“But when you meet someone that lives here, you fall in love.”

Five years ago, Hiltebrand opened Le Chef to stir up Zurich’s once-underwhelming culinary scene.

“I’m really not a typical Swiss,” Hiltebrand tells me during a conversation over dinner.

Zurich, Switzerland

Credit: Rainer Unkel/Getty Images

“I need to have color in my life.”

“The city is different in the night,” she adds.

And night, of course, is when Kreis 4 comes alive.

Le Chef in Langstrasse, Zurich, Switzerland

Jillian Dara

There hasn’t always been an audience in Zurich for a modern European restaurant like Le Chef.

In contrast, it still isn’t unusual for restaurants to rely solely on traditional dishes likeZuri-Gschnatzletsor Wiener schnitzel.

Fun Things to Do in Zurich

Hiltebrand wanted to challenge the stagnation and cliche.

25hours Hotels in Langstrasse, Zurich, Switzerland

Stephan Lemke/Courtesy of 25hours Hotels

“But here, they have a lot of different stories about life.

This is why I wanted to open in Langstrasse.

I don’t feel comfortable on the Bahnhofstrasse; I’m a party girl.

NENI at 25hours Hotels Langstrasse, Zurich, Switzerland

Stephan Lemke/Courtesy of 25hours Hotels

I’m different.”

Her three-to-five course menus combine seemingly incongruous flavors, like white chocolate and salmon or carrot-flavored ice cream.

Kanonaegass

Hiltebrand brought me tothis unassuming hole-in-the-wall, popular for craft cocktails and DJs spinning European techno.

Kanonaegass Bar in Langstrasse, Zurich, Switzerland

Courtesy of Kanonaegass Bar

Josef

“Josefis my place,” says Hiltebrand.

It also has two bars, Panama Bar and Primitivo, for a post-volleyball pick-me-up.

Dante in Langstrasse, Zurich, Switzerland

Courtesy of Dante

Josef in Langstrasse, Zurich

Courtesy of Josef