Acqua in Basel

Can be a bit noisy when the restaurant is full. Staff very friendly and the food is very tasty.

Very friendly and attentive staff. The food is delicious. The finest Italian cuisine. There is a balanced menu with something for every taste. The location is specially furnished and lives up to its name and reputation. Within walking distance of the SBB train station. If you arrive by car, it is best to park in the parking lot at Basel Zoo or in the parking spaces along the streets in the area. All in all, the Aqua is recommended.

We had an excellent Bistecca alla fiorentina! The evening was very cozy. The service was pleasantly 'Italian' and all the food was wonderful! We will be back!

Very good food, friendly service, great atmosphere

I debated whether to give it three or four stars, but decided on three for the following reasons. We had a business lunch yesterday, it was my first visit to Acqua and I don't know if I'll go there again. The atmosphere and the staff were absolutely top. The staff is present, very friendly, attentive, very flexible - there is nothing to complain about. The quality of the food was good, but there are a few complaints here that simply shouldn't be in this price range. Most of us at the table chose the beef fillet. Unfortunately we had very different sizes of meat and since we all have to pay the same price, I think you can expect that everyone gets the same amount. My cooking point was perfect for me, but for others it was beyond that. The absolute highlight on the plate was the truffle sauce - I would have loved to eat a whole bowl of it and that's what we all felt at the table. The menu said there was glazed broccoli, romanesco and cauliflower. The vegetables were perfectly cooked and crunchy, not overcooked. However, there was no trace of glazing. It was just dry steamed. Unfortunately, the potato wedges weren't the best thing on the plate either. Potatoes develop their own, very unpleasant taste if they have been cooked beforehand, depending on how long they have been left for. Three of my slices had probably been cooked for a long time and were not edible. For dessert I had chocolate sorbet with chilli hutney! That too was excellent. The balance between sweet and spicy was perfect. However, pine nuts were sprinkled around the sorbet, which it actually didn't need anyway. Small suggestion for improvement, chopped pistachios would be much better, and the pine nuts were terribly rancid. A tester in the kitchen beforehand would have prevented the disaster. Last but not least, the sanitary facilities unfortunately leave a lot to be desired. The women's restroom is extremely narrow. There's hardly any space when all three toilets are occupied, the doors stick no matter where you reach and relatively quickly there was no more toilet paper. There are so many staff around here that I think you could definitely check on things from time to time, especially with the large number of guests staying there. Addendum: I have now been informed that the guests from the restaurant next door probably use the toilet. That makes it even more incomprehensible that there is no control here! All in all, quite nice. But, as I said, certain things just can't happen in this price range.

Maybe they had bad day. Also heard that reservation was super complicated process here

Very nice restaurant. The personnel is very friendly and courteous. The food was very tasty!

The ambience is great like everything The minus star only because it is really loud

We came here for a dinner with friends in december 2023. I do not understand, how a chef can put such a little menu together with such abnormal and special tastes... pulpo, rabit etc... it was hard to find something... extremely pricy! CHF 19 for a antipasti starter which had like 3 salami slices and 3 prochutto di parma slices and one tiny piece of fried vegetable. Staff was very rude (talking about the non-german speaking server who did our check out). he was pissed that we payed separately (which is a normal thing that occurs on a normal daily basis in a restaurant). we also waited for an our for the food. Even the beer took like 15' to be brought to the table. it is very sad to see this place going down after we've had such good experiences in the past (weddings, private party etc!) I hope something will change here very soon! we are, unfortunately, not coming back.

Fine dining is different! After the six of us made reservations for dinner at the end of December, we left the restaurant after a short time without eating. First of all, the menu: little choice for special tastes and this at prices that definitely keep up with those of renowned star kitchens - unfortunately only in price! Regarding the ambience: either the heating was broken on our evening or we had to save money. The fact that people with hats, jackets and gloves were sitting in the dining room irritated us right from the entrance; After a short period of freezing we knew why and had our thick winter jackets back on! Regarding the staff: you have to know Italian. None of the waiters could speak a word of German! Instead of serving the guests, the staff preferred to take the time to have lively discussions with each other. What we saw and experienced has nothing in common with service and gastronomy. Conclusion: after we almost froze to death, after more than 15 minutes we were treated to an aperitif (only white wine) and then punished with ignorance by the service staff for another 25 minutes, we moved on with an empty stomach. To another Italian restaurant with heated rooms, a good menu, friendly staff and fair prices. Aqua - we will definitely NEVER come back. Thanks for nothing!!!

Rather high-priced restaurant and unfortunately not a nice ambience. Sat right in front of the bar, where it was like a canteen. But the risotto was very tasty.

Interesting location, service very friendly, open kitchen, therefore a little louder depending on where you sit. But not a bargain in terms of price.

Very pleasant stay with delicious food

Cool place, check it out when you're in Basel 👍

Very good food, nice atmosphere. The menu changes frequently, but it is pretty limited therefore I suggest to check if you like the proposed dishes.

Good food, great ambience and nice staff. Lunch menu also recommended.

The food was extravagant but unfortunately not good. There was too much salt on the meat and the side dishes were cold.

Was only for an aperitif at a wedding, service was top and friendly, unfortunately I can't judge the food

Actually it was good. But bringing the small dessert to the table at the end, offering it (without mentioning that this costs extra) and then charging for it is not that great. Maybe just a misunderstanding.

Without a reservation there is a risk even on Monday. The food is excellent with starter, small primi piatti, secundo piatti, dessert and café coretto, and therefore not cheap. There is enough space between the courses (and the tables) for digestion and conversation. The chairs are really comfortable. Unfortunately, when the restaurant is full, the noise level is just as high as in the market hall in Basel, so come early in the evening. The furnishings are very original and the artistic saying on the wall is stimulating: appetite for the stomach is like love for the heart...

Quiet corner with delicious food

Super good food. Nice service. Great ambience

We went to a wedding dinner and it was absolutely great, from the food to the service. Very competent and friendly service...I can highly recommend it!!

Experience NOTTE BIANCA 11.8.23 I ordered a sparkling wine for CHF 9. Luckily I paid with my electronic credit card. The bet was CHF 99. I only noticed it thanks to the electronic receipt. Check your statements something like that shouldn't happen!

Overall, Acqua is a solid option for a nice Italian meal. The food is good, the service is great, and the ambiance is excellent. However, the food is not quite as good as some of the other Italian restaurants in the city, so I would give it 3.5 stars.

We were here with a larger group at lunchtime. The employees were very polite and gave good advice. The toilets were very nice from the outside (water flows down the walls), but the inside was a bit rustic and old. Price-performance is great and I can recommend it to anyone who wants to visit a good Italian restaurant. The bruschetta were unique and delicious.

Unfortunately the price/performance ratio is not right. Ordered a salad as a starter without tripe and received a totally overpriced, bland salad. The ambience is great, the staff is nice, but unfortunately inattentive, inexperienced and some cannot speak German. The food was good, but didn't blow us away. Drinks, however, are great. Invest more in service.

Nice place to meet up with friends and enjoy the vibe

Nice restaurant in Basel, with a large terrace and a nice interior decoration. Simple and well-cooked Italian dishes. The service, very friendly and attentive.

Incompetent staff who are too ashamed to serve their own customers...

Except for the toilets, how can you sell food in this price range and leave the toilets so rotten? 😱 an absolute no-go!!! Toilet narrow and dark and dingy....soap dispenser rusted....spider webs and gray mold behind the sink?!?

Very charming place. The food and the service is top class. Non-veg items on the menu are much more delicious. Risotto was a bit disappointing.

Ambiance it was drafty cold .. nice to look at in such old walls .. service was very inattentive, spoke poor German and sometimes didn't understand what you meant... At the end of the meal the staff had to be informed that it should be cleared away. . the food was top 👍 plentiful but above all delicious 😍 If you want to sit outside in the summer, it's definitely nice... right by the stream... The staff needs to be better trained

Great food and lovely restaurant. Unfortunately always very loud...

We reserved a table last night and were able to order relatively quickly, but after the starter we waited a total of 1.5 hours without even being asked for further drinks and the main course was also not served. We then asked for the bill, after a few minutes we went to the service staff ourselves, where we were told that unfortunately our food had not been typed.... Service is OK, atmosphere absolutely great, unfortunately we cannot rate everything else. The staff apologized to us and offered a fair solution.

A delicious experience!! Nice, refined place and impeccable service. And the food, divine. The tiramisù is from the gods!!

Very good Resturang, had lunch here and really appreciated it. So I'll be back to sample the menu in the evening. A small tip, book a table if there are a few of you

excellent place, good food and service.

Good food, exciting wine list and attentive service. Thank you for being open on Monday too.

Utterly bizzare decor, but keeps it interesting I guess. Unlike the vegetarian food, which was about as good as the 1950s

Very tasty food, really nice decoration. Nice personel. Because the food is always very freshly cooked, we had to wait quite a long time until the food arrived at the table.

Beautiful place and good value for money for a slightly different lunch break :)

Price performance is absolutely not right. The T-bone steak is not recommended. It was a long wait, we waited 25 minutes for the drink and 1 hour 20 minutes for the food. The waitress was very nice and couldn't help it. The second star goes to the ambience and the nice waitress.

Because the atmosphere is nice there is a star.

Great food, service and nice atmosphere. Recommended

Cool location. Always my pleasure!

Very nice restaurant. Always happy 😀

Tolleson Rest. with very good cuisine

Really great! Great food, great staff and the atmosphere speaks for itself!! Very suitable for a date ;)

Great food, great service. Very, very loud when there are several events at the same time.

Eating a lot without really enjoying it:( we almost couldn't understand the waiter even though he was nice and it was very cold... unfortunately we couldn't enjoy the beautiful place and after eating we just left, just a shame.

I order from acqua Basel almost every day. The food is always hot, freshly prepared and always a delight! Keep it up! :)

Beautiful ambience. The food was great

Excellent food! Prices include water and a small bottle of wine. Creative concept, swiss gastronomy should learn from Acqua.

150chf for a piece of meat that we don't present to you before serving it.... We don't ask you for cooking without explaining to you that it's part of the recipe... Far too much fat and very little meat in the end on one kg we have maybe 400grm to eat.... The service is still nice and we offered dessert to apologize....

Very good food of quality. Tasted amazing. Great service.!

Delicious Italian food originally prepared by an Italian staff

Beautifully decorated restaurant, good cocktails and delicious food. The presentation of food in plate could be improved to match the price.

Menu and ambiance looked very promising for our business dinner, but in the end it was a disappointing experience. The appetizers were nice (but not spectacular), and then it took long for the mains to arrive. Meanwhile nearly everybody was running out of drinks but no waiter checked on us for a while. I was possibly unlucky with my choice of meal, but the salmon was burnt on the outside and tasteless on the inside, served with overcooked potatoes and vegetables. The pistachio ice cream that I had for dessert was so hard that you nearly needed a chisel to eat it. A nicely presented grappa closes out the meal.

Nice restaurant, nice service and good food

Found this great garden pub by chance on the way to Basel Zoo and we were very positively surprised about the lunch menu. Great selection and very tasty. The service is also very courteous. The location inside is awesome. Worth a visit.

I specifically ordered my lunch at 11:14 a.m. so that it could be delivered on time at 1:00 p.m. (Delivery distance is between 5-7 minutes) Unfortunately nothing had arrived by 1:30 p.m. Food is very good, hence 1 star. I also tried to call the restaurant three times, unfortunately without success. The phone isn't even picked up. Top!!! That was the second and last time.

pride in its purest form! Criticism or suggestions are ignored. opening times homepage and reality a joke. The whole team is there, but there is nothing. But nowhere does it say that the store is typically Italian: as long as the stupid consumers believe in an apparent Italianità, the store is booming. Hands off, locals! tourist nope!!!! Pity!!

Very nice terrace, great food, better company. Easy parking

Good restaurant with excellent food and a very nice at atmosphere both inside and outside. Friendly and attentive service.

Small but nice. The map is very small, but super nice!!! Attractive and friendly service ;) Nice atmosphere (sat outside)

I say it with a bit of regret but Italian espresso coffee is better in Switzerland. I think that in recent years coffee in Italy has worsened in quality. When I drink it I am left with a bitter taste, I drank the Swiss one in 3 different places and it was sublime. The taste remained good on the palate for some time.

Delicious food and friendly service

Beautiful area. Very friendly and welcoming staff. Unfortunately the food is not good, no taste, bland. This doesn't look like real Mamma's cooking. A lot of effort to make. For the price it is scandalous to serve this. I was happy to return there after 10 years of absence.... what a disappointment!

Unfriendly waiters and food that you can prepare better at home. Very nice location but that's all. In the market hall next door you can get better food for a lower price!

Excellent very good ♥️ nice and kind staff 👍 Thank you

A fantastic location! We were invited to a wedding there with unforgettable delicacies from the aperitif to the 4-hanger dessert including good cocktails. Just keep doing it! Thank you for the great service!

Really different and cozy place

I went to Acqua for lunch today...unfortunately the fussili were totally overcooked, which really shouldn't be the case in an Italian restaurant! The service was nice, but unfortunately totally lost because she didn't speak German well (mind you, we're still in Basel...)...unfortunately the pasta wasn't exchanged for "al dente", but it was on the bill...an overall disappointment Lunch…what a shame!

A fantastic location with wonderful food, in the middle of the city.

Great location Music too loud while eating Classic Italian lunch menu

Delicious food and courteous service..

Apéro Riche on the occasion of the wedding of our boss. Great drinks, as well as various little delicacies🍹🍵 Super great, courteous staff🤩👍🏻✨️ The Mojito Passione is excellent, we would love to come back for it!💫

Beautiful venue, a special and carefully furnished restaurant. Friendly, polite and competent service. I always come back willingly 👍🏻🥂

Way too loud & the main course wasn't worth the price.

Very good food, great value for money, service friendly, but not always fast

Service great, menu great, environment great!!!

The meat came to the table raw even though it was ordered medium. There was a small piece of plastic in the vegetable.

Unfortunately, the food is not seasoned enough and for this price and the small quantity, it would be nice if it were a culinary delight. Drinks are delicious and the decor is great as always Great staff

Hospitality 5/5 Food - main dish (even vegetarian) 5/5 Wine 5/5 Dessert 5/5 Ambience 5/5 Totally recommended ..!

The selection is manageable, but varied. The food was attractively prepared and tasted good. Service was attentive.

A superb address recommended by a friend. Everything is delicious, a big congratulations to the kitchen. But without forgetting the service which was perfect with very good advice. And let's not forget the setting, the decoration is tastefully done!

Good food, beautiful environment, impeccable service and customer attention. The guys in the room were very nice. We will definitely be back!

Great food, great ambience and great service !!!!!!Will definitely return and will recommend this place to everyone !!!!!

Trendy/classy place with great food!

There is a great atmosphere here with an industrial look from the 1930s. Food is good, but you actually have to choose a three-course menu. Otherwise, individual plates are too expensive. However, it should be noted that here it is simply assumed that, like in Italy, you only eat entire courses. The only negative thing, if you don't speak Italian, was that the first waiter didn't speak a foreign language and we didn't get to the prices of the plates for a long time.

Very friendly employees. Very tasty food. A second look would have been possible.

Card small but nice. Original dishes. Good, original atmosphere. Gladly again

Excellent Italian cuisine ☺️. We recommend.

Very bad attention from the manager. We were denied service for not having presented a vaccination certificate issued by the Swiss health system.

Nice atmosphere and very good food

Beautiful restaurant, beautiful menu and great decor

Good Italian food in a great atmosphere. The service is a bit patchy for the prices they charge. Regardless, had a good evening.

Great ambience, good cuisine... But a bit expensive!

Very good food and excellent service.