPay AG | ms@swipay.ch | www.swipay.ch