Image by Christine Syrad

My friend suggested I check out a place that I had yet to realize was going to land its way into my top 3 restaurants in Zurich. I am eternally grateful for the recommendation.

I love this place for a number of reasons, the food being a pretty obvious factor, of course. Aside from offering mouth-watering dishes, some rather unusual ones too, for very reasonable prices by Zurich standards, the wine selection (now presented on an iPad as well as on the wall) is delightfully extensive. The atmosphere really lends itself to sipping on indulgent wines in the company of your favourite people.

The first couple of times I ordered the Tavolata, which is definitely amazing value – for 55 CHF you will be treated to an array of antipasti, sort of tapas style in their presentation, followed by two pasta dishes that lead to the finale of meat. For the quality you get, I can’t think of anywhere else that offers the same bang for your buck (and without making you feel cheap either).

More recently I’ve been exploring the regular menu and today’s beef goulash with spaetzle (a Southern German and Swiss specialty) was divine despite my not even being that great a fan of speatzle. They may have changed my mind about the little blobs of eggy dough, or is it, perhaps, maybe, that I have become a little Swiss?

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Zum Alten Löwen | Restaurants (Swiss/European) | Tavolata CHF 55
Universitätstrasse 111 | Kreis 6/7 Fluntern | +41433431169
Mon – Fri 11:00 – 14:00 & 18:00 – 00:00, Sat 18:00 – 00:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Zurich

Image by Christine Syrad

When I first arrived in Zurich I immediately went to this place to stock up on some Japanese essentials. There is a Japanese food corner in Globus and Jelmoli but the selection is by far the biggest at Nishi. You can buy rice in bulk (up to 10kg) and you can find fresh ingredients such as lotus root and proper tofu (not just the tetra pack kind). I was most happy about the ice cream and spent a few minutes wondering how much trouble they must go through to bring frozen goods to Switzerland from Japan.

If you’re looking for some Japanese bits and bobs for around the house like little decorations and kitchenware, then Nishi most likely has what you’re looking for. If you’re a Japanese television drama and film fan you can rent DVDs for 4 CHF or so. It may be a small shop, but it’s equipped with a myriad of nostalgia inducing objects for the Japanese residents of Zurich. For non-Japanese visitors it provides a great selection of food to get acquainted with.

Don’t forget, there is much more to Japanese food than sushi so get yourself over to Nishi to stock up on the alternatives, some of which you can taste at Ooki (check the Ooki article).

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Nishi | Shopping
Schaffhauserstrasse 120 | Kreis 6/7 Fluntern | +41443631163
Mon – Fri 09:00 – 18:30, Sat 09:00 – 16:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Zurich

Image by Christine Syrad

On a Sunday morning if my bagel and egg Benedict craving is one of my waking thoughts then I know I’ll be trekking across the city to Bohemia where, in my opinion, the American brunch experience is worth the journey.

Bohemia was under renovation for a while so Ponyhof was the replacement pop up restaurant they were running in the meantime. If you like the sound of the brunch, go check out Bohemia. I plan on making my way over in the next few days to scope out the new decor and to update this review and take new pictures. If you beat me to it, leave a comment on what you thought!

However, as I remember it pre-renovation, bagels aren’t the only bready substance to have received my seal of approval, the pancakes are also divine with a generous helping of toppings. For the less glutinous there are healthier options but I can’t say I’ve tried them yet! You’ve got to be ready to give into temptation when you set foot in here.

While Bohemia is not on Romerhof, where Ponyhof was, but at Kreuzplatz, the funicular up to the Dolder is is still just a stone’s throw away so you can venture up the hill and go for a wander in the forests while admiring the view. A little picturesque post feeding ramble is just what you need to perfect your Sunday!

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Bohemia | Coffee & tea, Restaurants (American) | Complete brunch CHF 35
Klosbachstrasse 2 | Kreis 6/7 Fluntern | +41443837060
Mon – Wed 06:45 – 00:00, Thu – Fri 06:45 – 01:00, Sat 09:00 – 01:00, Sun 09:00 – 00:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Zurich

Image by Christine Syrad

When I first heard about this place I was very sceptical – it had been described to me as a Japanese cafe by one person and as a anime fan’s dream by another. To some the latter may sound delightful, but for me it’s something I’d seen enough of back home.

To my surprise it was actually an unorthodox harmony of the two – in terms of decor it was a mix between a sweet little European cafe and anime haven but what really took me aback was the confectioneries on display. Vegan, gluten free and lactose free options galore along with interesting combinations such as green tea and blueberry cake. Oh, and I mustn’t forget the truffles, when I go next I’ll be indulging in the absinthe pralines for sure.

If you would rather experience afternoon tea as opposed to simply consuming it, then give them a call and book yourself an afternoon of indulgence and relaxation. They’re so popular that for weekend service you’re advised to book at least a week in advance.

If you find yourself smitten with their beautiful cakes you can even sign up for a cake decoration course or their vegan, gluten and lactose free baking course.

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Miyuko | Coffee & tea | Small cake CHF 5
Beckenhofstrasse 7/9 | Kreis 6/7 Fluntern | +41443502143
Mon – Fri 08:00 – 18:00, Sat 09:00 – 18:00, Sun 09:00 – 17:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Zurich

Image by Kafischnaps Zurich

Kafischnaps is a café during the day and a bar in the evening. While many bars in Zurich close their doors early on Sunday, this venue is open until midnight and is also open every day of the week (a big plus in my books).

The beautifully tiled space harks back to its former life as a butcher’s at the turn of the last century. Exuding warmth and calm and a welcoming atmosphere. Besides the usual list of drinks, you get a variety of alcoholic coffees and a vast selection of specialty fruit schnapps (hence the name). Another great feature is that they serve breakfast until 16:00 every day. However, they do have to close the bar at midnight every day as they’re in a residential area.

Upstairs, Kafischnaps also has five rooms to rent (B&B) – for a bargain by Zurich standards.

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Kafischnaps | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks | Rooms from CHF 44.00
Kornhausstrasse 57 | Kreis 6/7 Fluntern | +41442154040
Mon – Fri 08:00 – 00:00, Sat – Sun 09:00 – 00:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Zurich

Image by Ajuni

The first thing that stands out about My Place is the furniture – all designer and vintage fare from the 1960s onwards, and up for sale if you’re feeling particularly wealthy (Le Corbusier, anyone?). An up-to-date price list can be found on their website.

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

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

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My Place | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks | Espresso CHF 4.00
Hottingerstr. 4 | Kreis 6/7 Fluntern
Mon – Fri 08:00 – 00:00, Sat 10:00 – 00:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Zurich

Image by Roman Rey

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 the Werk 21-Events 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.

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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

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Zurich