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More restaurants charge 'no-shows'

Thursday, 10 April 2025 06:30

More restaurants are charging a fee to those who book a table and then don’t show up.

Many have been forced to introduce a ‘pay first, eat later’ due to the high number of no shows. 

The top restaurant, the Gertrudhof in Zurich, runs a policy that anyone who doesn’t turn up for a reservation will be charged CHF 50 for each person, foreign guests will be charged a CHF 50 deposit. 

Other restaurants are taking a harder line, one in Lucerne charges for a full menu if guests don’t arrive – that can run to CHF 320 a person. 

Restaurant owners say taking a deposit is cutting no-shows significantly.  

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