Switzerland · Kronenhalle, Zurich West and the lake
Zurich
Zurich is expensive and knows why: bars like Kronenhalle and Widder are world class, Zurich West parties until morning, and in summer you swim in the lake between two drinks.
Zurich has perhaps the highest density of excellent bars per inhabitant in Europe. The Kronenhalle Bar with Chagall and Miró on the walls, the Widder Bar with more than a thousand whiskies, Old Crow with one of the largest spirits collections on the continent. Plus Tales and Raygrodski for modern cocktail craft.
Zurich West, the former industrial quarter around Geroldstrasse, is the counterpoint: Frau Gerolds Garten with containers and vegetable beds, Hive Club for techno until morning, Kaufleuten in the city centre as an institution since 1915.
And then the lake and the Limmat. Zurich swims: the Rimini Bar in the Männerbad Schanzengraben and the lakeside baths are bars with water access in summer. An evening that starts in the water and ends at the Kronenhalle is Zurich in one sentence.
The night profile
- Cocktail
- €21
- Beer
- €8
- Club entry
- €25
- Taxi at night
- €30
Swiss correct. A jacket at Kronenhalle and Widder, sneakers in Zurich West, swimming trunks under your trousers by the lake.
The night in Zurich
From the first hour to the last.
June to September for the lake baths and summer bars, Street Parade in August, December for Advent bars and the Kronenhalle in the snow.
- 18:00Badi
Rimini Bar in the Schanzengraben or a dip in the lake, drink afterwards.
- 20:00Classic
Kronenhalle Bar or Widder Bar: whisky, art and piano.
- 22:00Cocktail
Old Crow or Tales, then Raygrodski in Kreis 4.
- 00:00Zurich West
Frau Gerolds Garten in summer, Kaufleuten in the city centre.
- 02:00Club
Hive Club on Geroldstrasse, until morning comes.
Old town and Bellevue
Kronenhalle Bar, Widder Bar, Old Crow: the classics.
Zurich West
Frau Gerolds Garten, Hive, Geroldstrasse: containers, clubs, art.
Kreis 4 and Langstrasse
Raygrodski, pubs and the most honest nightlife in town.
Seefeld and the lake
Lake baths, summer bars and a view of the Alps.
Schanzengraben
Rimini Bar in the Männerbad: Zurich's most beautiful summer bar.
The addresses
9 bars in Zurich.
Cult barZurich · Bellevue
Kronenhalle Bar
Chagall on the wall, piano in the corner
Hotel barZurich · Old town
Widder Bar
More than a thousand whiskies and live jazz
Cocktail barZurich · Old town
Old Crow
One of the largest spirits collections in Europe
Cocktail barZurich · Kreis 1
Tales Bar
Modern cocktail art on Selnaustrasse
Cocktail barZurich · Kreis 4
Raygrodski
Cocktails and music in Kreis 4
Beach clubZurich · Zurich West
Frau Gerolds Garten
Containers, vegetable beds, summer nights
ClubZurich · Zurich West
Hive Club
Techno on Geroldstrasse
ClubZurich · City centre
Kaufleuten
Club, concert hall and institution since 1915
Beach clubZurich · Schanzengraben
Rimini Bar
Summer bar in the old men's bath
Good to know
Tips for Zurich.
- Zurich is expensive: 20 to 25 francs per cocktail is normal, but the quality is high.
- The Widder Bar has live jazz several nights a week; booking is recommended.
- Frau Gerolds Garten is only open in summer; in winter part of it becomes a fondue parlour.
- From the main station everything is reachable in 15 minutes on foot or by tram, with a night network at weekends.
Frequently asked questions
Which bar in Zurich is the most famous?
The Kronenhalle Bar at Bellevue: art by Chagall, Miró and Picasso, classic cocktails and Zurich society since 1965.
What does a cocktail cost in Zurich?
Between 19 and 26 francs in the good bars, more in hotel bars. A beer is 7 to 9 francs.
Where is Zurich's techno scene?
Hive Club and the clubs on Geroldstrasse in Zurich West.
