Kreis 4 Aussersihl Zurich – 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.

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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

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.

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Flohmarkt Kanzlei | Art & culture, Shopping
Kanzleistrasse 56 | Kreis 4 Aussersihl
Sat 08:00 – 16:00

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.

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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

This is where it all started when it comes to the recycled messenger bag craze. So the history goes, the Freitag brothers, both graphic designers, needed a solution to keep their designs from getting wet on their daily bike commutes. So innovation took hold and they created a bag from recycled truck tarps, bicycle inner tube tires, and old seat belts. In doing so, they also created a cult fashion hit that has been copied the world over.

The original messenger along with 40 other products made from truck tarps are still made in Zurich and you can buy one of these unique pieces at their flagship store just 200 meters from the Hardbrücke train station (trains depart every 3-5 minutes from the Zurich main train station) or you can always shop online.

The store is quite unique and recycled itself, made of stacked shipping containers (see the movie of how it was created) and there is even a viewing deck on the top floor, although I cannot say the view of the train yards and industrial area is that moving. Pick up your unique, recycled, Swiss souvenir today – and don’t worry – that strong, new tarp smell will fade.

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FREITAG Shop Zürich | Shopping | Messenger bags from CHF 180.00
Geroldstrasse 17 | Kreis 4 Aussersihl | +41433669520
Mon – Fri 11:00 – 19:30, Sat 11:00 – 17:00

Für Dich – meaning ‘for you’ – has already earned its name by becoming the favourite haunt for its neighbourhood since its launch in September 2008. Several regulars have even gone as far as getting an anchor tattoo done in homage to the anchor hidden in the café’s logo (it also happens to be the symbol for Aussersihl, the district in Zurich where the bar is located). It’s a great bar because it’s located right next to Bäckeranlage and because for once in Zurich, you get a feeling of spaciousness.

The four founders did the entire renovation itself, from planning to building and furnishing, which took them six months in total to complete. This allowed time for some spontaneous decisions, such as leaving one wall bare after the tiles were removed or adding gold foil to another.

The result is an open, spacious, rather simple venue with large windows – it was a shop in its previous incarnation – which nevertheless radiates warm

th due to a preponderance of wood (floor, bar, tables and chairs) and the red children’s corner with a huge blackboard that turns into a comfortable lounge area at night. This is definitely a place to linger, chat and feel at home and a few times per month there are bands playing (unplugged) there as well.

Saturdays and Sundays are dedicated to breakfast: On Saturday you get the choice between for different kind of morning meals and on Sunday you’ll find an all you can eat buffet with pancakes, bread, jam, cereal, cake and pies.

The café is now also a small pension, where you’ll find three rooms, starting at CHF 120 for two people.

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Fuer dich | Bars, Music | Sunday brunch CHF 20
Stauffacherstrasse 141 | Kreis 4 Aussersihl | +41433179160
Mon – Thu 09:00 – 00:00, Fri – Sat 09:00 – 02:00, Sun 10:00 – 20:00

I’m sure you’ve heard at least one famous band say they missed the old days, when they could play in smaller venues. The Hafenkneipe is exactly the kind of club they’re talking about!

Reopened three years ago with a new, music-heavy, concept (for ten years the place was a techno club) it’s already famous for its intense and intimate live-concerts. At least once a week (mostly mondays) there is a show, mostly Indie-Rock, Grunge, Folk, Singer-Songwriter-Stuff and anything to do with Punk.

The venue has space for 100 people, so it’s not only very tight, good acts are sold out pretty quickly. So Make sure to check out the program on their website soon enough. Because, if you like sweaty, unforgettable concerts this place is definitely for you.

When there’s no live music, the Hafenkneipe is a regular Bar and still very worth visiting. In the “Dockland pub”, as the English translation would be, you’ll find corner banks porthole-lamps and bright blue walls that make you longing for the sea.

One little downer: the location gets very very hot and smokey because of its bad air supply (or lack thereof). But not for long any more: In may a law that prohibits smoking in bars becomes effective in Zurich. Until then, if you tend to have breathing trouble, consider bringing a respirator to the concerts

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Hafenkneipe | Bars, Music | Beer CHF 4.80
Militärstrasse 12 | Kreis 4 Aussersihl | +410433220282
Tue – Thu 17:00 – 01:00, Fri 17:00 – 02:00, Sat 20:00 – 02:00

The only bakery in Zürich that is open 24/7 and located perfectly at Langstrasse, so you can be sure you’ll be close-by after, or in the middle of, a night out.

Around 4 in the morning, your body will tell you that it needs more to survive than just another vodka shot and that’s when you stumble over to the Häppi Beck, as we call it. But watch it, you’re not the only one in a delirious state hunting for food at those hours!

Don’t get irritated by the prostitute getting a snack between work or the weird guy in the corner ambitiously reciting poems in a language you, and noone else, will recoginze. If you can handle that, nothing will feel better than that Würstli im Teig (wiener saussage wraped in pastry) you’re gulping down. Yes, the Happy Bäckerei is truly a happy place!

And please, don’t ruin it by going back during the day, because you loved that Würstli im Teig so much. It will have lost its magic!

Extra tip: The Happy Bäckerei has a

deal with the taxi service. You get 10% Happy Discount. All you have to do is show your ID.

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Happy Bäckerei | Snacks | Big piece of chocolate cake CHF 3.20
Dienerstrasse 32 | Kreis 4 Aussersihl
24 hours daily

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.

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Kreislauf 4+5 | Art & culture, Shopping | Free
Kreis 4 and 5 | Kreis 4 Aussersihl
Depends on atelier

La Catrina calls itself the first real Mexican bar in Zurich although you won’t find any sombreros and ponchos. It’s a tiny place but every Thursday manages to squeeze in a band and often, there are also life concerts on Tuesday.

La Catrina also opens its doors on Sunday now, with sounds from groups and artistes in Switzerland – on the jukebox or with DJs. And if you like what you hear, you can buy the album with your next drink at the bar.

I came across La Catrina because a good friend of mine was hosting his birthday party there. Before that I wasn’t even aware of this venue as it lies a bit hidden in a side street. The bar is really small but has a great atmosphere. Skulls and dolls are omnipresent but make the crammed space very cosy (which you wouldn’t expect when you read the word ’skulls’). The list of served drinks is long but their specialities are, of course, first class tequila and margarita.

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La Catrina | Bars, Music | Concerts from CHF 00.00
Kurzgasse 4 | Kreis 4 Aussersihl | +41787711346
Mon – Thu 18:00 – 01:00, Fri 18:00 – 03:00, Sat 19:00 – 03:00, Sun 18:00 – 00:00

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.

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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

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.

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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

As soon as the weather turns chilly, you’ll find Marroni stall springing up everywhere. I love these roasted chestnuts and had my first share this weekend. Sweet, warm and healthy! As the vendors of each stall often change evrey season I won’t be able to tell you which sells the best ones. All in all they’re all very good. I bought mine at Stauffacher and can only recommend them!

The chestnut is generally an important part of the Swiss autumn diet. While Marroni are nice as a snack, caramalized chestnuts are a favourite side dish, served with vension, which is in season during autumn and winter in most restaurants.

A less recognizable version of the trusty old chestnut is Vermicelles. You may have noticed the item on the menu (tit starts being listed just around the same time as the Marroni stalls are popping up). Vermicelles is a traditional Swiss desert: a sweet and filling chestnut purée. The dish originated in the southern part of Switzerland – Ticino – where chestnut trees grow in abundance. The name comes from the French word for little worms, which it resembles, as the purée is squeezed through a special gadget to create spghetti-like strings. Which are then served with whipped cream and/or meringue.

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Marroni | Snacks | 100 gramms CHF 3.80
All over the city | Kreis 4 Aussersihl
Depends

The Langstrasse neighborhood is gradually getting rid of its red-light character and is becoming the new trendy quarter in Zurich. Upon moving to Zurich 9 years ago, I was told to avoid the area by night. Nowdays a seat at a restaurant or an apartment for rent are objects of desire.

After a dinner in the area, the Mata Hari bar is a good final destination. The bar is conveniently located near Limmatplatz.

“It is sooo red” will be your first and most dominant impression. I don’t know if this intense redness is a tribute to the district’s reputation but I find it very tasteful.

Rock music plays in the background. Having grown up in the 70s with Deep Purple and Pink Floyd, the sound matches my taste but, 30 years later, I appreciate its moderate volume: conversation in Mata Hari is possible without screaming at each other’s ear.

The (red) sofa area feels very relaxing. It is also possible to sit at the bar or at elevated tables nearby (see photos).

The area behind the bar is another highlight; I find it quite elegantly designed.

The public is young, casual and unpretentious. Prices are reasonable. Drinks are served only at the bar.

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Mata Hari | Bars, Music, Relaxing | Juice CHF 8.00
Langstrasse 237 | Kreis 4 Aussersihl | +41432052250
Mon – Thu 17:00 – 03:00, Fri 17:00 – 04:00, Sat 19:00 – 04:00

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.

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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

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.

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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

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!

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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

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.

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Ron Orp’s Mail in english | Art & culture | Free
zuerich@ronorp.net | Kreis 4 Aussersihl | +41433220883
24 hours daily

In Switzerland it’s common practice to have an intermission in the middle of the film (so you can buy some ice cream or go to the loo). This interruption of the story line annoys many cinema goers. Additionally, more and more cinemas in Zurich belong to bigger chains, so they all show the same mainstream movies and look identical. But fortunately there are several art houses as well as Uto-Kino.

This cinema is a relic from the past, full of charm and atmosphere. Hardly anything has been renovated over the last few years (or maybe decades?). The 280 seats are all covered in burgundy velvet and they’re not numbered, so it’s the first come, first served practice. Most of the films on the programme are indie films and hits from years gone by. The cinema doesn’t have its own website but you’ll find its programme online or in one of the local newspapers.

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Uto-Kino | Cinemas | Ticket CHF 15.00
Kalkbreitestrasse 3 | Kreis 4 Aussersihl | +41442419253
15.00, 18:15 and 20.30 daily

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.

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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