Nightlife in Zurich
Zurich nightlife ranges from glitzy to gritty - from classical concerts at Zurich Opera House in Riesbach, to alternative arts at Rote Fabrik in Wollishofen. Hit the Altstadt for a Guinness at the James Joyce Pub's mahogany bar or cocktails at Art Nouveau-style Café Odeon. Fashionable Zuri-West pulsates after dark; try candy-striped Liquid Bar for margaritas, Moods im Schiffbau for soulful jazz and X-tra for all-night clubbing. Most bars close at 2am, many clubs at 5am.
Widder Bar
Smooth jazz
Widder Hotel in the Altstadt shelters a moody jazz bar with red leather
armchairs, wooden beams and low lighting. Recent performers at Widder Bar
include Diana Krall and Ray Brown. The 1000-bottle spirit library includes
250 different malt whiskeys.
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Address
7, Rennweg, Zurich 8001
Telephone
+41 (0) 1 224 25 26
Café Odeon
Art Nouveau elegance
Café Odeon has been an Altstadt institution since 1911, welcoming
luminaries from James Joyce to Mussolini. It exudes Art Nouveau glamour with
chandeliers, red leather banquettes and marble walls. A friendly,
fashionable crowd enjoys cocktails on the terrace.
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Address
2, Limmatquai, Zurich 8001
Telephone
+41 (0) 1 251 16 50
Bierhalle Wolf
Traditional beer hall
Perhaps Zurich's best-known beer hall, Bierhalle Wolf stays true to
Teutonic tradition. Head to this Altstadt haunt to hear brass band music
entertaining a lively, mixed crowd. Beer flows by the litre when the
musicians strike up at around 8pm.
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Address
132, Limmatquai, Zurich 8001
Telephone
+41 (0) 44 251 01 30
James Joyce Pub
Dubliner's watering hole
James Joyce Pub in the Altstadt is named after Zurich's favourite
Dubliner. The relaxed watering hole sports the original 19th-century
interior of Dublin's Jury's Hotel, mentioned in
Ulysses. Nurse a whiskey or pint of Guinness at the polished
mahogany bar.
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Address
8, Pelikanstrasse, Zurich 8001
Telephone
+41 (0) 44 221 18 28
Liquid Bar
Psychedelic Sixties
A flashback to the swinging 1960s, Liquid Bar appeals to the trendy set of
Zuri-West. Candy-striped walls, leopard print stools and plastic bubble
chairs define the retro interior. Sip one of the famous margaritas as DJs
spin lounge music.
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Address
12, Zwinglistrasse, Zurich 8004
Telephone
+41 (0) 411 291 12 91
Pur Pur
Moroccan glamour
Pur Pur brings Moroccan exoticism to Zurich's Riesbach district with
its low-level seating, brass lamps and arches leading through to intimate
cubby holes. Depending on the night, the DJ might play anything from house
to Latin, RnB or '80s grooves.
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Address
9, Seefeldstrasse, Zurich 8008
Telephone
+41 (0) 44 419 20 66
OXA
Techno temple
Bass-loaded OXA in Zürich-Oerlikon attracts serious clubbers with
its all-night parties. The four-level club comprises a restaurant, a
bamboo-fringed garden and two dance floors - a blue one dedicated to techno
and trance, and a red one for house.
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Address
70, Andreasstrasse, Zurich 8050
Telephone
+41 (0) 1311 60 33
Club Indochine
Asian beats
Fashionable partygoers flock to Asian-inspired Club Indochine in trendy
Zuri-West. The decor is 21st century meets the Orient with backlit Buddhas,
tea lights and leopard-print lampshades. Velvet chairs frame the dance floor
where clubbers dance to house music till 4am.
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Address
275, Limmatsrasse, Zurich 8005
Telephone
+41 (0) 44 448 11 11
Kaufleuten
VIP haunt
Star of the Altstadt clubbing circuit, Kaufleuten's coolness has
skyrocketed since Madonna paid a visit. The baroque dance floor is
theatrical; all high ceilings, red velvet and chandeliers. Dress up to dance
to soul or RnB with Zurich's beautiful people.
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Address
18, Pelikanstrasse, Zurich 8001
Telephone
+41 (0) 44 225 33 40
X-tra
Mecca for clubbers
Zurich's largest club is X-tra in the Zuri-West district. Drawing a
20-something crowd, the line-up alternates between DJs pumping out house or
salsa, and regular live bands. Clubbers retreat to the terrace to sip hot
zingy caipirinhas.
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Address
118, Limmatstrasse, Zurich 8005
Telephone
+41 (0) 44 448 15 00
Adagio
Regal partying
Ceiling frescoes, balconies and candle chandeliers give a grand, baroque look
to the dancefloor at Adagio in Zurich's Altstadt. Sip cocktails in the
lounge area with throne-like armchairs, then dance to chart classics, soul
and funk under the glitter ball.
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Address
5 Gothardstrasse, Zürich 8002
Telephone
+41 (0) 44 206 36 66
Moods im Schiffbau
Contemporary jazz venue
Touted as one of Europe's best jazz clubs, Moods im Schiffbau forms
part of the ultra-modern Schiffbau arts complex occupying the old shipyard
in Zuri-West. The laid-back venue draws serious jazz lovers with its line-up
of local and international talent.
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Address
6, Schiffbaustrasse, Zurich 8005
Telephone
+41 (0) 1 276 80 00
Zurich Opera House
A classic evening
Located near the lakefront in the Riesbach district, Zurich Opera House hides
a lavish interior behind its neoclassical facade. Since 1891, the venue has
staged a varied repertoire of opera, ballet, concerts and recitals,
including numerous world premiers.
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Address
1, Falkenstrasse, Zurich 8008
Telephone
+41 (0) 1 268 66 66
Rote Fabrik
Industrial arts scene
Squat turned alternative arts centre, lakeside Rote Fabrik, in Wollishofen,
is a sprawling factory providing a stage for emerging and established
talent. Party-goers, theatre buffs and Zurich's creative types come
for concerts, performing arts, film screenings and club nights.
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Address
395, Seestrasse, Zurich 8038
Telephone
+41 (0) 1 485 58 58
Tonhalle Zurich
World-class concert hall
Opened by Brahms in 1895, Tonhalle Zurich is home to the acclaimed Zurich
Tonhalle Orchestra under the baton of David Zinman. Overlooking
Bürkliplatz, the venue offers world-class acoustics and a diverse
programme ranging from chamber music concerts to solo performances.
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Address
7, Claridenstrasse, Zurich 8002
Telephone
+41 (0) 1 206 34 34
