Image by Christine Syrad

If you’re looking for pizza that emerges from the oven and retains its freshly bakedness until it reaches your stomach, then you need to head to Rosso (at least if a pit stop in Naples, Italy, is not on your itinerary). There are a few intriguing things about this restaurant:

a) It’s hard to find because there is no sign outside stating you have indeed arrived at Rosso (which also means it’s virtually impossible to stumble upon accidentally)

b) It’s very minimalist in design as it’s located in an old warehouse but still manages to look modern and chic.

c) Despite it being hidden in the depths of Hardbruecke’s hipsterness, it is always packed! So much so that it can afford to be closed on Saturdays, which I am pretty sure is unheard of in most other cities.

I’ve tried a few things on the menu but I have to say, the best choice for anyone in need of really tasty comfort food is the pizza. Actually, even in the summer I tend to opt for pizza. The list is short but most definitely sweet with Bufala featuring in the most-eaten-by-yours-truly ones. I have to admit the pizza chefs look more like college students than pizza experts; don’t let that fool you, they know how to use their wood oven and will take that smirk of your face within minutes – that of course being one of the joys of real wood ovens!

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Restaurant Rosso | Restaurants (Italian) | Pizza CHF 24
Geroldstrasse 31 | Kreis 5 Industrie | +41438182254
Mon – Fri 16:00 – 00:30

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Zurich

Image by Miltiadis Sarakinos

One of my favourite dishes since childhood was grilled beef filet. But only in later years, after having left my home country, did I realized that if beef is not “well done”, it tastes better. Later I discovered the superlative: grill a massive thick slice of meat so that the outside would be “well done” but the inside remain “rare”. In that way the full spectrum of possibile flavors would unfold in your mouth. Thank you USA.

The restaurant Costa Brava offers this pleasure. If you go there, get the beef filet. You will not regret. (avoid the version with mushroom sauce, though). If you choose fish, get the sole.

The Spanish kitchen is famous for its appetizers. In Costa Brava they are too big to be called tapas. Think of medium sized pleasures (“entremeses”) like shrimp with garlic, grilled sepia, mushrooms, yamm.

For dessert: Crema Catalana. Don ‘t argue.

The ambiance is cosy. The restaurant is not vast and stressful. So it is ideal for both hedonists and romantics. Of course, pleasure comes at a price: Costa Brava is not a budget tip. But it would be ideal for that special occasion where the two of you celebrate that anniversary or maybe want to make the first step towards an anniversary. And if you are on a business trip and are trying to figure out where to dine (courtesy of the company), head there. It’s a safe bet.

In the summer there is a terrace.

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Costa Brava | Restaurants (Spanish) | Grilled beef filet CHF 53
Limmatstrasse 267 | Kreis 5 Industrie | +41442722771
Mon – Fri 11:45 – 14:30 & 18:00 – 00:00, Sat 18:00 – 00:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Zurich

Image by Christine Syrad

Yes, that’s right, that’s not beef, that’s Black Beauty post retirement, I’m afraid. They do offer a beef option too, but everyone who has ordered it has envied my horse steak. If you’re not terribly averse to the idea of chomping on some horse, then I would urge you to step up to the challenge if you haven’t done so already. It’s so exquisitely tasty that all moral scruples will instantly get buried at the bottom of your gut, under all the meat, and you won’t rediscover them again until the next morning.

The best thing about this place is that the steaks come out on hot stones. They’re served rare but you can nibble on the chips while you wait for your meat to cook a little more. The dish comes with three types of sauce, but the steaks are so well marinated that you won’t even need the sauces, they’re better off being demoted to pommes-sauce.

There are plenty of other options on the menu, all very authentically Swiss, but I have been to this joint three times and not once strayed from the horse steak. Though, I have to admit, when I like something, I do tend to become a bit of a one-trick-pony….Sorry, that was in poor taste.

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Eisenhof | Restaurants (Swiss) | Beef steak CHF 36.50
Gasometerstrasse 20 | Kreis 5 Industrie | +4144273990
Tue – Sat 18:00 – 00:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Zurich

Image by Christine Syrad

The thing is, this is exactly the kind of shop I try to avoid. The only safe way for me to enter shops that offer such beautiful things should offer either handcuffs or credit card control schemes and in my case both would only just hold me back from dropping mad cash on random objects that appeal to my “artsy” side.

I keep trying to rationalize my visits by saying that the Swiss domestic economy is in need of rescue due to the strong Euro and that it’s my duty to do all I can to save the country I’ve adopted as my home.

Whether you need cool new headphones to show off, whether you want brightly colored garden furniture even though you don’t have a garden or whether you don’t plan on buying  anything at all, here you will find that something you’ve been hankering after (even if only subconsciously).

If it’s news to you that the Swiss love design (and not just designer clothes a la Bahnhofstrasse), then pop into this shop to be educated. There is also one on Seefeldstrasse 96 should you already be in that area. To round up your education you should probably hop over to Neumarkt too (check the article).

Now for those of you in need of a quick fix, einzigart has opened up a littel shop right next to Kaufleuten on Pelikanstrasse 18.

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Einzigart | Shopping
Josefstrasse 36 | Kreis 5 Industrie | +41444404600
Tue – Fri 11:00 – 18:30, Sat 10:00 – 17:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Zurich

Image by Christine Syrad

If the sun is out and you’re wandering around this trendy part of town in search of something to keep you fuelled long enough to negotiate the rest of Josefstrasse, then Chiang Mai is your port of call. From the outside it appears to be a Thai food shop and, well,  that’s because it is. The place isn’t exactly a restaurant and yet it offers the tastiest Thai food I’ve had in Zurich.

Forget the fancy fusion joints that offer modern decour and funky ice teas – this place will fill you up and satisfy your itch to go to Thailand (actually, it could also make you want to go even more…) for only 15 CHF. That’s 15 CHF for a box of curry so big that I often have to ration it over two lunches.

The choice isn’t very extensive, usually two curries and a soup, but I’d much rather be told to choose from 3 sublime dishes than have to navigate around a list of 50 iffy sounding dishes.

One thing you need to bear in mind is that if you eat in it’s an extra 3 CHF per dish and you’ll be sitting on a tiny stool. I suggest you take out and sit in the sun with everyone else.

Don’t forget to take cash, realizing you don’t have any once you get to the till (like I once did) will end in a wild goose chase for an ATM. The nearest one is at the main station, by the way.

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Chiang Mai Thai Shop | Snacks, Restaurants (Thai) | Small meal CHF 12
Josefstrasse 13 | Kreis 5 Industrie | +41442718252
Mon 10:30 – 18:30, Tue – Fri 10:30 – 19:00, Sat 09:30 – 17:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Zurich

Image by Ajuni

Schiffbau is the younger, infinitely cooler sister of Schauspielhaus, one of Zurich’s main theatres. For a start, it looks simply amazing, the former industrial warehouse is well maintained and has been subtly enhanced with modern features. 

The plays shown at Schiffbau tend to be less well-known than at Schauspielhaus, and it is also where productions by Junges Schauspielhaus, the young ensemble, are staged. You can buy tickets online and print them yourself. Every Monday is theatre day, which means tickets are cheaper than usual.

Schiffbau offers more than drama in a stunning location: on site there’s also La Salle, a somewhat poncy restaurant with a more down-to-earth bar next door as well as Moods, a jazz club putting on gigs from across the spectrum of jazz, blues, world music and hip hop. Also part of the Schiffbau building but with a separate entrance is Nietturm, a bar in a glass-fronted tower overlooking the surrounding area.

Whether you’re into theatre or not, Schiffbau has got something to offer. In fact, the building is worth a visit in its own right.

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Schiffbau | Art & culture, Bars, Music, Theaters
Schiffbaustrasse 4 | Kreis 5 Industrie
Daily depending on shows

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Zurich

Image by Nik Spörry

A typical lunch at Planet 5: A burger, served with high concentration with coleslaw and fries or home made pies served with a small salad. The food at Planet 5 is homely and so is the project. The restaurant is open daily for lunch and trains young people who couldn’t find an apprenticeship. Once in a while this means, that there is more staff than guests but they are attentive and lovely.

Usually the meals are simple but tasty. Last time I went there the chef served meatballs made after her grandmother’s recipe. Slightly adapted over three generations. Perfect!

I like this locale, because the food is good, it’s open on Mondays and the location is wonderful, Especially in the summer, when you can sit right at the river Limmat. Sihlquai (the address) doesn’t have the best image, as its known for street prostitution. But during the day, I never felt uncomfortable in that area.

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Planet 5 | Restaurants (Swiss) | Lunch CHF 20
Sihlquai 240 | Kreis 5 Industrie | +41442781066
Mon – Fri 09:00 – 14:30

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Zurich

Image by Wohnzimmerbar Zurich

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

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Zurich

Image by Filip Zumbrunn

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

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Zurich

Image by Ajuni

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

This is much in line with Les Halles’s 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.

You’d be forgiven for thinking that in a place as chaotic, the food wouldn’t be much to shout about, but I have never been disappointed. The menu is small and usually consists of moules & frites, a pasta dish, antipasti and salads, with prices staying on the decent side of things.

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 | 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

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Zurich