AuGust: Zurich’s Butcher-Brasserie with Old-Town Swagger

A boucherie with a story in its walls

AuGust sits on Rennweg in the heart of Zurich’s Altstadt, folded into the Widder Hotel’s warren of historic townhouses. This address has deep ties to the city’s butcher-and-cattle trade guild traditions, and the restaurant leans into that heritage without feeling like a museum piece—more like a confident, contemporary homage to Zurich’s appetite for craft and quality.

The vibe: brasserie energy, boutique-hotel polish

Inside, it’s convivial rather than hushed: a place where business lunches overlap with date-night tables, and where solo diners can settle in without feeling conspicuous. The feel is grounded and warmly lit—more “urban butcher-brasserie” than fine-dining formality—yet the service and pacing retain a subtle five-star smoothness thanks to the Widder setting.

What you’ll actually eat (and why it works)

This is a kitchen for people who order with conviction: think meat and sausage specialties, charcuterie-style starters, and brasserie classics built around excellent sourcing. The emphasis isn’t novelty for novelty’s sake; it’s the pleasure of well-handled ingredients, careful butchery know-how, and flavors that make sense with a serious drink list—ideal on cool evenings when Zurich’s Old Town feels extra cinematic.

Where it lands in Zurich’s food map

Rennweg places you in an easy triangle between Bahnhofstrasse, Lindenhof, and the riverfront lanes—so AuGust works as a strategic “anchor meal” between museums, shopping, and evening strolls. It’s also a smart choice if you want a distinctly Swiss-leaning experience that’s hearty and stylish, without committing to the formality (or time) of a tasting-menu night.

How to visit like a local

Arrive hungry and unhurried, and treat it like a brasserie: start with something cured or pâté-adjacent, then lean into a signature meat main and a classic side. If you’re traveling with mixed appetites, it’s also a comfortable compromise—central, atmospheric, and reliably satisfying—before heading back into the Altstadt’s lanes for a last walk under lantern-lit facades.