Restaurants & dining – All our local tips

The restaurant belongs to the family Te. It’s a traditional family business and you can feel that ! When you look at the menu for the first time, it’s a bit overwhelming and you don’t exactly expect to get good food. The variety of specialities offered is insane and next to every dish there’s a super trashy picture showing way too shiny noodles and similar.

But then you get the food and you will almost faint because it’s so good! This makes you forget the interior, that really isn’t ideal for a romantic dinner, mainly because it’s dominated by several big TV screens that you just have to stare at. Those are showing wild, pimped up Asians dancing or rather hopping around to their own pop music, the lyrics being shown at the bottom, in case anyone is up for a spontaneous karaoke session. Then again you might also not want to forget the interior because it adds to the authenticity of the restaurant.

During lunch time you’ll always find a table but in the evening you have to make sure to reserve, if you aren’t into eating before 6 o’clock or standing in a line with other hungry Ah-Hua fans that are prepared to do anything to gorge some satay chicken. This can of course be very entertaining as well and introduces you to one of the darker sides of us Swiss.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Ah-Hua | Snacks, Restaurants (Thai) | Main (meat) from CHF 17.00
Ankerstrasse 110 | Kreis 4 Aussersihl | +41442403888
Mon – Fri 11:30 – 15.00 & 17:00 – 22:30, Sat – Sun 12:00 – 22:30

I first visited a Japanese restaurant as a student in Boston. The invitation mentioned a Japanese steakhouse with Samurai like performance cooking: sounded great for a fan of Asian food. No mention of the fact that not all Japanese food is served cooked. And so came sushi and wasabi: this first unexpected contact with a new pleasure had it all: you know there is something in it you like but hesitate about fully letting go. You know the second time would taste better. You know you will do it for the rest of your life.

21 years later Japanese food is commonplace in Europe. But now the point is originality. Which are the most Japanese of the Japanese restaurants? Consider the following criteria: (i) the personnel are Japanese and prefer to speak English rather than the local language (ii) you don’t understand much of the menu and it needs to be explained to you (iii) it gets full of Japanese visitors who apparently don’t speak the local language and order spectacular stuff (iv) service is slow (v) it is expensive.

Welcome to Bimi in Zurich-Seefeld: a simple and unpretentious environment; luxury lies in the flavor. The sushi is on the salty side. For a main course I recommend the beef filet: eat it slowly with the vegetables because the portion is Spartan. Finally: don’t be afraid of the red beans on the ice cream if you haven’t tried them before: they are good; let go on the first time.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
BIMI | Restaurants (Japanese) | Dinner for two CHF 220
Seefeldstrasse 25 | Kreis 8 Seefeld | +41432437777
Mon, Sat 18:00 – 23:00 , Tue – Fri 11:30 – 14:00 & 18:00 – 23:00

If your stomach is rumbling and have an instant desire for Indian food – or Bollywood-Like Music videos – and don’t want to spend too much money, the Bombay Karachi is just what you’re looking for. Admittedly, this is not the fanciest restaurant around, it actually isn’t a restaurant at all, more of a take-away. But I’m telling you about the place because the food is yummy and you get big portions.

They normally have about six or seven Indian and Pakistani dishes, which you can combine with each other as your heart desires. Of course there is rice too. At least three of them are vegetarian, and if you just take veggie, you pay less. What else there is? Oh yeah, you can have free salad and looooots of dips and sauces with your food. Already hungry?

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Bombay Karachi | Snacks, Restaurants (Indian/Pakistani) | Veg. meal CHF 12.00
Stampfenbachstrasse 32 | Kreis 1 City | +41442626500
Mon – Fri 10:00 – 21:30

Café Milchbar is a recent discovery. Several years after my first visit, I ventured again into the Zentralhof, a beautiful and quiet square hidden near the busy and hectic Bahnhofstrasse. The square evoked vague memories of the Place Vosges in Paris. In the middle there is a fountain. During the warm season it is surrounded by flowers. Two cafés share the southeastern corner of the square for their tables.

The venue is a bakery offering a wide range of breads, sandwiches and pastries. It claims to be the only bakery in the city center preparing its own bread. It caters to early birds since it opens at 05:00 during working days. Lunch is also an option.

For me personally the spot is becoming a preferred station during my Saturday afternoon city stroll. I evade the crowds of the Bahnhofstrasse and enjoy my tomato-mozzarella specialty before going back to where the action is, preferably Confisserie Sprüngli (see the Sprüngli article).

Self service applies. Several major daily newspapers are available. When sitting outside you can choose between a table in the square or in the corridor leading out to the Kappelergasse, where the front entrance to the Café is. But even when sitting inside, during colder weather, you will still appreciate the atmosphere, it always feels like “taking a break”.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Café Milchbar | Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (Bakery) | Espresso CHF 4.10
Kappelergasse 16 | Kreis 1 City | +41442119013
Mon – Fri 05:00 – 18:00, Sat 07:00 – 17:00

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

I enjoy being a spotter because I like to tell the world stories about my favorite places and things. But there is more to it: I developed the habit of having my eyes open and ending up noticing new spots.

I can’t explain otherwise why I noticed the Coco this year although it exists since October 2006.

Why should I have noticed it earlier? Because it is located so dramatically at a point I often go by: very close to Paradeplatz and on the way to other spots I have already written about (check the Palavrion article, Hyatt Bar article).

Why is it hard to notice? Because it is well hidden as if it wants to let its guests relax in peace. Take Bleicherweg from Paradeplatz and on the second opening look left. You will see a charming place with a garden: elegantly and simply setup. There are nice wooden tables with a simple light complementing the surrounding little lights (see photos). And there are also two little sofas (my favorite setting for a drink) without a table in front of them. So if you don’t want to place your glass on the floor, steal a chair from the nearby tables.

I have only tried the drinks but I certainly will test the venue as a restaurant as soon as possible and will update.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Coco Bar & Grill | Bars, Snacks, Restaurants (Grill) | Drinks for two CHF 10.00
Bleicherweg 1A | Kreis 1 City | +41442119898
Mon – Fri 10:00 – 14:30 & 17:00 – 00:00, Sat 17:30 – 00:00

Are you looking for a restaurant combining quality, quantity, a good atmosphere, all at a reasonable price? In Zurich? For me, the Mexican Restaurant Desperado pops up high on the list; in the last 9 years, it has never disappointed me.

There are actually two Desperados in Zurich, one in Höngg and one in Wiedikon. I am a regular of the former.

The menu usually puts me in a dilemma because too many of its dishes appeal to my taste. But most often the winner is: fajitas a discrecion. This meal requires a minimum of two persons and implies unlimited rounds of chicken, beef and shrimp. To enjoy, follow the following strategy: leave out the chicken (nothing special) and concentrate on the beef and the shrimp which are superb. Reduce the proportion of carbohydrates: roll generous quantities of meat and shrimp in the tortillas and leave out rice, beans etc. And don’t order any appetizer before the fajitas.

Some of the deserts are masterpieces: I love the “helado de crema catalana”, yamm! A cigar from the humidor and/or an espresso can be the triumphant epilogue to the entire ritual.

The music is in cultural harmony with the rest of the venue.

If you take your friends to Desperado for your birthday party and declare it, preferably in advance, you eat for free.

The service is excellent; some waiters have been working there for many years.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Desperado | Bars, Snacks, Restaurants (Mexican) | Fajitas à discrecion CHF 42.50
Limmattalstrasse 215 | Kreis 10 Wipkingen | +41443417040
Mon – Thu 11:00 – 14:00 & 17:00 – 00:00, Fri 11:00 – 02:00, Sat 16:00 – 02:00,Sun 17:00 – 02:00

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

I like places with which I can associate a color. If you have read my other articles: Mata Hari Bar (check the Mata Hari Bar article) is red, Paddy Reilly’s (check the Paddy Reilly’s article)is green. And then you may also have noticed that I like several restaurants near Stauffacher. So now I add one more spot from this area and, at the same time, one more color to the collection.

It is yellow and is located at the intersection of the Langstrasse and Badenerstrasse. Being within walking distance from Mythos (check the Mythos article) or Le Cèdre (check the Le Cedre article), it is a favorite “next destination” after a dinner.

It is called the Forum and for my intents and purposes it is a lounge-bar.

So once again, I find things I like: Sofas, located in the middle enabling a panoramic view of the venue and its visitors, a humidor, music at the right volume; conversation is possible. A mostly young (in the broader sense of the term) public adds a cool flare reminding me of the cliché from my student years: “there is always something going on there”.

If you go during the summer, you can sit outside and watch the crowds enjoying an evening out in the city. However, the big sliding doors would be open on a warm evening so even from inside you would feel being a bit outside.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Forum | Bars, Music, Restaurants (Intern.) | Orange Juice CHF 5.50
Badenerstrasse 120 | Kreis 4 Aussersihl | +41432438888
Mon – Fri 08:00 – open end, Sat – Sun 10:00 – open end

Somehow, and I am unsure why, this is a wonderful place. Apart from the round windows, there is nothing special about it. You feel a little like in a canteen from the 70s (lots of orange!) with better lighting. The couch in the corner, which you should pounce at immediately if it’s free, is quite ugly, but super comfy.

Lovely Gloria goes through a metamorphosis daily. It changes from a café you go to for breakfast in the morning, to a restaurant for lunch, back to a café in the afternoon and ends the day transformed into a bar, nothing being changed about the interior. This way it is everything and nothing really at the same time.

If you are lucky, one of the Indian waiters/waitresses will serve you and you’ll feel very well taken care of. If it is not your day, the infamous lady with the long blond hair will pull your mood down (all the way!). Try to ignore and don’t start asking yourself what you have done wrong that she treats you like someone that killed her cat. Many have wondered. Up to date, nobody knows.

I suggest the spot for breakfast. You get it till 11:30 and it isn’t overly expensive. If you’re too late, take the Gloria Salad with bacon and eggs and croutons and tomatoes and many many more tasty things and an

even tastier sauce, that I could easily live of for a few weeks.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Gloria | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (Intern.) | Gloria Salad CHF 16.70
Josefstrasse 59 | Kreis 5 Industrie
Mon – Fri 07:30 – 00:00, Sat – Sun 09:00 – 18:00

When all the Italians came over to Switzerland in the 50s, we Swiss were very afraid of the spirited folk (the Swiss are always afraid!). With time, we fell in love with them and their pasta though.

But of course, because we are Swiss and tend to traditionalism, we wanted to have the pasta our own way. We couldn’t change anything about the dish itself, it was just too perfect, so we had to do something about the manner of eating it. Solution: We don’t eat it as a starter like our southern neighbours, but in big portions as a main dish.

One of the good places in Zürich that lives up to that is the Hot Pasta right next to the university. It has only a very small selection of different pasta dishes, but those are amazing and always freshly prepared. You can either go for take away or sit down somewhere in the middle of the Italian icons that pose in black-white photos all over the walls. I suggest the table right below the young Sophie Loren.

Everyday you get to choose between one type of: ravioli, vegetarian pasta, pasta with meat and a seasonal pesto. The ingredients of the sauces are changed daily, so ravioli today won’t be like ravioli tomorrow! Finally, don’t forget to tell the waiter (that could very likely be a mafioso in his free time) to bring you a glass (or two, three, four) of the great red house wine.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Hot Pasta | Snacks, Restaurants (Italian) | Big plate of pasta CHF 16.00
Universitätsstrasse 15 | Kreis 6/7 Fluntern
Mon – Fri 07:30 – 00:00, Sat 09:00 – 00:00

I became a fan of pizza during my student years in the US. Pizza was the primary choice of students living on a tight budget. Going out during the weekend mostly meant enjoying Chicago style pizza with its thick layers of cheese, tomato and its rich toppings. Pizza, delivered to the dormitory, helped nerds satisfy hunger just take a break.

So pizza was the first thing to try during my first visit to central Europe in the late 80s. Groups of summer students would head for the pizzerias of Geneva, primarily those of the old town.

I was in for a big disappointment: Italian type pizza felt like a thin tasteless construct that cost thrice as much as the rich tasteful dish offered at the other side of the Atlantic.

20 years later, American pizza is no obvious winner of this “clash of civilizations”; thanks to the flagship of Italian type pizza that I have found in Zurich.

Pizzeria “Il Gallo” is not a tourist trap but earns its money from locals thanks to the quality of its food and service (and not with a location next to a medieval building). I recommend the “Diavola” (with spicy salami). In the summer you can eat outside observing a lot of car and human traffic since the venue is located at a going-out district with many cinemas, bars, clubs etc.

Go for a complete experience: start with a “Caprese di Buffala”; achieve closure with a Tiramisu.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Il Gallo | Restaurants (Italian) | Pizza from CHF 15.50
Hardstrasse 324 | Kreis 5 Industrie | +41442710240
11:30 – 15:00 & 17:30 – 00:00 daily

An evening at Cèdre is not just a dining experience. It is an erotic ritual as taught by tantric gurus: constant delight with every detail contributing and all senses participating.

The ritual begins upon entering. For a short time you wait to be seated and observe what other guests have on their tables. That brings you “in the mood”.

Scanning the menu, once seated, creates dilemma (what do I order?) and anticipation (when does it come?).

My recommendations after seven years of regular visits: create a diversified portfolio of mezzeh (appetizers) and main courses. Include one Hommos and the Lebanese Viagra (I don’t know why they call it so but apparently women like it as much as men). From the main courses: the Shis Lamme (lamb version) or the giant shrimp in lemon sauce. For desert get a Mahalabia (check website to see picture).

An integral part of the ritual is the owner. Only he takes orders for food and only he brings the bill. So you will have at least two encounters with him. He is a charmeur with a special type of humor and a strong memory (he remembers what you ordered during a previous visit.

On weekends there is belly dancing.

Cèdre is ideal for (i) offering a visitor the best of Zurich’s gastronomy, (ii) organizing a business or company dinner (iii) working your way through to seducing your date.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Le Cèdre | Restaurants (Libanese) | Dinner for two from CHF 120.00
Badenerstrasse 78 | Kreis 4 Aussersihl | +41442414272
Mon – Fri 11:30 – 14:00 & 18:00 – 00:30, Sat- Sun 18:00 – 00:30

Le Cèdre Bellevue is the young brother of Le Cèdre at Badenerstrasse (see the Le Cedre article). It opened in April this year, apparently to fill in some gaps that the original venue left open. It is managed by the (younger?) brother of the charmeur who rules the place in Badenerstrasse.

The difference between the two restaurants can be best summarized in two words: location and occasion.

About the location: the new restaurant is located more near the city center, the river and the lake. Most importantly, it has a big terrace.

For which occasion(s)? Here are some examples: a lunch if you are working in the area or visiting Zurich, an outdoors dinner during a warm evening, a snack for reacting to hunger after a swim nearby. So if the original place is ideal for a special experience, to be planned and savored in each detail, the new venue is mostly chosen after spontaneous decision-making.

The menu at Cèdre Bellevue is a subset of the menu of the original restaurant. However, if you are a regular of Badenerstrasse and don’t see your favorites in the menu, just ask. I myself realized that the Viagra (name of an appetizer, Pfizer is not directly contributing to its preparation) was available although it was not listed.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Le Cèdre Bellevue | Relaxing, Snacks, Restaurants (Lebanese) | Dinner for two CHF 120
Schifflände 5 | Kreis 1 City | +41442528370
09:00 – 00:30 daily

Are you a bit hungry but don’t have the time or money to go to a restaurant? But you don’t want to go to McDonalds, Subway or have a Kebab, because that’s what you had yesterday, and the day before, and last week? Well, then I have a recommendation for you: Lebanese food at the Libanon il Achdar (translated: the green Lebanon).

What you get there will remind you of kebab, but it’s refreshingly different from the stuff you get everywhere. You can chose between diverse meats like lamb, chicken, beef or kafta (small ground beef balls), or Falafel, the vegetarian version. Then they put strange but tasty vegetables in it, a sauce with lebanese spices and in the end stuff the hole thing with french fries. Sounds strange? Nevermind, it’s fantastic, I tell you.

But that’s not everything you can have, there are chicken skewers, fried Kaftas, Maali (pitabread with vegetables and hummus) for us vegetarians and all kinds of other exotix stuff. Give it a try, you won’t regret it.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Libanon IL-Achdar | Snacks, Restaurants (Lebanese) | Most things CHF 7.00
Hafnerstrasse 13 | Kreis 5 Industrie
08:00 – 21:00 daily

Back when I was younger I used to say a soup is a beverage, not something to eat. When I started cooking myself, I noticed how wrong I was. Soups can actually be good, if they have the right ingredients and if they’re made right. Discovering the Limmatlädeli, the soup take-away, only reinforced that insight.

The Limmatlädeli reminds of a corner-shop of old times and seems like an anachronism in modern Zürich, especially this part of town – and that’s what makes it special. There are all kinds of goods for your daily use in the shelves, like detergents, flour, soups of course, coffees, some bottles of wine, candy and so on. But mostly not-ordinary brands that you don’t find in the supermarkets. There’s also a “take one leave one”-Bookshelf, so if you’ve just finished a book, bring it along.

But let’s get to the point: the soups. You have the choice between five soups, with your choice you get bread, of course, and also an apple for healthy dessert. If that’s not enough, you can buy some unhealthy dessert too, don’t worry. Note: You can’t eat there, it’s only take-away, so now the days are getting warmer look for a nice park to eat (like this one) before you buy your soup. That’s all I have to say, bon appetit!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Limmatlädeli | Snacks, Restaurants (Soups) | Soups from CHF 9.00
Limmatstrasse 259 | Kreis 5 Industrie
Mon – Thu 11:00 – 18:30, Fri 11:00 – 22:00, Sat 11:00 – 16:00

I had heard a lot about the Tearoom in the Langstrasse neighborhood of Zurich, a locale quite popular for an after work-chillout. On a Saturday evening this past winter I finally tried but failed: the place was packed; however, I immediately decided to become a repeat-visitor.

The Tearoom, officially called Maison Blunt, is a copy of a Moroccan restaurant in Fez. It is located in the new in-quarter of Zurich, an area whose previous dubious reputation is rapidly giving place to trendy bars, restaurants and highly desired apartments.

The Tearoom offers a unique combination of original atmosphere with intense flavors and the pleasant odor of the narghile. The left side offers a more typical restaurant setup with tables that can be reserved; the other side is dominated by sofas and low round tables for relaxing and letting time go (see photos). Food is served on both sides.

During the warm season there are tables in the backyard so you can sit in the open air (until 22:00).

The food is tasteful. A most attractive part of Arabic cuisine is its appetizers (mezes). I recommend the chicken and meat versions (something like kebab) as well as the humus. Different types of bread are automatically served.

The Tearoom caters primarily to a young public and has a distinct bohemian character. The place is packed on weekends and is quite full during the week. You are likely to sit close to or even share a table or sofa with another party, possibly making new acquaintances.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Maison Blunt | Snacks, Restaurants (Morocan) | Appetizer CHF 12.00
Gasometerstrasse 5 | Kreis 4 Aussersihl | +41432110033
Mon – Fri 11:30 – 14:00 & 18:00 – 23:00, Sat – Sun 10:00 – 23:00

Every rule is best confirmed by its exceptions. So here are some of my rules: I practice dinner cancelling and I avoid red meat (health awareness). I also prefer ethnic restaurants: Arabic, Asian, Indian, Italian, Greek etc.

And now the exception(s): I permit myself the pleasure of a dinner with red meat in a typical Swiss restaurant. My favorite delicacy is bio-beefsteak tatar. For those unaware: it is smashed high quality raw beef that is pasted like (or together with) butter on toasted bread. OK, I skip the butter and have a good conscience but I order the very spicy version of the meal.

Mövenpick is a chain of Swiss restaurants. Their offerings overlap. Quality and service are impeccable. From the entire chain in Zurich I prefer the Palavrion because of the setting: in the summer it is possible to sit outside and in the winter just behind the big glass wall where it feels like sitting outside. Since the venue is located in an area with many bars and clubs, it is possible to enjoy people-watching at its best.

After my favorite meal, I always neutralize the flavor with a scoop of stracciatella ice cream and an Espresso. Only afterwards do I regain my health awareness.

Some additional information: there is a wide Sushi offering and a Sunday buffet brunch for CHF 29.00.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Mövenpick Palavrion | Coffee & tea, Restaurants (Swiss) | Beefstake Tatar CHF 31
Beethovenstrasse 32 | Kreis 2 Enge | +41442865454
Mon – Fri 08:30 – 00:00, Sat 11:00 – 00:00, Sun 11:00 – 23:00

Mythos is conveniently located near Stauffacheplatz, a mixture of business and nightlife district. I discovered the restaurant with my work colleagues while working nearby: it was our favorite in a neighborhood full of alternatives.

Finding a table around noon during working days is a challenge. So be advised: either reserve or go early (at 11:30).

During the warm season there are tables outside. They cannot be reserved.

Greek cuisine is famous for its appetizers. Mythos offers a representative variety of dishes, starting with the famous Greek salad (tomatoes, feta, onions, etc. all with Greek olive oil) and moving higher to more sophisticated plates like “Garides (Shrimp) Saganaki (baked with feta cheese)”.

From the main dishes I prefer the Souvlaki which comes in the usual two versions: on a straw or as a pita-bread wrap. In this latter version, one senses the erratic quality gap of Mythos with respect to similar offerings in Greece. Simply put: in Greece, Souvlaki is often junk food. In Mythos, Souvlaki is gourmet kitchen. Visitors wishing to avoid the traditional version of Souvlaki with pork meat can try the chicken or the shrimp versions.

Mythos offers a superb price quality ratio (see photos). It is a great tip for an informal lunch or dinner before going to one of the many bars, night clubs or cinemas nearby.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Mythos | Snacks, Restaurants (Greek) | Dishes from CHF 7.00
Stauffacherstrasse 35 | Kreis 4 Aussersihl | +41443722954
Mon – Thu 11:00 – 22:00, Fri 11:00 – 23:00, Sat 08:30 – 23:00

Zurich’s district of Wipkingen is waking up. Its latest addition, the bar and restaurant Nordbrücke, is just beside the local train station and is great for Saturday afternoons. Buy your fresh vegetables, fruit and flowers at the nearby stall and then spend the rest of your time enjoying a beer or a coffee in the former train station buffet, while you watch people pass by. It’s a place to go for drinks or coffee, but also a good address to get some food.Open since March 2008, it seems the sheer volume of clientele and the variety of people visiting proves that the concept has hit the spot. Combining old (they simply varnished the nicotine-stained walls, kept the tables and chairs, and added comfort with Biedermeier sofas) with new (a blue/green fitted bar and new lighting system), the venue still has an air of train station buffet, but with a contemporary feel.

The big windows are great for people spotting and have recently been unveiled after a lifetime behind net curtains. The result of the gentle makeover is a charming and comfortable bar in which you immediately feel at home. It’s a place where you sense the past, making it feel somehow more real than many of today’s cloned modern, trendy bars.

In winter, the terrace and garden are not much use but the comfy interior as well as the diverse lunch menu make up for this. The menu alsways includes a vegetarian as well as a lactose-free dish.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Nordbrücke | Bars, Coffee & tea, Music, Restaurants (Swiss) | Lunch from CHF 17
Dammstrasse 58 | Kreis 10 Wipkingen | +41442710177
Tue – Thu 07:30 – 01:00, Fri 07:30 – 02:00, Sat 09:00 – 02:00, Sun 09:00 – 23:00

Of course it’s unfair that Oerlikon is slagged off by locals as the suburbs – it’s been a district of Zurich since 1934. But it just hasn’t much to offer and seems far away from the city. But I like not guilty, a restaurant that I discovered while working in this area.

The mostly organic salads, sandwiches and soups on offer have no additives or any “bad” stuff, but taste great. My favourite is the Tandoori Chicken Salad, with aromatic chicken, cucumber, sugar peas, bean sprouts, cherry tomatoes and coriander. If you don’t like one of the ingredients (in my case coriander), just ask them to not include it, as they mix the salads right on spot and fry the meat after your order is in.

You can either order take away or eat in the restaurant. The interior is simple and stylish and outdoor you find big tables which are right next to the beautiful MFO Park (which is actually worth a trip to Oerlikon itself).

Details about this spot (Show on map)
not guilty | Coffee & tea, Restaurants (Soup and salads) | Salad +/- (cash only) CHF 15.00
Emil-Oprecht-Strasse 1 | Kreis 11 Oerlikon | +41443103505
Mon – Fri 07:00 – 16:00

Onyx Bar is best known as Hyatt Bar. I discovered it shortly after it opened a few years ago and gradually adopted it because it reminded me of my nights out in Helsinki during the 90s.

Hyatt Bar feels classy and sinful at the same time. It is the choice of many well-dressed people. Once I commented to a lady with whom I was sharing a table in Onyx: “there are many beautiful women here” and she replied: “and many beautiful men too”. Indeed, many people there are good looking; they know it, they show it and many like to take advantage of it.

You will encounter diversity and contrast: coats and ties together with jeans and leather jackets; young people of student age as well as a more mature public; young women conversing with older men and vice versa; dresses ranging from the very conservative, teacher-type to the most extravagant outfit.

You will hear non-local languages: German as spoken in Germany, English, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese and a lot of Russian.

There is background music whose volume rises as the evening progresses. And during the warm season, there are tables outside. Maybe there would be a Ferrari or a Lamborghini parked on the pavement.

To complement the offering: nuts roasted in-house and sweet coconut-flavored chips (you eat one, you can’t stop) as well as a large humidor with the flagships of Cuban and Dominican production.

The service is excellent.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Onyx Bar – Park Hyatt Hotel | Bars, Coffee & tea, Restaurants | Juice CHF 9.00
Beethoven-Strasse 21 | Kreis 2 Enge | +41438831072
Sun – Wed 06:30 – 01:00, Thu – Sat 06:30 – 02:00

For several years, Paddy Reilly’s had attracted my attention. Located between two major locations of Zurich, Paradeplatz and Stauffacherplatz, the place was a regular view from the tram window during daily commuting. Its stylish green decor (by the way, it is an Irish Pub) and the crowd sitting outside during the warm season repeatedly triggered the thought: “next time I should try it”.

So I did. After becoming a fan of public viewing of sport events (meaning football), I became an irregular visitor of Paddy Reilly’s.

On the occasion of a major football event and warm weather: arrive half an hour before the game to find a table outside. You will hear English, sometimes with a hardly understandable heavy British accent: it feels a bit like Old Trafford, a bit like Anfield Road. But not all guests are British. More people rejoiced the goal of Barcelona (on the 92nd minute) than the early goal of Chelsea during this year’s Champions’ League semifinal.

Well, you wouldn’t expect me to recommend spaghetti would you? Go for the cheese burger. Fish and chips is also available.

I have not yet witnessed the very tasteless and low level habit of beer flying around when a team scores.

In case you have read my other articles: no, the venue is not on the waterside: no lake, no river. Instead, a very urban setting which I also find appealing (for a change).

I am already looking forward to FIFA’s world cup next summer.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Paddy Reilly’s | Bars, Snacks, Restaurants (Irish) | Cheese Burger CHF 21.00
Talstrasse 82 | Kreis 1 City | +41434973966
Mon – Fri 11:30 – late, Sat – Sun 13:00 – late

Plüsch means plush, which describes how this venue’s interior looked years back when I’d just moved to Zurich. Nowadays its styling is clean and airy but still fairly colourful with bright shades of green and orange.

This bar has become one of my most frequented locales over the last 12 months, as I live nearby. It offers great breakfast and coffee (best decaf in town!), tasty lunches and snacks, and is a nice place for a drink in the eve as well. So with this venue you’re taken care of all around.

In the morning, most seats are taken up by individuals who are reading the newspaper or enjoying a cup of coffee before work. During the day its clientele mostly consists of small groups but in the evening it can get really packed.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Plüsch | Bars, Restaurants (Breakfast/lunch) | Large salad CHF 10.00
Aemtlerstrasse 16 | Kreis 3 Wiedikon | +41444668887
Mon – Wed 07:00 – 00:00, Thu – Fri 07:00 – 01:00, Sa t 09:00 – 01:00
Sun 10:00 – 17:00

Best place to eat „Zürcher Geschnetzeltes mit Rösti” (Meat cut into strips with creamy sauce and chrunchy cut up potatoes). This dish IS Zürich. Everyone loves it. Everyone! Even vegetarians make an exception. Don’t dare leaving without having tried it. Preferably at the Aargauerhof.

It’s cheaper here than in most other places, but the Rösti is just as crunchy, the meat just as tender and the atmosphere much more homey. In case you do dare leaving without having tried it, cook it at home. Here’s the recipe for the veal/sauce:

(For 4 People)

Veal: Take 600 g veal (cut into strips). Let butter get hot in a frying pan. Mix half a teaspoon of salt and a bit of pepper with 1 tablespoon of flour. Sprinkle the veal with this mixture and fry it shortly. Place the veal on a warmed up plate and place it in the oven (60 degrees) to keep it warm.

Sauce: Let 1 tablespoon of butter get hot in the same pan. Add half an onion that you finely cut up. Add 200 g cut up white mushrooms and one teaspoon lemon juice (fresh !). Pour in 1 dl white wine and let about half of it boil down. Mix 1 dl bouillon, 2 dl of cream and 1 tablespoon corn starch with a whisk and add it to the pan. Boil it all up, while you keep on stiring (about 3 min). Add the veal and season to taste. Sprinkle with fresh parsley.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Restaurant Aargauerhof | Restaurants (Swiss) | Geschnetzeltes mit Rösti CHF 29.80
Hohlstrasse 43 | Kreis 4 Aussersihl | +41442424616
Mon -Thu 07:00 – 00:00, Fri 07:00 – 02:00, Sat 08:00 – 02:00, Sun 10:00 – 00:00

Great food for great prices! Especially the massive filet (horse or beef) with fries and three different sauces is one of the tastiest things you’ll find around town.

You get it served on a hot stone, so you can roast it exactly as much as you like. Negative effect: In winter you’ll smell like you rolled around in a chip pan when you get out. In summer that’s no problem, there’s tables outside.

The place itself is very down-to-earth and uncomplicated. A real “Chreis 5 Chnelle”, meaning it is old-fashioned, in dark wood, smoky, with a TV showing sports games and of course the obligatory regulars’ table in the corner where strange but funny and loud old men come together to have their daily beer and fight over who is the winner of that card game they just played or didn’t agree on the day before.

Nothing about the Eisenhof is stylish, but everything very authentic, which is rare in Zurich. To make the atmosphere even more familiar, the lady that owns the place wanders around the restaurant once in a while to check if everyone is doing good. And the waitresses are, according to male judgement, extremely hot. According to female judgement, also very friendly.

If you are more of a pearl necklace/necktie kind of person or find it morally wrong to eat horses, I suggest you stay far away, it won’t be your thing. All other people I promise, you’ll want to go back (preferably every day)!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Restaurant Eisenhof | Restaurants (Very Swiss) | Beef filet on hot stone CHF 33.00
Gasometerstrasse 20 | Kreis 5 Industrie | +41442713990
Mon – Fri 09:00 – 00:00, Sat 16:00 – 00:00

When the Volkshaus restaurant was renovated not long ago, everyone was scared that another hyper trendy place with uncomfortable seats would be the result. A place, like so many, that would soon be governed by only the most stylish, who passionately protect it against all not so stylish invaders. Everyone was wrong. At least partially.

The result is probably a bit trendy (not too much though!) but the seats are completely fine. Overall, they did a fantastic job! The huge room is skillfully divided by old-school partitions and sparely furnished with antique tables, chairs, carpets and beautiful, beautiful lamps, giving it all a very Parisian brasserie flair. This clashes nicely with the modern industry-like floor and ceiling.

The waiters perfectly fit the scene. Most of them are about as old and used as the furniture (old!). But not the bad type of old. They are passionate about their job, charming and look a lot like the butler in the TV series „The Nanny”. There is also some younger exemplaries, who are equally charming and who will also look like that crazy butler in a few years.

The food isn’t too expensive and not too cheap either, but really quite good. Something like Swiss traditionalism gone hau

te cuisine. Lovely!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Restaurant Volkshaus | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (Swiss) | Tiramisu CHF 10
Stauffacherstrasse 60 | Kreis 4 Aussersihl | +41442421155
Mon -Tue 08:00 – 00:00, Wed – Sat 08:00 – 02:00, Sun 10:00 – 00:00

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

This is for the vegetarians and vegans, but not only. Yes, Carnivores, at Samses you won’t find any dishes with meat, but I dare say that you won’t miss it. Because here you’ll find delicious, always fresh food, inspired from cuisines from all over the world.

Besides the bill of fare there is a big, daily changing buffet with salads and all kinds of dishes that you can combine. In this buffet everything looks freakin’ tasty, so prepare yourself for some hard decisions.

The place used to be a travel agency, until a few years ago it was turned into what it is now: My favourite vegetarian restaurant. The only reason I don’t eat there all the time is because it’s not really cheap and I’m kinda poor. Still, the food is absolutely worth the money.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Samses | Coffee & tea, Restaurants (Vegetarian)
Langstrasse 231 | Kreis 5 Industrie | +41444401313
Mon – Fri 11:00 – 23:00, Sat 16:00 – 23:00

In the 1960s this swiss kid went on a roadtrip to the USA, was fascinated by the American diners and got addicted to burgers. So once he was back, he invented the legendary Silberkugel, where they serve you the legendary Beefy burger, the first American burger Switzerland got in touch with.

And no wonder it sold! With the name Beefy, the kid perfectly swissified the burger. Make it sound cute, small and harmless and the Swiss will buy it. In case you haven’t been here, because otherwise you’d have noticed, we have an incredibly annoying soft spot for belittlement!

And this way, the Silberkugel grew to be our parents McDonalds! Like at McDonalds, the tasty burgers are most likely made out of newspapers and highly poisonous, although the diner claims to be The Home of Fine Foods. But the interior design shows Ronald McDonald up badly.

It’s a strange but fabulous mix of an old American diner and a super futuristic spaceship (where the swiss kid got the inspiraton for the latter from is still a mistery!). If you like good burgers and trash, you will absolutely love the Silberkugel!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Silberkugel | Snacks, Restaurants (Fastfood) | Farmer Beefy CHF 7.80
Bleicherweg 33 | Kreis 2 Enge
Mon – Fri 06:00 – 20:00, Sat 07:15 – 17:00

My journey of discovery of ethnic food started during my student years in the U.S. Up to that point, my only alternative to Greek food had been pizza. In Boston I first discovered Chinese and Thai. Mexican also felt good. Enlightenment came with sushi; confirmation later when I discovered Indian and Arabic here in Switzerland.

Indian food meant primarily tandoori in all its variations: chicken, shrimp, fish and lamb. For those unware: a tandoori meal is cooked in the tandoor, a clay oven where the food is placed at a safe distance from the fire for slow cooking.

So it would be no surprise that a new restaurant named Tandoori would attract my attention; especially if the restaurant is located in my favorite area. After this first visual arousal, other senses had to be involved: the food had to be tried. And the venue passed the test with a very high note. Apparently, they know how to serve tandoori dishes with quite intense flavors. If there are two of you (my lucky number when it comes to dinner) get the shrimp and a chicken to share them. If there is a third person involved, get the fish to practice the ultimate sharing.

For the extremists: dinner buffet on Saturdays for a very reasonable price of 35 CHF/person. For the working class: lunch buffet during weekdays.

I like the interior: its secondary role as an art gallery with paintings for sale fits my taste.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Tandoori | Restaurants (Indian) | Fish Tandoori CHF 25.00
Bleicherweg 19 | Kreis 2 Enge | +41442020021
Mon – Sat 10:30 – 23:00, Sun 17:30 – 23:00

I had never been a fan of vegetarian restaurants. Somehow, it felt unjustifiable to pay and not eat fish, meat or at least a warm pasta plate. Vegetables were always meant to be a side dish.

Times change and people change too. I recently became increasingly health aware so the dilemma vegetarian or non-vegetarian switched to vegetarian or nothing at all. So Tibits was there for me. I became a customer many years ago and visit, irregularly but certainly ever since.

Tibits is located in Seefeld near some of my other favorite spots, for example Bad Utoquai (check the Bad Utoquai article). So I pass by very often. In the summer the tables outside are always full. The interior is also quite well occupied and lively during all seasons.

The core offering is the salad buffet with cold and warm delicacies. One of the advantages of not serving meat, fish etc. is that the salad menu becomes quite creative. Ah yes, these tomatoes with tofu, …slurp…

There are also fruit and desert dishes in the same area. Sandwiches and ice cream are also available.

If you think that vegetarian means budget, you are wrong; to take care of a big hunger through the salad buffet, you end up paying the price of a typical meal in any restaurant. But it is worth it.

I have the vague impression that women outnumber men in Tibits. And in Zurich women are quite beautiful and elegant (not a vague impression but a fact).

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Tibits | Restaurants (Vegetarian) | Salad Buffet (100 g) CHF 4.10
Seefeldstrasse 2 | Kreis 8 Seefeld | +41442603222
Mon – Fri 06:30 – 00:00, Sat 08:00 – 00:00, Sun 09:00 – 00.00

I have always had a love-hate relation to jazz. I understand nothing about it. I cannot name any artists or tell it apart from soul, blues etc. And all jazz sounds the same to me.

But I love jazz bars. Many years ago I discovered the “Gig”, a small hot smoky jazz club in the Müllerstrasse. The artists were not internationally famous (probably) but little bands, sometimes local ones (luckily, because I wouldn’t be able to tell the difference). Then the Gig moved to a new location in the Fraumünsterstrasse; from the red light district to the business district. Same faces, same concept: no entrance fee, no overpriced drinks, just voluntary tipping. Guests could order from the Italian restaurant next door and consume while listening to music. And then, a couple of years later, the Gig closed; a sign was pointing to the Trattoria & Soul in Seefeld, a going-out district.

Trattoria and Soul brings me back (mentally) to the Gig. The environment has evolved: it is more bourgeois than underground and a bit more luminous but is very pleasant anyway. Live music plays only on Thursday and Friday from October to May; for a couple of hours starting at 21:00. There is a rich artist repertoire that changes weekly. You can enjoy the music with bar-food or just a drink and/or a cigar from the humidor.

At other times you are in a very nice Italian restaurant. In the summer there are tables outside.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Trattoria & Soul | Coffee & tea, Music, Relaxing, Snacks, Restaurants (Italian)
Seefeldstrasse 5 | Kreis 8 Seefeld | +41442525212
Mon – Fri 11:00 – 02:00, Sat 17:00 – 02:00, Sun 17:00 – 00:00

In February 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.

Since this spring, they’re able to open the front window fully so it’s like sitting outside while being inside. They serve a killer Margarita and now that it’s a bit warmer also punch (which we Swiss love!).

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Wohnzimmerbar | Bars, Coffee & tea, Restaurants (Tapas) | Tapas from CHF 9.00
Neugasse 75 | Kreis 5 Industrie | +41762104880
Mon – Sat 18.00 – 00:00

The Limmatquai, the eastern side of the river Limmat, prides itself as being one of the best addresses of the globe. Less crowded but much more elegant is, in my opinion, the western bank of the river. It is a pedestrian walk offering a unique perspective of the city.

Café Wühre is a small cozy café “strategically” located on the western bank of the Limmat. Open throughout the year, the café assumes its maximum charm during the warm season when tables are located outside along the waterline. During a sunny evening the visitor enjoys a colorful view of the Limmatquai which is literally “splashed” with sunlight.

The place offers coffee, tea, snacks and small meals. I recommend the big yogurt portion with fruits or seeds (around 12 CHF).

At busy times, the spot is ideal for people-watching. Numerous locals and tourists stream by in both directions.

Prices are below average. You arrive by walk. The nearest public transportation stop is a boat station 50 m to the north or the tram stations at the other side of the river (140 m).

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Wühre Café | Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants | Snacks from CHF 12.00
Wühre 11 | Kreis 1 City | +41442113881
Mon – Fri 08:30 – 23:00, Sat – Sun 10:00 – 23:00

Zum Guten Glück (which means fortunately or literally to the good fortune in German) is open daily and offers a tasty range of sweet and savoury pancakes, waffles and freshly made ice-cream. If you’re in a hurry there is also a take-away service. The pancakes are wonderful; I recommend the Bolognese or spinach topping – hmmm!

The venue – a café during the day and a bar at night – is separated into two rooms. When you enter, a huge bar made of pure tin, handcrafted by a local artist, will catch your eye. In this front room you get a good view onto the street in a non-smoking environment. Smoking is still allowed in the adjacent room, which is also bit darker and more suitable for a drink at night. The locale is run by the same team which own Kafi Schnaps in Kreis 6 and it also offers five stylish rooms for a good price.

Zum Guten Glück is situated right at Weststrasse which used to be the motorway connection through the city – so a lot of traffic! Since May 2009, there is now a motorway that leads the traffic around the city and within a year, this street will become a residential road with a maximum speed limit of 30 km/h.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Zum Guten Glück | Bars, Coffee & tea, Restaurants (Pancakes) | Food CHF 9.00
Stationsstrasse 7 | Kreis 3 Wiedikon | +41435407299
Mon – Sat 09:00 – 00:00, Sun 09:00 – 20:00