The 0815 bar in Seefeld opened in October 2008 and is the younger brother of the 0815 bar near the train station which is about 5 years older. Like all brothers that are not identical twins, the 0815 bars have their similarities and their differences.

The similarities:

A mix of architectural design, electronic music, snacks and drinks. I have tried the tapas but my favorite is the beefsteak tartar. My special wish, lots of toasted bread, was impeccably fulfilled.

The differences:

Think about the spot near the train station as somewhat crowded and noisy, the type of crowd having an after-work drink. A bit of pretension? Unavoidably. And there might be difficulty finding a seat (so choose the most interesting crows and squeeze in diplomatically).

Now leave the urban center and move towards the lake. Time to relax. After a swim in Bad Utoquai during the summer or a dip in the frozen lake after a sauna in the winter, 0815 in the Kreuzstrasse is a very valid continuation. It is less crowded than the older brother but busy, less pretentious but still cool and the crowds are no less handsome than near the train station.

In the Summer, there are tables outside. And every other summer, there is football: world cup or European cup. Two big screen TVs with different orientations are located inside. But you can follow the games comfortably even if you are sitting outside.

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0815 | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks | Orange Juice CHF 5.00
Kreuzstrasse 26 | Kreis 8 Seefeld | +41442420815
Mon – Fri 07:00 – 00:00, Sat 09:00 – 02:00

The first thing that stands out about My Place is the furniture – all designer and vintage fare from the 1960s onwards, and all for sale. Perhaps you are awash with cash, in which case you can purchase a piece of furniture there and then.

Most people, including the writer of this humble piece, will have to make do with the food and drink on offer, and it’s by no means a hard lot. The coffee at My Place is proper strong, and they offer a great selection of snacks such as tartelettes, ciabattas, salads and birchermüesli. They also serve a Swiss beer called Appenzeller on tap, you ought to give it a try.

My Place makes for a pleasant stopover if you’re in the area. It offers welcome respite from all the art at Kunsthaus Zürich and is handy for a tipple before watching a play at Schauspielhaus around the corner. During the day My Place is popular with students from the nearby schools and universities, while evenings are a more quiet affair.

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My Place | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks | Toast Hawaii CHF 7.50
Hottingerstr. 4 | Kreis 6/7 Fluntern
Mon – Fri 08:00 – 00:00, Sat 10:00 – 00:00

This cozy café bar next to Fritschiwiese is the only place of its kind in this very corner of town and as a result it’s usually crowded with locals. Despite the crowds, the place is bright and airy, and the pretty (1960s?) ceiling lights are a highlight (almost literally).

For me, the main draw is Z am Park’s weekend brunch. There’s three or four dishes to choose from, and as a nice touch, they carry the same female names as some of the nearby streets. Gertrud, with eggs, bacon, bread and salad and washed down with a cup of their excellent coffee, is a personal favorite. As a bonus the brunch options aren’t as pricey as they are elsewhere in Zurich.

The good people at Z am Park also serve lunch during the week, and you can check out the daily specials on the website. In the evening they offer snacks to go with your beer and wine.

As a visitor in Zurich you’re unlikely to spend much time in the area, but if you like a spot off the beaten track, this one is well worth seeking out.

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Z am Park | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks | Brunch from CHF 9.50
Zurlindenstrasse 275 | Kreis 3 Wiedikon
Mon – Fri 07:30 – 00:00, Sat – Sun 10:00 – 00:00

I approached the entrance of the bar and looked up the stairs. She was nearby; alone and smoking her cigarette; well dressed, good looking, a bit older than me, indifferent and bored? The textbook opportunity for making contact: “what would you tell me about the Goethe Bar?” I asked. “The bar is good, the restaurant would not be my first choice” she replied (restaurant and bar are separated). “The public tends to be upper class”.

We chatted a bit more about the bar and then the gentleman (noticeably older than me) came near the stairs and looked at her from up inside. “I am coming” she answered and went up hastily.

So one more spot in Seefeld to write about? You know what they say: one spot leads to another. I first noticed it from the tram station on the opposite side of the Seefeldstrasse. About two years ago when it opened. The bar is elevated so, once inside, guests see the human traffic outside especially when they sit along the big glass window facing the street (my preference). The crowd is a bit on the well-dressed side, not the student or teenager type with the sneakers; well dressed maybe because they just come from work. Or maybe because they are going out for the evening and this is the first station.

During the summer there is a more casual option: the few tables outside which often receive plenty of Zurich’s deep red evening light.

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Goethe Bar | Bars, Snacks | Bottle water (gas) CHF 10.00
Goethestrasse 10 | Kreis 1 City | +41442222030
Mon – Thu 07:00 – 00:00, Sat 09:00 – 02:00 , Sun 09:00 – 00:00

This former garage most certainly won’t appeal to fans of sleek and decluttered interior spaces. Les Halles is a wacky, noisy affair, packed to the rafters with posters and mirrors, bicycles hanging off the ceiling, bric-a-brac, old, mismatched furniture – and punters.

Its popularity most certainly has something to do with Les Halles’ many different disguises. It’s a bar, a restaurant and take-away, it’s got a football table and a great little deli stocking, among other Italian goodies, a vast selection of quality pasta. The small restaurant menu usually consists of moules & frites, a pasta dish, antipasti and salads, with prices staying on the decent side of things.

Tucked away between Pfingstweidstrasse and Schiffbau, Les Halles isn’t the easiest place to find. Your best bet is to start underneath Hardbrücke, walk down Pfingstweidstrasse on the right-hand side and you’ll Les Halles’ unassuming front entrance after about a one-minute walk.

Les Halles provides an excellent starting point if you’re off exploring Zurich West’s nightlife, or a destination in its own right. It will seem like you’ve gone to at least three different places even though you never left the premises.

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Les Halles | Bars, Shopping, Snacks, Restaurants | Glass of beer CHF 5.00
Pfingstweidstrasse 6 | Kreis 5 Industrie
Sun – Wed 11:00 – 00:00, Thu 11:00 – 01:00, Fri – Sat 11:00 – 02:00

When the temperatures rises, you find the majority of Zurich’s inhabitants near the water. Just five minutes from the main station is the pool area Oberer Letten, located at the Limmat. Floating in the river is one of the best feelings you’ll ever experience!

On the left hand side you’ll see a concrete construction from 1952 which is also called PierWest; that’s where you’ll find the changing rooms as well as a bar. (The picture is taken upstream, so it’s just the other way around). This side is for all who prefer shade and who like it a bit quieter. However, at dusk this area turns into a barbecue place / bar with music and the perfect chill-out area.

On the right hand side of the river there’s a patch of grass – though it’s generally so packed that it’s hard to make out the green between all the bodies. On one side of this patch is a (rather over priced) restaurant and on the other a beach-volley court. Here the young and hip meet after work for a swim and a chat.

To swim in the river, it’s best to walk upstream and then to float down, up to 400 m all in all. There are several ladders where you can leave the water within the pool area so you don’t have to worry about a thing.

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Oberer Letten | Bars, Music, Relaxing | Free
Lettensteg 10 | Kreis 5 Industrie | +41443629200
24 hours daily

I have to admit I was sceptical when Dini Mueter opened its doors in October 2010. “Just another venue with a slightly alternative concept”, I thought. But ever since, I keep returning to the restaurant / café / bar. Suggesting it myself as a place to meet for business lunch, social coffees or an after work beer until I realized, I really like it here. And I don’t feel awkward sitting in this place on my own.

The venue is not very spacious, but comfortable and cosy without trying too hard. Similar to how it would be when visiting your mom (which is what the name means) but without the fuss. And it’s the place in the city that feeds you with a Sunday roast. The staff is friendly, the served dishes tasty and seasonal and the menu changes regularly.

If you go there in the evening, check the programme before getting too comfortable. Events take place regularly, and if it happens that you don’t like the act – the space isn’t large enough to avoid it!

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Dini Mueter | Bars, Coffee & tea, Restaurants (Seasonal Swiss cuisine) | Beer CHF 5
Langstrasse 10 | Kreis 4 Aussersihl
Mon – Thu 07:30 – 23:00, Fri 07:30 – 02:00, Sat 08.00 – 02:00, Sun 09:00 – 18:00

In 2009, the Wohnzimmerbar opened its doors just next to cinema RiffRaff. As the name suggests (Wohnzimmer means “living room”), it’s small and pleasant and the atmosphere familiar, filled with comfy chairs, small tables and a chaise longue.

The area in the back normally sports one large table but can also be booked for a party up to 10 people for a customized dinner. For all other empty stomachs there are tapas plates available as well as various spreads with bread. Starting this November, they host an Indian buffet every Tuesday (all you can eat) for 25 francs per person.

Once in a while, the bar hosts concerts and djs and you’ll be amazed how many people can fit into such a small space. But the bar’s days are numbered. Their lease is up soon and a new project is in planning. Nothing I can share with you yet, bu I’ll keep you posted.

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Wohnzimmerbar | Bars, Coffee & tea, Restaurants (Intern.) | Tapas from CHF 9.00
Neugasse 75 | Kreis 5 Industrie | +41762104880
Mon – Sat 18.00 – 00:00

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 a few years ago. The former stable appeals to those looking to avoid the clichés and genres of Zurich’s nightclubs.

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.

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Stall 6 – Gessnerallee | Art & culture, Bars, Music | Concert CHF 25.00
Gessnerallee 8 | Kreis 1 City | +41442258154
Daily from 17:00

I like Acapulco and I’m there regularly, mostly during the week. If the weather is nice enough it’s best to catch a seat outside so you can watch the passers-by. There is a lot going on at that corner – at present it’s too cold for that but if you’re a smoker you might end up outside anyway. Inside, the sofa seats are so comfortable that you’re likely to stay much longer than you intended to.

Despite its name and logo, the bar has no Mexican or Hawaiian features inside. With mirrors and lots of red it’s a modern and relaxed bar throughout.

This aside, the venue has some special features. Downstairs, a room wallpapered with Panini-soccer-pictures sets the mood for table soccer, where you can compete against rather competitive locals (this is also the smoking section nowadays). Once a month, Acapulco hosts the Musikschau night, where you can watch the best music videos of the last 30 years for free.

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Acapulco | Bars | Beer CHF 5.20
Neugasse 56 | Kreis 5 Industrie | +41442726688
Mon – Tue 17:00 – 01:00, Wed – Thu & Sun 17:00 – 02:00, Fri 16:00 – 03:00, Sat 17:00 – 03:00