Au Premier Travel Guide

Au Premier is the principal restaurant of the City-Hotel Ochsen, set on Kolinplatz in Zug’s old town. It is a full-service Swiss and regional dining room, not a standalone attraction, and the visit is built around a proper meal. The setting carries the weight of the hotel’s long history, with the property described as dating to 1543, but the restaurant itself feels current and practical rather than museum-like.

Inside, the mood is polished and restrained: a place for conversation, wine, and a measured pace of service. The room suits lunch meetings as well as evening dinners, and the tone is more traditional hospitality than formal fine dining. Outside the door, the old town is compact and walkable, with lake proximity and historic streets giving the restaurant a strong sense of place. This is an urban, indoor experience; the appeal lies in the combination of central location and a settled, old-town backdrop.

Most visitors come here to eat well rather than to linger between activities. The kitchen focuses on seasonal and regional ingredients, which fits Zug’s broader dining culture, and the wine list is unusually extensive for a hotel restaurant of this scale. That makes Au Premier especially suitable for travellers who want a sit-down meal with a clear sense of local hospitality. It is a sensible choice for couples, solo diners, business travellers, hotel guests, and small groups who prefer a calm room over a busy brasserie.

A typical visit is straightforward: arrive from the old town or nearby transport links, take a table, order from the à la carte menu or business-lunch offering, and stay as long as the meal and wine warrant. Lunch is usually the quickest format, while dinner tends to stretch out more, especially if you choose bottles from the wine list. Sundays are not a dining option here, so plan for the rest of the week. Because the restaurant is central, it also works neatly as part of a wider walk through Zug rather than as a destination that requires a separate journey.

Expect mid-range to premium pricing by local restaurant standards, driven by table service, central positioning, and the wine selection. The venue is indoors and usable year-round, with weather mainly affecting the walk to and from Kolinplatz. Public transport, walking, and cycling are the most practical ways to reach it; driving is possible but less convenient in the old town. The restaurant is best approached as a composed, reliable meal stop in the historic centre, not as a place for long sightseeing or multiple activities.