Confiserie Sprüngli on the corner of Paradeplatz has been Zurich's most-loved chocolate and pastry shop since 1859. The ground floor is a takeaway counter; the first floor is a long-established café where local society stops for tea, coffee, and a small plate of one of the city's most famous sweets — the Luxemburgerli, small almond-meringue macarons that are lighter, more delicate, and smaller than their French cousins. They come in two dozen flavours.
The café is also reliable for a savoury light lunch: open sandwiches on dark bread, salads, a glass of wine. Service can be glacially formal in the best Swiss style. The takeaway counter does box of Luxemburgerli, Bredeli (small almond cakes), pralines, and seasonal specialities like Weihnachtsläckerli in December. Expect Swiss prices.