A Century of Tofu

Whether you're a vegetarian or not, Hilti is the oldest (operating since 1898) and best vegetarian restaurant in Europe. The last meal of my Swiss Alps journey wrapped up with lacto, Italian, vegan-friendly and Indian fare from a buffet crowded with travelers.

Approximately 1200 hungry guests eat here everyday and party at the modernized club in the adjoining room by night. The restaurant gives you huge round white plates but with so many choices, the space fills up fast. Fresh fruit, I wasn't expected to eat nearly as much as I did. It's not an all-you-can-eat but rather the weight of plates determine how much you pay.

The urgency for the restaurant came in 1901 when Restaurant Manager Ambrosius Hiltl contracted rheumatoid arthritis. His doctor did not beat about the bush but prophesied an early death if Hiltl did not completely alter his diet and refrain entirely from eating meat. At that time, vegetarians were mocked as grass-eaters, but Hiltl paid no attention to the naysayers and recovered completely from vegetarian cuisine. Three years later he took over the business and he and it thrived.