Lunch on Lake Zurich: Iconic Restaurant New Look by Ina Rinderknech

A Riviera Revival on the Shores of Lake Zurich: Chez Fritz Reimagined

On the tranquil shoreline of Kilchberg, just outside Zurich, Chez Fritz has long stood as a beloved lakeside institution. First opened in 1963 by Thea and Fritz Elsener, the restaurant has welcomed generations of guests with its relaxed elegance and Mediterranean charm. Now, over 60 years later, it embarks on a new chapter — one that honours its rich legacy while ushering in a fresh, sophisticated spirit.

Reimagining an Icon

The 2025 renovation, led by internationally renowned designer Ina Rinderknecht, marks a thoughtful evolution. Her design respects the original pavilion-style structure, enhancing its clean architectural lines and expansive windows to create a seamless flow between interior and lake. The result? A space where light dances, boundaries blur, and every detail invites quiet admiration.

Lake-Inspired Interiors

Rinderknecht’s design draws directly from Lake Zurich — its shifting hues, calm energy, and soft reflections. Pale limestone floors evoke sun-bleached Mediterranean terraces, while cold-pressed, recycled tiles bring a graphic rhythm to the lakeside terrace. Bronze accents shimmer with the sun’s path, and warm wood tones introduce a sense of comfort and grounding.

Inside, a tranquil palette of cool greens, mineral tones, and soft neutrals mirrors the surrounding landscape. Dining tables in Emerald Jadore quartzite reflect the lake’s surface, while striped Dedar-upholstered benches nod to mid-century beach clubs — reinterpreted with understated elegance.

Custom furniture, from deep green Douglas fir cabinetry to translucent glass-brick service stations, adds texture and individuality. Every material — from curtains to cushions — is chosen not just for beauty, but for the feeling it evokes.

Heritage Held Close

Though modern in character, the redesign never loses sight of Chez Fritz’s soul. This is a deeply personal project for co-owners Elios and Ermes Elsener, grandsons of the original founders. Their vision, shaped in close collaboration with Rinderknecht, is clear: preserve the heart of the restaurant while allowing it to grow with grace.

Ceiling beams once considered disruptive have been visually softened through colour and proportion. Spaces are zoned intuitively, guiding guests effortlessly — from the indoor dining room to the breezy lakeside terrace.

“It’s not about trends,” Rinderknecht says. “It’s about soul. Guests may not notice every material or finish, but they’ll feel the intention behind them — and the ambience they create. That’s what sticks.”

A Table Set for the Mediterranean

Under the guidance of Head Chef Igino Bruni, Chez Fritz serves a modern Mediterranean menu with Swiss precision. Expect elegant renditions of bouillabaisse, perfectly crisp fritto misto, and Bruni’s signature iced coffee — each dish grounded in seasonal, local ingredients from trusted partners like Bianchi, Val Paradiso, and ViCAFE.

Guests can dine in the 70-seat interior, unwind in the lakeside lounge, or bask on the generous 120-seat terrace, with service from lunch through to evening:

• Lunch: 11:30am – 2:00pm

• Afternoon Lounge Menu: 2:00pm – 6:00pm

• Dinner: 6:00pm – 10:00pm

Art, Atmosphere & Conscious Enjoyment

At Chez Fritz, food is only part of the story. Art plays a meaningful role in shaping the guest experience, with thoughtfully curated works by Thirza Schaap and Caspar Faassen adding depth and character.

Sustainability is also central to the ethos — from the use of recycled materials in the design, to the focus on regional, seasonal produce. Every element works in harmony to create an atmosphere that is elegant yet approachable, contemporary yet rooted in tradition.

A Revival Rooted in Feeling

Chez Fritz is more than a beautifully renovated restaurant — it’s a testament to what hospitality can be when design, family, and intention come together. As General Manager Lukas Schrottenbaum ensures service that is warm and genuine, guests return not just for the lake views and fine food, but for a sense of belonging.

“Chez Fritz stands for quiet luxury — good food, fine wine, and a setting that feels both refined and relaxed,” says Elios Elsener. “Ina’s design captures that perfectly.”

About Ina Rinderknecht

Ina Rinderknecht is an internationally recognized interior architect and designer known for her intuitive, emotionally resonant spaces in hospitality and high-end residential design.

Born and raised in Seoul, South Korea, and shaped by an international upbringing across multiple continents, her design journey began during a school exchange in Yogyakarta, where she studied traditional Indonesian arts and crafts. This early exposure to craftsmanship and cultural richness ignited a lifelong passion for design.

She went on to study at the Instituto Europeo di Design, followed by a Master’s Degree in Arts in Design from Domus Academy Milan. Ina began her professional career in Milan, before relocating to Hawaii, where she created renowned hospitality spaces with Peter Vincent and Associates.

While serving as lead interior designer on the Park Shore Waikiki Hotel in 2005 — owned by the Blackstone Group— she was invited the following year to join the firm as a design consultant for their luxury hotel brand, LXR Luxury Resorts.

In 2006, she founded her own design studio, Ina Rinderknecht, in San Francisco, before returning to her homeland of Zurich in 2008, where she continues to create meaningful, emotionally rich interiors grounded in context, craft, and culture.