Basel is a city where tradition meets innovation. The Volkshaus, a cultural building dating from the early 20th century, was renovated in 2011 by Basel architects Herzog and de Meuron. The result is extremely sober. I particularly recommend the restaurant, where the cuisine is both contemporary and authentic. Not far from there, the Hôtel Krafft is a poetic place where the 19th century blends with 50s decor, with a view over the Rhine.
For a sophisticated atmosphere, cross the bridge and head to Chez Donati, in the famous Hotel des Trois Rois. The best Italian in town, an institution. In the same street, stop off at Bachmann's confectionery to buy the traditional Basler Läckerli, gingerbread reminders that Basel built its fortune on the spice trade.
A little further on, I often stop off at ONO for lattes in the morning and margaritas in the evening. If you're interested in architecture, you can also drop in at the Domus bookshop. It's just a stone's throw from the Kunst-halle, an imposing building dating from 1872, whose restaurant, situated in front of a sculpture by Richard Serra and a fountain by Jean Tinguely, is a must-see. the place to be of the art world. You come to see and be seen.
If you have time to spare, you can take advantage of the city's cultural wealth by visiting the Vitra Foundation. Its museum was Frank Gehry's first European building, while the "Vitra House", designed by Herzog and de Meuron and inaugurated in 2010, houses the designer furniture brand's showroom. And don't miss the rich collections of the art and contemporary art museums, as well as the Fondation Beyeler, an architectural gem designed by Renzo Piano and featuring works by Calder and Giacometti.
Addresses
VOLKSHAUS, Rebgasse 12-14
Internet: www.volkshaus-basel.ch
HOTEL KRAFFTRheingasse 12
Internet: www.krafftbasel.ch
AT DONATI, Sankt Johanns-Vorstadt 48
Internet: www.lestroisrois.com
CONFISERIE BACHMANN, Blumenrain 1
Internet: www.confiserie-bachmann.ch
ONO, Leonhardsgraben 2
www.ono-lifestyle.ch
DOMUSHAUS, Pfluggässlein 3
Internet: www.limacher.de
KUNSTHALLE BRASSERIE, Rebgasse 12-14
Internet: www.volkshaus-basel.ch
VITRA, Charles-Eames-Strasse 1, Weil am Rhein (Germany)
Internet: www.design-museum.de
FONDATION BEYELER, Baselstrasse 101, Riehen/Basel
Internet: www.fondationbeyeler.ch
KUNSTMUSEUM BASEL + MUSEUM FÜR GEGENWARTSKUNSTSt. Alban-Graben 16 and St. Alban-Rheinweg 60
Internet: www.kunstmuseumbasel.ch
