Experience a happy hour like never before in this Swiss city.
The Zurich bar scene is one you won’t want to miss. Here are the city’s top six trendiest bars to enjoy the nightlife in. Don’t forget to follow local etiquette and make eye contact when clinking glasses. Proscht!
Goethe Bar
Goethestrasse 10, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland
Next door to the Zurich Opera House is the Goethe Bar, a classy establishment with an extensive menu and luxurious atmosphere. Sit back, relax, and order a drink from the backlit bar displaying the finest bottles. If you’re in need of a happy hour snack while basking in the pleasant ambiance, the bar serves food from the Schiller restaurant it’s a part of. At Goethe, the motto is savoir vivre or “live elegantly” which is the perfect catchphrase for an environment conducive to doing so.
Café Bar Odeon
Limmatquai 2, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland
Opened in 1911, Café Bar Odeon is a historic site in its own right. The building itself is under a preservation order so it maintains original marble and antique décor. Café Bar Odeon started as an Art Nouveau coffeehouse where public figures ranging from Benito Mussolini to Albert Einstein would stop by for a drink. Today, it operates as a café, bar, and restaurant frequented by tourists and locals alike. Make sure to order cüpli or champagne by the glass for a taste of history, because Odeon is where the concept originated.
The Nest
Weinpl. 2, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland
The Nest is a rooftop bar on top of the Storchen Hotel, sitting across from the Grossmünster and boasting incredible views of the city below. Environmentally conscious, the bar uses locally grown ingredients whenever possible, as with their champagne which is sourced from the Terreni alla Maggia farm nearby. The Nest is only open when the weather is nice from April to October since it’s outdoors and would be unpleasant in the winter months, so hit up this happy hour from above while you can!
Frau Gerolds Garten
Geroldstrasse 23, 8005 Zürich, Switzerland
If good vibes are what you look for in a bar, Frau Gerolds Garten is the place for you. In addition to the drinks, there’s a kitchen garden where fresh ingredients are harvested and the menu changes based on what produce is in season. Far from just being a bar, this outdoor area has various events happening all the time such as markets selling locally made goods. It’s also a popular place to watch soccer matches when there’s a game. Frau Gerolds Garten even stays open in the winter, making the space cozy no matter how cold it gets with colorful string lights. The website says whether its open or closed everyday so make sure to check before you go.
Weinschenke at Hotel Hirschen
Niederdorfstrasse 13, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland
Located in the cellar of Hotel Hirschen is Weinschenke, a wine bar with over 120 local and international wines to choose from. To get to this medieval room, you enter through an ancient well built in 1340 that still functions to this day. Weinschenke serve platters of various meats and cheeses to go with the drinks, and there are always staff-picked favorite wines if you’re not sure what to order. Even if medieval wine cellars aren’t your usual scene, you won’t want to miss out on this unique dining experience you’d be hard-pressed to find anywhere else.
Kronenhalle Bar
Rämistrasse 4, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland
The Kronenhalle Bar serves the highest quality drinks surrounded by original artwork from artists like Joan Miró, Pablo Picasso, and Paul Klee. Here you can find friendly and passionate bartenders among the dark mahogany and green leather that contributes to the elegance of the space. A notably unique aspect of the bar is its distinct lack of background music, putting more focus on good conversation and the ambient sounds of a fun night out. Don’t forget to ask about the secret menu with unique recipes that stray from the average choices available elsewhere.
