Art & culture – All our local tips

A crazy place full of crazy art and crazy people. It is not a usual white-walled gallery decorated with a few precisely placed pictures. It isn’t a place where you sip white wine, wear huge nerd glasses and hold pompous conversations in an overly civilized atmosphere with super stylish people that call themselves artists.

This gallery has a bar with a couch integrated, you drink beer, it is loud and smokey and the crowd manages to admire the exhibited art without constantly discussing the deeper meaning that might be underlying it. Sometimes, the walls are white, sometimes covered in colorful street art by leading Swiss and international artists of the urban scene.

On Wednesdays the „Artsy Fartsy Nights” are on, where you can hang, socialize and exchange ideas with other creative people. One night someone will show a film, another there will be some live painting. You can always count on mad little appetizers served on old skateboards though.

BlamBalmBlam is a gallery that isn’t elitist but refreshingly „real life” (and probably a little “blamblam”). Check it out and enjoy!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
BlamBlamBlam | Art & culture, Bars | Free
Hönggerstrasse 45 | Kreis 5 Industrie
Wed – Sun 16:00 – 20:00

From the outside, the Zähringer looks pretty inconspicuous. There’s not much that indicated that this is not quite an ordinary Café. But it is not quite an ordinary café. Beginning with the ownership: The Zähringer is self-governing, which means everyone who works there is partly owner and has a say in everything that happens. So the girl who serves you coffee there is basically part of the executive board.

The Zähringer is a good place to drink coffee, but also to eat lunch or dinner. If you care about the environment (and you should), you’ll like this: All things are freshly prepared and most of them organic. Most of them because the Zähringer-Collective favors regional products (even if not organic) over products that have traveled around the whole globe. Normally you can choose between a yummy vegetarian, a vegan and a carnivoric (yes, that’s how they call it) meal.

And there’s the cultural thing. The place started in the heated eighties and had a lot going on: Concerts, readings, exhibitions and so on. Now it’s a little calmer, but there are still cultural events several times a month. Interested? Stop by and check out the programme.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Café Zähringer | Art & culture, Coffee & tea, Music, Snacks, Restaurants (Organic)
Zähringerplatz 11 | Kreis 1 City | +41442520500
Mon 18:00 – 00:00, Tue – Sun 08:00 – 00:00

Most people have heard of the Dada art movement, but few realise that it originated in the Niederdorf in Zurich in 1916, in partnership with Cabaret Voltaire.

The founder’s house has been preserved and was opened to the public in 2002 as a museum. Last summer, its café was turned into a bar and Duda was born. The name is a play on words, coming from Dada and the German for ‘you there’. So far, very few people know about the bar, as you have to walk through the museum shop – great for unusual gifts – to get to it, and because Duda is not allowed to advertise itself on the historical façade.

The management team is aspiring to create a local meeting point, which is missing in Zurich’s city centre, with a comfy lounge corner and good music and the cheapest (and exclusively local) beer in town! The stylish bar, made from what looks like copper, and the original architectural features, make this bar one of a kind in Zurich. I’m very happy that the funding to keep it going was secured last autumn, and I hope they’ll receive their funding again this year! So visit it while it lasts.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Duda | Art & culture, Bars | Bottle beer CHF 4.50
Spiegelgasse 1 | Kreis 1 City | +41432685720
Tue – Sat 12:00 – 00:00, Sun 12:30 – 18:30

The Dynamo is Zurichs youth centre with a big range of cultural projects and workshops – an ideal place for creative, active youngsters. Music, Dance, Theatre, Graphics, Photo and Handcraft are what the Dynamo is all about. The place is supported by the city, which means that there is a lot going on and projects, that wouldn’t find sponsors get some financial support.

At the weekends there are parties and often concerts (mostly rock). Besides the main concert location in the Building, under ground there is also a kind of basement, the “Werk 21“, for more underground shows. Every Band can play here, no matter if they’re good or not. So if you want to see real local, real young (and sometimes really bad) Punkbands, check this place out. I even played there myself when I was in a punkband, and oh boy did we suck The crowd at these crowds is normally very alternative, so if you’re scared of tattoos and piercings then maybe they’re not made for you.

The Dynamo is right at the Limmat-River and there is a Café too. So even if you don’t feel like concerts or parties, you can have a coffee (or a beer) and enjoy the artsy atmosphere and (hopefully) the good weather besides the water.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Dynamo | Art & culture, Bars, Coffee & tea, Music, Restaurants (Mediterranean)
Wasserwerkstrasse 21 | Kreis 6/7 Fluntern | +41443653444
Restaurant Tue – Fri 10:30 – 19:00, Sat – Sun 11:00 – 19:00

The walls of this small bar are covered by porn art of different, often slightly sick minded artists. One week you find aesthetic black white photography of sexy pin-up girls that also prude people can handle without nightmares. Another week, the paintings are, lets say, more explicit.

When you go to the bathroom, you’re surrounded by lots of red and lots of naked women (only pictures of them, of course!). And there are hidden stairs leading all secret porn lovers up to the legendary porn cinema Stüssihof. So don’t get worried if an old man stumbles to the toilett and doesn’t return to the bar for a few hours. He didn’t collapse. On the contrary, he’s probably enjoying himself very much!

You meet crazy and interesting people at Edi’s Weinstube and they are all very communicative. Some of them you’d never expect there, some completely embody the place, like Louisa Lamour, a famous swiss porn star that is regularly hanging around. And the best is yet to come, you get amazing wine for no money. I don’t think wine is cheaper anywhere else, which is one of the reasons the place has become super trendy. You can also buy bottles of wine to take out or have your own little

degustation and try different wines for only CHF 3.00 a glass. If you aren’t afraid of nakedness, you should stop.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Edi’s Weinstube | Art & culture, Bars | Bottle of wine from CHF 6.40
Stuessihofstatt 14 | Kreis 1 City
Mon – Thu 11:00 – 00:00, Fri – Sat 11:00 – 02:00, Sun 14:00 – 22:00

The flea market at the Kanzlei is one of the biggest – if not the biggest – regular flea markets in Switzerland.

Every Saturday between up to 400 sellers offer their goods at this place, where also the cinema Xenix is. I suggest you stop by on a Saturday morning after breakfast and before you start your shopping spree at the well-known places like the Bahnhofstrasse or the Niederdorf.

Because, first of all, it’s much cheaper, and – secondly – you can find gizmos you won’t find anywhere else in the world. I drop by from time to time to look for new cheap Videogames or old disney comic books, and I would go there more often if I wasn’t such a lazy Saturday-late riser. But you won’t rise late, will you, dear traveller? Surely you don’t want to waste your time in Zurich sleeping…

Get the idea? No? Okay, I’ll go into a little more detail: On this flea market you can find bicycles, televisors, radios, mobile phones, chargers for mobile phones, accessory for mobile phones, books, comics, DVDs, Playstation-Games, xBox-Games, PC-Games, Gameboy-Games, bicycles, bicycles pumps, pumps, sneakers, boots , loafers, lamps, chairs, clocks, forks, knives, spoons, shirts, trousers, beanies, gloves, saxophones, guitars, trumpets, basses, violins, hammers, candle-holders, electric cables (for everything), blenders, kettles, steamers, frying pans, pictures, picture frames, hammers, screws, screwdrivers, nails, old vases, jewellery, toys, board games, card games, hats, flags, iron ware, and rummage, rummage, rummage.

And much more.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Flohmarkt Kanzlei | Art & culture, Shopping
Kanzleistrasse 56 | Kreis 4 Aussersihl
Sat 08:00 – 16:00

Guy Stevens’ Funny Laundry brings English speaking stand-up comedians from around the world to Switzerland. Every fortnight, selected comedians take the stage at Mascotte. It’s a great way to start the night with a chuckle and in contrast to other performances in Zurich, this evening is all in English.

You find a review about the venue itself by Roman Rey (see this article about Mascotte), so I won’t go into details about it. But the room is perfect for stand-up acts, intimate enough for atmosphere but also big enough to mingle before and afterwards for a drink and a chat at the bar.

The audience is very international and there are always two acts per night. Check the website to see who’s on as the programme changes every time and, of course, to make sure there is an act on that specific Saturday. There is no reserved seating, so first come, first seated.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Funny Laundry at Mascotte | Art & culture, Theaters | Ticket (Cash only) CHF 35.00
Theaterstrasse 10 | Kreis 1 City
Sat every fortnight: door 19:00, show 20:00

The Langstrasse area, in Kreis (districts) 4 and 5, is known for both its multicultural scene and its design community. As such, it plays host every year to Kreislauf 4 + 5, when sixty or so shops and ateliers open their doors to show their works and give the public an opportunity to speak with the designers.

This year, it’s on the 9-10 May, but if you don’t happen to be in Zurich that weekend, it’s still worth checking out the event’s website, one of the best and most complete lists of Zurich’s many ateliers and designers, ranging from fashion and interior to jewellery and art. The entry for each label includes a short description along with a picture and the shop address . Under “Quartierplan” you’ll also find a map with which you can do your own tour all year round.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Kreislauf 4+5 | Art & culture, Shopping | Free
Kreis 4 and 5 | Kreis 4 Aussersihl
Depends on atelier

The Maier’s is a little Mekka for cultural events a bit offside the centre of Zürich. Month after month,they have a packed program with many kinds of things: comedy, cabaret, plays, bands, solo artists, dance performances, choirs and so on. You can find pretty special/interesting stuff too, like improv theatres or singalong-performances (whatever that exactly is).

But I have to admit, I haven’t been to the theatre-room in the back of the place a lot. Except when there were Slam Poetry-championships, which really rocked. Anyway, what I wanted to say: There is also a Bar, where you can hang out before or after a performance or just because, as I do from time to time, because I like the atmosphere.

If you want to have lunch, maybe this is the wrong place for it,  but they have tapas to satisfy your little hunger. Check it out!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Maier’s Theater | Art & culture, Bars, Coffee & tea, Music, Theaters
Albisriederstrasse 16 | Kreis 3 Wiedikon | +41438186565
Open when there’s an event, from 18:00

A museum full of beautiful art from Asia, Africa, America and Oceania, covering super interesting themes. Themes that won’t only (but also!) fascinate the art lovers and connoisseurs amongst you.

Currently there’s for example an exhibition on indulgence and intoxication, showing crazy, colorful paintings of nicely dressed Indians going wild while smoking drugs or being chased by monkeys in their drunken, delirious state. Very amusing, pretty to look at, beautifully drawn and at the same time highly educational, teaching you quite a bit about Indian history. That is if you are not too lazy to read the background information next to the paintings. Try to defeat your weaker self, its worth it!

At the end of the visit you should check out the museum store that is full of treasures. You can also buy the huge, funky posters from all the different exhibitions for only a few franks (see picture). Then you will definitely need a coffee and a piece of cake. It is time to go sit in the museum café and stare the ethno ladys with their weirdly shaped galsses hanging there.

Once your energy is restored you have to go take a walk in the beautiful (beautiful!) park surrounding the museum. In winter it is nothing special (unless there’s snow and you have a sled!), but all other seasons it’s just magical.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Museum Rietberg | Art & culture, Coffee & tea | Entrance from CHF 10.00
Gablerstrasse 15 | Kreis 2 Enge | +41442063131
Tue – Sun 10:00 – 17:00, Wed – Thu 10:00 – 20:00

Zurich’s opera house, located centrally near the lake, has enjoyed rising reputation since Alexander Pereira became director in 1991. The present building was inaugurated in 1891 with a production of Wagner’s Lohengrin.

Famous names like Agnes Baltsa, Cecilia Bartoli and Thomas Hampson sing in Zurich.

Count with at least 2-3 Verdi operas per season as well as several more exotic pieces of work.

And of course: a taste of Wagner every year.

The current director was originally no fan of subtitles and a thorough study of the libretto was mandatory before a visit. A few years ago he was finally convinced and now there are German subtitles even for German operas.

The prices vary erratically depending primarily on the seat category. There are very good seats going for CHF 38.00 (twice the price of a cinema ticket). Reserve in advance and save 90% off the most expensive seats without sacrificing artistic pleasure. Chances are good that you would move to a more expensive empty seat once the lights go down.

After a première you can enjoy an informal banquet at the central stage and mingle with artists and members of the national government.

The dress code is informal: you can go with jeans.

My tip for the current season (2009-10): Salome of Richard Strauss

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Opernhaus Zürich | Art & culture, Music | Entrance from CHF 15.00
Falkenstrasse 1 | Kreis 8 Seefeld | +41442686400
Opening times depending on the particular production

You want to travel through time and meet eye-witnesses of the last half century? Search no further, the “Outlane” is your place: a mix between bar, museum and private collection of pinball machines and old video games that you can play.

The Outlane is run by two crazy collectors and contains 50 Flippers and about 10 old consoles with ever-changing old video games. The most ancient flippers are from the beginning days in the forties, very simple and sweet (and pretty boring to play), whereas the newest ones have a lot of kick-ass features. All these machines have a story to tell, they reveal things about the time they were made. If you’re interested, drop in and talk to the owners, they like to tell people about their collection.

Being no regular bar, the Outlane is only opened once per month – and it’s almost impossible to find. In the middle of a living quarter, you have to walk down a car garage and ring on an unimposing door. Well, that has it’s charm too, doesn’t it? Check out the comments of this article for a detailed description how to get there.

One last thing: Please consider this place a museum, not a bar to get shit-faced and out of control. You got plenty of opportunities to do that at the Langstrasse.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Outlane | Art & culture, Bars
Fuchsiastrasse 10 | Kreis 9 Altstetten
Every last Thursday in the month from 20:30

Spotters generally recommend bars, restaurants and other locations. However, I think this newsletter could be a great help for an overview of Zurich’s nightlife. Ron Orp has established itself amongst the locals (in German) throughout the last few years and launched an English version for Zurich’s international community in September 2008.

If you subscribe to the English version of Ron Orp’s Mail for Zurich (it’s for free), you’ll receive every Thursday recommendations for clubs, restaurants, bars, art, theatre, literature, concerts and shopping all over the city including the latest openings. It’s like a diary for the upcoming weekend and week with a varied mix of happenings.

Often you also have a chance to win free tickets to concerts and events. The Ron Orp team is really easy-going and I’m sure you could pick up the tickets (if you win) either at their office or at the door of the venue itself if you don’t have a postal address to which they can send the tickets in time.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Ron Orp’s Mail in english | Art & culture | Free
zuerich@ronorp.net | Kreis 4 Aussersihl | +41433220883
24 hours daily

The Rote Fabrik is one of the bigger cultural centres in Zurich. As the name implicates, the building-complex once was a factory.

Music is a big thing here, there are over 100 concerts, partys and festivals every year. Now, if you know me (respectively my texts on this site) you’ll expect that there’s mainly rock music. Wrong. Hip-Hop, Reggae, Soul, R’n'B, Worldbeat, Folk and Jazz are equally as important. The people in charge characterize their program as “music from aficionados for aficionados”, speak: stuff that’s good but not necessarily mainstream.

But there’s not only the music, there’s a theatre, there are a lot of readings, sometimes panel discussions, a Bar to have a drink and Restaurant where you can eat really well. Oh yeah, I almost forgot: The Rote Fabrik is located right at the lake… which is nice.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Rote Fabrik | Art & culture, Bars, Music, Snacks, Theaters, Restaurants (International)
Seestrasse 395 | Kreis 2 Enge | +41444855858
Restaurant Tue – Thu & Sun 11:00 – 00:00, Fri – Sat 11:00 – 01:00

I don’t know what it’s like in your city, but here most bigger bookshops have a Café at some floore where you can sit down and rest from the tiring bookshopping. Now I’ve even seen Starbucks built in Bookstore. That’s… well, I won’t go there now. Anyway, the Spheres is kind of like this – except it’s different. Because the Spheres is not a Bookshop with a Café in it, it’s a Café with a Bookshop in it. Or at least both equally.

So if you want to have a coffee in an inspiring atmosphere, go to the spheres, order something to drink and take a book to skim through – if you speak German. Unfortunately, you won’t find English books there. If you do speak German, I’m sure you’ll like the choice of books.

Something I haven’t told you yet: The Café and Bookshop, that’s not all. From time to time, one part of this place turns into a stage for book-readings or discussions where people are invited to take part in. For example there’s a monthly event called “Science Bar” where top-scientists answer burning questions about modern science. No, not a lecture, but an unforced discussion with the guests. I bet your bookstore ’round the corner doesn’t have that.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Spheres | Art & culture, Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks | Coffee CHF 4.50
Hardturmstrasse 66 | Kreis 5 Industrie | +41444406622
Mon – Fri 08:00 – 00:00, Sat – Sun 09:30 – 19:30

Although Gessnerallee has been the home of avant-garde theatre in Zurich for more than twenty years, its foyer became Stall 6 – a thriving bar and club – just four years ago. The former stable appeals to those looking to avoid the clichés and genres of Zurich’s nightclubs; and it promises new ideas, a few of which will be realised this year.

Banishing clubbing stereotypes in Zurich is tough, yet the varied music styles at Stall 6 mean the club has no set clientele and is one of the few places in Zurich where you never feel out of place no matter what you wear. The organisers are also not interested in a set concept for the club. It’s therefore possible to find reggae on a Monday, funk and soul on weeknights, and electro at the weekend. Alternatively, grab a programme and seek out a Hum Rush party, where you’ll hear all music styles in one night.

Situated in the foyer of Gessnerallee, Stall 6 makes a feature of elements of its past, when the building belonged to the military – such as the horse’s feeding troughs. With visitors ranging from theatregoers to night owls, the audience is constantly changing and the place is never empty; you can even start clubbing at 23:00 if you like, as you’re unlikely to walk into a deserted club.

Sometimes installations from the theatre make their way over to Stall 6, adding to its unique atmosphere, and the generous space offers ample room for groups to arrive at any time without a reservation.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Stall 6 – Gessnerallee | Art & culture, Bars, Music | Concert CHF 25.00
Gessnerallee 8 | Kreis 1 City | +41442258154
Daily from 17:00

An international dance festival featuring crews from all over the world: Brazil, Belgium, Switzerland, Great Britain, South Africa, Holland, USA, Israel, Germany. They are all doing contemporary dance but interpreted very differently. There’s an incredible spectrum of forms and styles !

The shows are all over Switzerland, in different cities and locations and often they are accompanied by great live music. An inspiring happening for all dancers, all those who would like to be dancers and also those that just love watching dancers and want to be catapulted into a different culture for a few hours.

My Tipp: Bruno Beltrão & Grupo de Rua from Brazil, performing HipHop in the structure of contemporary dance.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Steps #12 | Art & culture, Music, Festivals & events | Entrance from CHF 20.00
Different places (check website for details) | Kreis 1 City
22. April – 13 May 2010 (check website for program)

If you’re a film lover or cineast and thinking about watching a motion picture in Zurich, you should do that at Xenix. Why? Because it is one of the most reputable indie-cinemas in Switzerland (and probably Europe) with a wild history and many myths and legends attached to it.

The place had its beginnings in the eighties, the time of political and social unrest in Zurich. A group of people built up a cinema in the self-governed youth center which was the headquarters of the resistance against the establishment. The center closed, the cinema had to move, and not for the last time.

Over the years the Xenix was set up in many different places until it, almost thirty year ago, found a place it could stay for good: the Barracks on the Kanzlei-area. Over the years it grew up and became more and more professional.

And that’s where it still is. In the building there’s also a Bar to have a drink before, after or while the film (it’s no problem to get a beer and take it into the cinema). If you’re early, you can get one of the sofa seats in the front – veeery comfy. So if you’re going with your significant other, make sure you be there in time.

The Xenix has topical program-months; about a specific theme, director, era or genre. In summer, they host an open air cinema – well worth checking out. Normally, Xenix has several showings a day, with many different films – just don’t expect to see a Blockbuster with Angelina Jolie here.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Xenix | Art & culture, Bars, Cinemas | Showing CHF 16.00
Kanzleistrasse 52 | Kreis 4 Aussersihl | +41442420411
Mon – Thu 16:00 – 00:30, Fri 16:00 – 02:30, Sat 11:30 – 02:30, Sun 11:30 – 00:30

The annual Youth Filming Days are the largest and most renown festival for upcoming Swiss filmmakers. They’re already taking place for the 34th time this March. The heart of the festival is a competition, where people of up to 25 years can hand in their productions (short films).

All films are shown by age category, judged by a jury as well as the audience and a winner announced on the last day. Further there’s also a category for students up to 30 years that are currently attending film schools. In between, other films created by young adults from all over the world are shown that focus on themes that concern young people cross-culturally.

On top there are various studio workshops to take part in and of course the legendary parties in the evenings, where all of Zurich’s hipsters meet up to go wild for a few hours. On the website you can check out the detailed program and take a first look at the films that are in the competition.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Youth Filming Days 2010 | Art & culture, Cinemas, Festivals & events | Entrance from CHF 00.00
Gessnerallee 9 | Kreis 1 City
10 – 14 March 2010 (check website for program)