Confiserie Sprüngli

It’s a well-​known, universal rule. When on a train — you MUST eat! I’ve tried to fight it but the temptation is just too great. Train stations around the world are filled with every kind of snack food known to mankind. Even if you resist the shops, you are tormented by fellow passengers. Before the train even leaves the platform you can hear the rustle of paper bags signalling the release of danish, croissants, and filled rolls.
In order to claw back some sort of control, I have given myself one rule — QUALITY over QUANTITY. That usually rules out most train station fare. But then there’s Sprungli…
This Swiss confisserie (found in many Swiss train stations and towns) is a chain famed for its high quality (and high priced) chocolates, macarons and fine patisserie. Normally, the price keeps me away but a few months ago, my hubby and I were at the Basel Christmas Market and noticed that Sprungli had a stall serving just hot chocolate and tiny, perfect custard tarts. The tarts were only 3.50 CHF (a bargain for Switzerland!!) so we succumbed. I love egg custard tarts and these were THE BEST I’ve ever tasted! The pastry was tender, flaky and slightly savoury. The custard was sweet, smooth and full of natural vanilla. We tried to convince ourselves that these were just a Christmas special — no need to go and check out the shop any other time of year…
But now, here we are at the train station. Taking my Auntie, who is visiting from America, to Zermatt. We have 30 minutes before the train leaves and are facing a 3 hour journey. We NEED a goody for ride!!! And what do we see? A great big Sprungli — its shiny glass cases filled with QUALITY goodies. There are no plain custard tarts — just ones with thin slices of plums on top — we order two. Then we check out the patisserie. Each cake is small but perfectly formed. Luckily the prices keep us under control. We order a chocolate and coffee layered cake and a ‘vanilla slice’ or mille feuille. The efficient, polite (but not what I would call ‘friendly’) ladies pack our goodies in a posh, gold box and toss in some napkins and forks (only since we asked) so that we could share.
We get seats on the train around a small table — perfect for sharing. Then we wait. All around us we could hear the sounds of snacking but we have 3 people, 4 pastries (I did pack some fruit but no one seemed interested) and a 3 hour ride. We pass a few stations; passengers get on and off. It’s time! We open the gold box and cut each pastry and tart into 3 tiny portions — just enough for one bite. The tart is amazing, the fruit adds a lovely sweetness. The mille feuille was flaky, with lots of creamy custard which oozes all over the box as I try and cut it. Finger licking good! Then comes the coffee and chocolate layered pastry. OMG! AMAZING! INCREDIBLE! You could taste real coffee, and the chocolate ganache was bitter, rich and oh so good. Seriously one of the best things I have ever tasted. We licked the forks clean, we scraped every morsel from the box. We considered jumping off the train and hightailing it back for more. We were overcome with sadness when we realised our late return would mean the shop would be closed when we got back! Luckily there is also a Sprungli in Basel city centre — we will be back!
Note: This is quite expensive but instead of knocking a star off, I actually find it a plus as it makes you appreciate each bite. And stops me from going too often!

It may not be the best but it has a wide variety of chocolate & sweets.
It is a chain store. They only make the bread in the morning — noon. So in the afternoon, they may not have the bread anymore.

Fluffy Luxemburgerli macaroons, decent salads, and aged-​venison sandwiches — an easy stop for a high-​class train lunch.
Like most train station Sprünglis, this one is focused on the grab-​and-​go rather than the huge variety of flavors at the original Zürich location, but that’s a good thing — they manage to keep the line relatively organized and moving.
If you need a change of pace from my usual Brezelkönig go-​to, this is certainly the swanky place for a snack.

Was für eine Freude auch in Basel echte Luxemburgerli zu bekommen! Die Glacetorten haben ich bei uns Zuhause auch als Standartdessert für Gäste eingebürgert

I like Sprüngli, but whilst in Basle, go to Gilgen!

Luxemburgerli are yummy in my tummy! These tiny macarons you can unfortunately pop one right into your mouth… meaning you can’t take a few bites and savor it. It’s only about an inch or so in diameter. The domes are round and tall instead of flat like the Parisian ones. The fillings are whipped, fluffy cream.
The mini box of four cost CHF 4,30 and a small box of ten is CHF 12. So far, I’ve eaten the pistachio (pistachio bits in the filling), raspberry (jelly in the filling), and lemon (lemon peel in the filling). Delectable!
Besides chocolate and other desserts, they also sell delicious looking breakfast and lunch items. The employees were nice too.

DAS Geschäft für Luxemburgerli, Truffes du jour usw. Alles so wie es sein sollte. Große Auswahl, guter Service. Nicht gerade günstig aber auf jeden Fall das Geld wert.

This is your typical train station Sprüngli shop: A small chocolate shop with a rather large selection of chocolates and pastries, sold by a small team of women.
The service by Swiss standards and expectations is good, but I wouldn’t expect any surprises. It’s all about keeping your expectations in line with reality! The huge number of stressed, distracted commuters that flow through here every day probably don’t even notice the somewhat cool, traditional manner of service. I’ve had different, friendlier, even warmer experiences elsewhere, like in Zürich main station’s Sprüngli shops and the Sprüngli shop at Zürich Stadelhofen.
You hopefully already know that their products are excellent. They are an exemplary confectionery business and make some of the best chocolates and confections. Their products are also beautifully packaged and carry an unsurprisingly high price tag. Find a present at a moment’s notice is always easy in a shop like this!
There’s only one annoyance, typical to most Sprüngli shops: You’ll wait an eternity while the Sprüngli ladies pack your truffes and pralines. This minor annoyance can become particularly interesting when you need to catch a train you’ll see your truffes packed in slow motion, a clock ticking loudly, your nerves fraying but the truffes taste great!
Highly recommended, in spite of minor annoyances.
More restaurant reviews and food photography:

Super auswahl, tolles personal weiter so…

Le père noël en ayant par dessus la hotte des macarons parisiens de Ladurée il décida d’aller à Bâle (à seulement 3h de Paris) pour gouter les Luxemburgerlis de Sprüngli.
Et quelle né fut pas sa surprise: le fondant, la variété des saveurs et les couleurs de ces pâtisseries en faisaient de vrais joyaux… tant et si bien qu’il décida de rester à Bâle jusqu’à Noël ! (à suivre…)