Would you like to get to know Zurich away from the tourist attractions? Our Head of Communications Lea Keller has listed her favourite places in Zurich. The neighbourhoods in Zurich are divided into ‘circles’. Here is an overview of what there is to discover in each district.
District 1 und 2
Take a dip into the lake at the historic Seebad Utoquai. The bathing facility is located on the bustling lakeside promenade. You can enjoy a good coffee at Monocle. The Villa Bleuler park is a wonderful place to read the newspaper and take a stroll in the new botanical garden close by. The Kultur Lokal Rank in Zurich’s Niederdorf is a great restaurant with character and fresh cuisine. In addition to local specialities, there are live concerts after dinner from Thursday to Saturday.
District 3 und 4
A local hotspot in summer is Bullingerplatz in district 4. The Cafe du Bonheur has sun until late and is one of the most popular sun terraces in the city. The square in front of the café is always full: people meet there after work to sit together by the fountain and have a drink.
Not far away is the Lochergut. The residential and commercial complex is known for its characteristic silhouette. There are many restaurants around this tram stop. Just around the corner is the well-known and popular Gelateria di Berna. It’s worth queuing here, as the ice cream parlour offers a large selection of ice creams with changing flavours.
Idaplatz in the 3rd district is a cosy place where the locals play betangne on the gravel or watch football in the Calvadoz bar. There are some incredibly good Italian restaurants there, such as the family-run Genoves.
District 5
Zurich locals traditionally go to Cafe Noir, which is both a café and a roastery. My favourite ice cream place is called Eisvogel and is run by two women. There are only 4 flavours to choose from and they are always an explosion of flavour. There is a Markthalle (market hall) in IM VIADUKT. It is worth to walk through and grab a small snack or a culinary souvenir.
For dinner, city dwellers go to the Italian restaurant Rosso, right next to the railway tracks. It is more romantic than it sounds like. If you prefer French flair, go to Les Halles for moules et frittes. The restaurant Alpenrose offers seasonal and classic Swiss cuisine.
District 6
The Cafe Nordbrücke (Nordbrüggli in Swiss German) is located in the residential neighbourhood Wipkingen. Café-Bar Belmondo is found on the same square as this café ans serves. Café des Amis is a wonderful place for brunch. You will find a cosy bench in Schindlergutpark, just above the popular Flussbad Oberer Letten, a riverside bathing facility (admission free).
