I had no idea what to expect when the train rolled into Zurich. I knew it was the capital, one of Switzerland’s biggest cities, and from I had heard, very pretty. But I wasn’t expecting what I found.

I only had about 24 hours, but from the amazing macarons at Sprungli, to the hot bars out in Zurich West, to the culinary playhouse that is MarktHalle, I had a blast. And it didn’t hurt that my hotel, the Hotel Widder, was not only modern and stylish, but it was the PLACE TO BE in the evening at the Widder Bar. The food at this jazz bar was superb but the main draw was the “library of spirits” and the expert bartenders that made swanky, sexy named drinks.

I spent a lovely evening with Corina Sohner from the hotel, and she and I had fun tasting Markus Blattner’s concoctions. And Alexsander Kroll’s dinner was a dining experience that I’ll never forget. Dish upon dish was served and each were as beautiful as they were tasty. I insisted on going behind the scenes into the kitchen to see where the magic happened. The kitchen was just as pristine as the dining room and it’s no wonder that every dish is a marvel considering the time that is spent perfecting each detail.

I was sad to fly out from Zurich and wanted more time to explore the winding streets of the Alstadt–which looked like a page out of medival fairytales. However, I know my week as a Swiss Miss only confirmed that I’ll be returning and spending much more than a week in this vibrant, innovative and just plain breath-taking country. At least for now, I’ll have my videos so I can relive all those moments (and delicious meals!).