Zürich
Choosing among Zurich bars is easier when the occasion comes first. Lagerstrasse suits Italian aperitivo and relaxed sharing plates, while Selnaustrasse is better for a planned cocktail evening. Around the Old Town, you can find intimate rooms, creative drinks, non-alcoholic options and small plates. For a more casual night, explore craft-beer taps, Nordic imports or a dog-friendly bar in districts such as Wiedikon and Kreis 4.
We researched bars in Zürich and narrowed them down to those with genuine expertise, strong reviews and complete contact details.
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#1Via del gusto 28 turns aperitivo into a distinctly Italian pause at Lagerstrasse 28. Order a drink with a customizable tagliere, choosing the items that best suit the table, or settle in for fresh focaccia and a relaxed taste of Italy.
The friendly atmosphere works equally well for a casual catch-up, a pre-dinner drink or a small shared spread, with dogs welcome.
#2Bartenders can tailor a serve
Tales Bar creates a low-lit, stylish setting for serious cocktail exploration on Selnaustrasse 29. Its menu leans into creative signature drinks, while the bartenders can tailor a serve to individual preferences.
The intimate room often fills quickly, so it is best suited to planned evenings when you want a focused drink-led experience rather than a spontaneous stop. Service runs from 8 pm until 3 am on selected nights.
#3ELISABURG is a cocktail bar on Elisabethenstrasse built around a distinctive interior, warm lighting and a playful, creative drinks menu. It works for a solo cocktail as easily as for meeting friends, with a welcoming team and an atmosphere that feels deliberately different from a conventional bar.
The walk-in format makes it a natural choice for spontaneous evenings, although busy periods may require patience for a seat.
#4Dalí's Bar brings an easygoing cocktail-bar mood to Meinrad-Lienert-Strasse, with well-made drinks, friendly service and a setting suited to relaxed evenings with friends. Its dog-friendly policy adds practical flexibility for casual meet-ups, while the central Zürich location makes it convenient for a drink after exploring the city.
Choose it when atmosphere matters as much as the cocktail in your glass.
#5BarMünster is a cosy cocktail bar on Münstergasse with a creative drinks list, strong non-alcoholic options and a small selection of cheese and charcuterie. The intimate setting suits a pre-dinner drink, an evening catch-up or a longer night built around carefully mixed serves.
Live music adds another layer on selected occasions, giving this central spot more character than a standard cocktail stop.
#6Curated bottle selection
Mikkeller Zurich is a dedicated craft-beer stop on Zweierstrasse, offering 20 taps spanning Mikkeller brews and leading Swiss craft beers, plus a curated bottle selection . The rotating choice rewards curious drinkers who enjoy exploring styles, breweries and harder-to-find pours, including hazy beers, porters and stouts.
It is a strong fit for an unhurried tasting session or a relaxed beer with friends.
#7ROBIN'S Bar & Coffee combines a cosy Old Town café feel with an evening bar setting on Zähringerstrasse. It suits a slow coffee, a carefully presented iced Americano or a later drink, with a relaxed independent character throughout the day.
The varied opening hours make it useful for both daytime pauses and night-time meet-ups, especially when you want real coffee without giving up a proper bar atmosphere.
#8NORDEN Bar brings a relaxed northern European character to Ankerstrasse, with a carefully focused selection of Nordic beers and Scandinavian products. It is an appealing destination for drinkers who enjoy unusual imports, a friendly neighbourhood atmosphere and rock music in the background.
The bar works particularly well for a low-key evening spent discovering Finnish and Swedish pours rather than following a standard mainstream beer list.
#9The International Beer Bar focuses on craft beer from around the world at Luisenstrasse 7, complemented by spirits and cigars. The selection includes distinctive styles such as sour beers, while the knowledgeable bar team can add context to both the drink and its wider brewing culture.
With reservations and bookings available, it suits informal meet-ups, focused tasting sessions and groups looking for an international beer-led night.
#10Dr. Zhivago Bar brings cocktails, classic drinks and spirits to a compact, characterful setting near Bahnhofstrasse. The bar team takes a hands-on approach to mixing, with attentive service and the option of finger food for a casual evening.
Limited seating makes it better suited to an early drink or a small gathering than a large group, while the central financial-district location is convenient after work.
#11Barfussbar offers a distinctly seasonal riverside experience at Stadthausquai, pairing cocktails with music, outdoor energy and views towards Zürich's Old Town and Grossmünster. Its defining detail is the no-shoes concept, which gives warm-weather visits a relaxed but still stylish character.
It is best for summer afternoons that continue into lively evenings, with selected late-spring and summer events adding a DJ-led soundtrack.
#12Walk-ins only
Bar am Wasser pairs an upscale riverside setting with a cocktail menu designed to unfold like a three-course dinner. The team explains the different courses clearly, making the format especially appealing for drinkers who enjoy a guided, structured experience rather than a single quick serve.
Located at Stadthausquai 1, it welcomes walk-ins only , so the intimate bar is best approached as a flexible stop rather than a bookable occasion.
#13Late-night live music bar
Ebrietas Bar is a late-night live music bar on Zähringerstrasse with a strong rock and metal identity. Its dive-bar atmosphere suits listeners who prefer heavier sounds, energetic nights and a less polished alternative to mainstream venues.
The programme and drinks make it a natural choice for an after-dark stop in the Old Town, particularly when music is the main reason for going out.
#14Mata Hari is a dedicated tiki bar on Langstrasse, built around tropical cocktails, colourful escapism and a classic tiki feeling. The setting suits late-night drinks and special events when you want something more playful than a conventional cocktail lounge.
Its long opening hours make it particularly useful for after-hours plans, with service extending to 4 am on Friday and Saturday.
#15Rimini Bar is an open-air summer venue beside the Schanzengraben at Badweg 10, making it a natural choice for warm-weather drinks and relaxed happy hours. The setting shifts seasonally, with a winter stübli serving fondue alongside the outdoor concept.
Choose it for a riverside-style break, seasonal food and an informal atmosphere rather than a formal dining experience.
Summary
| # | Business | Rating | Reviews | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Via del gusto 28 - Italienischer Aperitif & frische Focaccia in Zürich | 4.9 | 1,104 | Italian aperitivo and relaxed sharing plates |
| #2 | Tales Bar | 4.8 | 875 | Planned evenings centred on inventive cocktails |
| #3 | ELISABURG | 4.8 | 486 | Spontaneous cocktails in a characterful setting |
| #4 | Dalí's Bar | Zürich | 4.8 | 441 | Casual drinks with friends and dogs |
| #5 | BarMünster | 4.7 | 810 | small plates and intimate evenings |
| #6 | Mikkeller Zurich | 4.9 | 238 | Exploring rotating craft-beer styles |
| #7 | ROBIN'S Bar & Coffee | 4.8 | 293 | Coffee breaks that continue into evening drinks |
| #8 | NORDEN Bar | 4.8 | 279 | Nordic beers and laid-back evenings |
| #9 | The International Beer Bar | 4.6 | 970 | Global beer tasting with friends |
| #10 | Dr. Zhivago Bar | 4.9 | 183 | Early evening cocktails and small gatherings |
| #11 | Barfussbar | 4.7 | 474 | Seasonal riverside cocktails and music |
| #12 | Bar am Wasser | 4.6 | 905 | Guided cocktail experiences by the river |
| #13 | Ebrietas Bar | 4.6 | 761 | Rock and metal nights in the Old Town |
| #14 | Mata Hari | 4.6 | 503 | Late-night tropical drinks and themed occasions |
| #15 | Rimini Bar | 4.5 | 1,948 | Seasonal drinks and informal summer evenings |
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Map and areas
Use the map to compare Zurich’s bar districts before setting out. Old Town locations around Münstergasse and Zähringerstrasse work well when you are already sightseeing, while Kreis 3 and Kreis 4 offer more neighbourhood-style choices. Check the distance between stops if you are planning a bar-hopping evening, and look at the individual listing before travelling.
Tales Bar is designed around inventive cocktails in a low-lit, intimate setting, making it a natural choice when the drinks are the main event. Because the room can fill quickly, booking ahead is sensible for an organised evening.
Via del gusto 28 on Lagerstrasse focuses on an Italian aperitivo experience with drinks, fresh focaccia and a customisable tagliere. It works well for a casual catch-up, a pre-dinner stop or a small shared spread.
BarMünster offers a creative drinks list alongside strong non-alcoholic choices. It also has cheese and charcuterie, so it can suit mixed groups where some guests want carefully prepared alcohol-free drinks and others prefer cocktails.
Mikkeller Zurich on Zweierstrasse is suited to drinkers who enjoy exploring changing beer styles. Its taps include Mikkeller and Swiss craft beers, with bottles adding more variety for a slower tasting session.
Dalí's Bar offers a casual setting for drinks with friends and dogs. Its easygoing cocktail-bar atmosphere is useful for an informal meet-up, particularly when you want a central location without making the evening feel overly formal.
