Samarkand
Aussersihl, Zürich
Restaurant in Zürich, Switzerland
Book with PearlThe Read
Price
$20–30per person
Dress
Casual
Why go
Samarkand is a practical Langstrasse choice for a casual Zürich meal, especially when flexibility matters more than a polished occasion. Treat it as an easy in-person option rather than a destination booking; for a more defined contemporary-European meal, Josef is the cleaner comparison.
About Samarkand
Samarkand is a Zürich venue with a casual dress code and broad weekly opening hours. It is best approached as a casual option, without specific awards, published pricing, named cuisine details, or a documented special-occasion format.
Samarkand opens at 11 AM Monday through Saturday, at 12:30 PM on Sunday, and stays open later at the end of the week: until 1 AM on Friday and 1:30 AM on Saturday. For details on takeout, delivery, tasting menus, chefs, prices, or seating, check the venue directly if any of those points matter to your visit.
Use it for a casual Zürich meal, not a high-stakes reservation
Because the dress code is casual, Samarkand makes the most sense when the plan calls for something relaxed.
If timing is the main concern, the hours are clear. Monday through Thursday, it is open from 11 AM to 10 PM, Friday from 11 AM to 1 AM, Saturday from 11 AM to 1:30 AM, and Sunday from 12:30 PM to 8:30 PM.
Where to look next if the brief changes
If you are comparing options in Zürich, Josef, Lily's, LÈ Cuisine, Picanha Brasil, and Osso are relevant names to check alongside Samarkand. Use the comparison to decide which venue best fits your timing, mood, and practical needs.
Quick reference: pick Samarkand when a casual Zürich option and the listed opening hours suit your plan; compare other dining choices if you need specific cuisine details, a specific service format, group arrangements, or a more formal occasion setting.
Planning details
- Location
- Langstrasse 193, 8005 Zürich, Switzerland
- Website
- samarkand-restaurant.com
- Phone
- +41443041015
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Samarkand sits squarely on Langstrasse, the spine of Zurich’s experimental dining scene, and its personality is shaped as much by that neighborhood as by the cuisine it serves. The restaurant leans into historical depth (its name invoking the ancient Silk Road and a confluence of Persian, Chinese, Indian and Turkic foodways) while existing within a contemporary, adventurous district. The result reads as part scholarship, part street-level vitality: a place that feels modern and trend-aware but rooted in a long culinary lineage. It attracts diners interested in serious flavor traditions presented in an energetic urban setting.
Best For
This is a spot for curious, adventurous diners who want to explore Central Asian flavors in a casual, energetic Langstrasse environment. It suits informal dinners and social evenings where sharing and discovering unfamiliar ingredients (saffron, dried fruits, steppe lamb and pilaf traditions) are part of the fun. The restaurant’s placement in Kreis 4 positions it well for pre- or post-dinner neighborhood outings rather than formal business meals; it’s most at home as a lively, approachable destination for friends or couples seeking something off the typical Swiss dining map.
Ordering Tips
Focus on lamb preparations, pilaf-style rice dishes and flatbreads (non) baked in clay or tandoor-style ovens. Pilaf and festive rice dishes are central to the cuisine’s logic, with saffron, dried fruit and yellow carrots defining the region’s celebratory plates. Share dishes so you can sample the interplay of meat, rice and bread, and ask staff about baking methods for the flatbreads or the provenance of the lamb if provenance and cooking technique matter to you.
Venue details
Ambiance
Casual and welcoming with Central Asian Silk Road influences.
Tags
Best For
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Casual
- Noise Level
- Lively
- Service Style
- Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Standard
- Capacity
- Small
- Kitchen
- Traditional
- Menu Format
- A la carte
- Dietary
- Vegetarian friendly
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- Langstrasse 193, 8005 Zürich, Switzerland
Planning details
Location
Restaurant context
How Samarkand compares in Zürich
Samarkand is the low-friction choice in this set: easier to treat as a casual Langstrasse meal than a planned-out occasion. Josef has the clearest positioning because it is listed as European Contemporary at €€, so it is the better pick when the group wants a defined cuisine style and a more dinner-focused brief.
Lily's, LÈ Cuisine, Picanha Brasil, and Osso are the cross-shops when Samarkand feels too open-ended for the occasion. Pick Samarkand for convenience and easier planning; pick Josef when value needs to be judged against a clearer €€ contemporary-European format.
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Samarkand guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Samarkand
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Price | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samarkand | Zürich | , | , | No published awards |
| Lily's | Zürich | , | , | Michelin Guide Belgium & Luxembourg 20262025 Michelin Plate2024 Michelin Plate |
| LÈ Cuisine | Zürich | , | , | No published awards |
| Picanha Brasil | Zürich | , | , | No published awards |
| Josef | Zürich | European Contemporary | €€ | 2026 Falstaff Restaurant Guide2025 Michelin Bib Gourmand2024 Michelin Bib Gourmand |
| Osso | Zürich | , | , | Michelin Guide Rio de Janeiro & Sao Paulo 20262025 Michelin Plate2024 Michelin Plate |
.png?width=1200&quality=80)
How Samarkand Zürich compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is lunch or dinner better at Samarkand?
The hours support both daytime and evening planning on most days. Samarkand is listed from 11 AM to 10 PM Monday through Thursday, 11 AM to 1 AM Friday, 11 AM to 1:30 AM Saturday, and 12:30 PM to 8:30 PM Sunday.
What are alternatives to Samarkand in Zürich?
Josef, Lily's, LÈ Cuisine, Picanha Brasil, and Osso are useful names to compare with Samarkand when choosing between Zürich dining options.
Is Samarkand good for a special occasion?
Samarkand is not established as a formal special-occasion restaurant. Its dress code is casual, so treat it as a relaxed option unless the venue confirms otherwise for your date.
