Overnight in Basel restaurant and other tips

What time does your flight touch down? In Zurich or the Europort near Basel?

I ought that the post title meant that the OP was staying overnight in a Basel restaurant. Curiosity made me open the post.

Breakfast in or near hotel (I think that the restaurant is very expensive and I don't know for sure if breakfast is included.)

Take the No 6 tram a couple of stops going east and there is a McDonalds next to the Basel Bad train station.

Your travel agent has done what travel agents do, Pullman is a typical business hotel next to the Messe or "fair" where all the big exhibitions and trade shows go. Every large city in Europe has similar. I don't know if the Jacob Javits Center in NYC would be called equivalent but the one in Basel is much much bigger.

You are in the part of the city called Klein-Basel which is separated from Groß-Basel by the river. The ferry is just a short walk east from the bridge where the trams near your hotel cross over the river. They are easy to find and fun, if a tad underwhelming.

Just before the tram crosses the river, on the Klein-Basel side is a Migros small supermarket with a buffet restaurant upstairs which is good for lunch and dinner. There are bakeries all over with pastry and rolls, but no coffee.

If you follow the suggestion to go to that McDonalds for breakfast you will need to be a late sleeper. Most McDonalds in Germany, France and Switzerland don't open for breakfast. If you want a McD's for brekkie you will need the one either at the Marktplatz in the old town (on the corner, slightly hidden from the tram stop, with an upstairs) or at the main SBB train station.

Wander around and see what you find.

I agree with Nigel, Pullman Basel Hotel (aka Hotel Europa) is a upmarket business hotel. Plenty of others cheaper and with more "character".
"looks like it is on a major tram line that goes to the old town" - Basel it is difficult not to be on a tram line. The stop is outside the hotel. You get a free public transport ticket (trams and buses) valid for the duration of your stay.
The ground floor is occupied by a Coop supermarket, good for chocolate and "in-room" supplies.
There are 5 bridges across the Rhine in Basel, the one in the middle, on the site of the original bridge from 1226, is called the middle bridge. There are 4 ferries, spaced equidistant between each of the 5 bridges. Simple!

Breakfast: step out of the hotel and turn right (towards the middle bridge) within a few metres you will see cafés on both sides of the road which will sell you breakfast of coffee + croissants ("gipfeli") + cakes (McDonald's no way - puke). If it is warm enough they have tables outside.
Either carry on walking (~10 mins.), or hop a tram to the river. Then either turn left or right depending on which ferry you want. The one on the left is the the Münster ferry, it involves a climb on the other side up to the Münster.

Other meals: Again exit the hotel and turn right, on the corner (~100 metres) there is the Walliserstube and the Rheinfelderhof, both of which will give honest Swiss food for as cheap as you can get in Basel. Plenty of other good places on both sides of the river.

Basel is a city for exploring on foot, lots of narrow alleys where you could be any any century. Plus museums. Enjoy!

Thanks for replies so quickly. Sorry Sam, thought I put a comma. Not surprised by the comments on hotel. I normally travel independently, but this is a trip for a 94 year old friend. It is great to hear that the tram is right outside the hotel door. Thanks for restaurant suggestions and tips about the ferries. Sounds like the ferry the other side not the Munster would be better given the hill at the Munster.

We land in the Europort near Basel around 10 AM. Our hope is to either get early check-in or at least to drop bags.

Is there a restaurant for lunch in the old town that one of you would recommend? Maybe a little more expense but some good Swiss food and atmosphere. I envision using our hotel for a good nights sleep, but not spending a lot of time in that part of town given how little time we will have.

We land in the Europort near Basel around 10 AM. Our hope is to either get early check-in or at least to drop bags.

No problem, Bus from airport, then tram to your hotel. Buy a ticket from the ticket machine at the bus stop, good all the way to your hotel (bus+tram). You will easily be at your hotel for 11:00 to drop off your bags. When you check in they will give you a transport ticket which is valid for the rest of your stay.

Is there a restaurant for lunch in the old town that one of you would recommend?

Any tram from outside your hotel (same side of road, 6+14+15), get off at Marktplatz (Market square).
Confiserie Schiesser traditional Café.
Brasserie Baselstab upmarket restaurant with local dishes.
Gifthüttli my favourite, One street back from the Marktplatz.

Yea Chris, these are great suggestions, though I feel my companions will still go for cab but at least now I have an option. Thanks especially for the restaurant suggestions. Do you have some menu suggestions for your favorite restaurant? I can't see your reply and don't remember the name, starts with G

Bus + tram from airport to anywhere in Basel city (2 zones) = CHF 4.70 per person.
Taxi = approx CHF 40.00. You have been warned.

Gifthüttli (click for website) is a place for full meals, and might be difficult to find. If you want a light lunch, choose the Confiserie Schiesser (click for website), directly on Marktplatz.
The Gifthüttli (click here for evening menu) specialises in Cordon Bleu. But they also do local specialities like Kalbslääberli (calf's liver), best with Röschti (potatoes), and for starters Nüsslisalat.

Again Chris, thank you for the reply. I was aware of the price of taxi but it is good to know the ease of connection by public transport. I will bring up with my group. This is also good info for others using this site as I have noticed many Rhine cruisers have posted here.

I am especially grateful for the menu and restaurant suggestions from someone who lives in town.

Out of curiosity do you have a hotel you would recommend to a friend of a friend (someone you would not offer hospitality to yourself in your home)?