The food of Zug is all about variety. Swiss, German, Italian, and French influences are all combined into diverse, but sumptuous, dishes. Fresh, high quality ingredients are always used. Breakfast in Zug usually includes crusty bread and marmalade or fruit preserves. Lunch tends to be the main meal of the day, and most restaurants offer a lunch special around noon known as Tagesteller or Plat du Jour. These specials are pretty cheap, especially for the large amount of food you get, and the tip is always included. Make sure to try the Swiss wines, they are inexpensive, and quite rare due to the fact that they only export less than 1% of the wines.

Specialties

Zug is known for its Kirschtorte. A relatively new creation developed in the early 1900s, this sponge cake is soaked in Kirsch, a cherry liquer, with macaroon bases surrounded by butter cream and topped with roasted almonds. Another specialty is a trout dish known in Zug as "Zuger Rotel". White in summer, but with a red-orange belly after September, the trout is cooked with butter, herbs, and spices.

Zug Cherry Blossom Candy is well-known and well-loved. It is a confection with a hazelnut base, a layer of sponge cake soaked in Kirsch plus a truffle mass, which is all coated in a high quality chocolate. A true trademark of Zug, as well, is Kirsch itself. Delicious cherries grow along Lake Zug, and this distilled fruit spirit is made from them. Etter Distillery is the most famous maker of authentic Swiss Kirsch in Zug.

The town also has its share of other fresh water fish dishes, due to its close proximity to Lake Zug, cheese specialties, such as fondue with crusty bread and ramequins, sausages, such as Wiernerli, Bratwurst, and Saucisson, salamis, and dishes using fresh, local mushrooms.

Other desserts include well-prepared fruit tarts and tartlets overflowing with juicy berries and whipped cream, chocolate croissants or tarts, and the internationally known Toblerone chocolates with their distinctive triangular shape.

Restaurants

If you like the local, fresh fish of Zug, then you cannot miss Restaurant Liguria. Located in Zug Old Town it is cozy, and recognized for its delicious and creative fish dishes. All year long they have many variations of Zuger Rotel to choose from. Zur Taube is another popular place, with quality food as well as impeccable service. Rich tasting, but inexpensive, wines flow freely here. For traditional Swiss food and seafood try Hafenrestaurant. It has a beautiful terrace out on the lake with excellent views and a very cozy atmosphere.