When I moved to Zurich ten years ago, I swore that I would avoid falling into the expat trap and would only socialise with Swiss people, in Swiss bars speaking Swiss German. However, after a while I realised that you can have it all. You can integrate fully and still occasionally hibernate in an Irish pub with like-minded folks. When I need that slice of home, I head to Kennedy's.
Kennedy's feels like a pub back in Ireland. The furniture is made of well-worn, dark wood, and the walls are adorned with posters and photos of famous Irish people of yore. On a regular day, the music is in the background and the focus is on the chats and the craic (just like home). The staff are friendly, the food is good and the Guinness is creamy and soft.
I can be found here for big sporting events (they show the rugby, football and GAA), on rainy days with a newspaper and a pint or waffling away to pals in the corner.
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Seefeld, to which The Opera House serves as a gatekeeper, will please urban souls with a mix of neoclassical and functionalism aesthetics, oak-shadowed streets, and an excess showcase of small local boutiques.
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The view opens up from a terrace, which overlooks a tiny vineyard, the lake, and the city. In addition to this, you can explore the entire silhouette of Zürich’s very own mountain - Uetliberg.
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What brings the shopping experience to a truly next level, is the mini-restaurants scattered throughout the store. You will find a tea room, premium sushi, a grill at the butchers, and gourmet pasta.
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It harbors almost half of all known species and serves an educational purpose for casual visitors and specialists alike. Get lost in the lush cactus “jungles” and between giant palms.
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My personal highlight is a modern geological exhibition Focus Terra, with a stunning design by Holzer Kobler Architekturen as well as The Library of a Law School, renovated according to Santiago Calatrava’s project.
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Hardbrücke is a former industrial area left behind by a manufacturer of turbines and other industrial equipment called Escher Wyss. The area is landmarked by the arched railway bridge from the nineteenth century - The Viaduct.
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If you get tired of the conservative landscape of the city center, Europaallee is your next stop. The allee, shadowed by the modern glossy giants, is reserved exclusively for pedestrians and offers plenty of opportunities for shopping and relaxing.
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You are about to embark on a journey through the most controversial and fun districts of Zürich - Kreis 4 or District 4. Since the 2000s, it has developed a significant nightlife scene, with plenty of popular bars and clubs.
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Starting from the Bürkli Platz, just behind a luxurious hotel Baur au Lac begins a manmade canal through the city. It follows the outskirts of the old town and offers picturesque views of the boats, pretty facades, and terraces.
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Oberer Letten is very popular amongst the younger population. Usually, in the evenings and over the weekends, it is filled with big friend groups, loudspeakers, exposing clothing, and alcohol.
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Beyond the culinary experience, Blinde Kuh embraces an important message of understanding and inclusivity as well as the power of sensory perception.
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"Aelpli-Bar" translates to "Mountain Bar" in English, and it couldn't be more fitting - you will be transported to a warm and cozy mountain atmosphere.
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176 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
Authentic Stories by Real People
Escape the crowd & travel slow 🐌
✓ 176 Insider Tips from our local Spotters