december-2012

Eat
134—GW
T I M E O F F I N …
ZURICH
What do foodies eat in Zurich? Well, they
probably opt for the popular veal-based
dish known locally as Züri-Gschnätzlets.
Elsewhere, the ragout is often served
with rice or pastry, but in Zurich it’s
always accompanied by delicious,
golden brown Rösti. Swiss cuisine has
plenty more up its culinary sleeve, but
it’s worth bearing in mind that eating out
in Switzerland is pricey.
You can try out the whole spectrum of
local cuisine at ZUNFTHAUS ZUR
WAAG ► Münsterhof 8, 8001 Zurich,
+41 (0)44 216 99 66, www.zunfthauszur-waag.ch
◄ The restaurant’s many
specialities include perch fi llets from
Lake Zurich. The Biedermeier-style
dining room offers fantastic views of the
historic Münsterhof.
The restaurant HAUS ZUM RÜDEN
► Limmatquai 42, 8001 Zurich,
+41 (0)44 261 95 66, www.
hauszumrueden.ch ◄ serves up fresh,
traditional, innovative dishes in a historic
atmosphere – the listed building
contains features dating back to the
14th century.
Young and old alike love the traditional
fare and cold beer served up at the
RHEINFELDER BIERHALLE
► Niederdorfstrasse 76, 8001 Zurich,
+41 (0)44 251 54 64, www.rheinfelder.
ch ◄. Make sure you try the Jumbo
Jumbo Cordon Bleu. The beer hall is 140
years old and the patina is the real deal.
CLOUDS ► Maagplatz 5, 8005
Zurich, 41 (0)44 404 30 00, www.
clouds.ch ◄ inside Switzerland’s tallest
building, the 126m-tall Prime Tower,
specialises in Mediterranean cuisine.
The restaurant is spread over two fl oors
and offers impressive views.
Sleep
You’ll fi nd accommodation to suit all
tastes and budgets in Switzerland’s
largest metropolis, from affordable
youth hostels to luxury hotels. The city
boasts 250 hotels and 15,000 beds.
The fi ve-star hotel BAUR AU LAC
► Talstrasse 1, 8001 Zurich, +41 (0)44
220 50 20, www.bauraulac.ch ◄ is
centrally located and has its own private
park. The hotel has been family-run
since it opened in 1844, and is situated
just a short walk from the banking
district on Paradeplatz and the famous
Bahnhofstrasse shopping street.
The four star GLOCKENHOF ►
Sihlstrasse 31, 8022 Zurich, +41 (0)44
225 91 91, www.glockenhof.ch ◄ is a
stone’s throw from Zurich’s brand new
casino and boasts 91 modern, stylish
rooms. In winter, guests can dine on
fondue in a wooden hut in the courtyard.
The three-star hotel RÜTLI
► Zähringerstrasse 43, 8021 Zurich,
+41 (0)44 254 58 00, www.rutli.ch ◄
is situated close to the old town. The
building underwent renovation three
years ago, and 12 of the rooms have
been decorated by graffi ti artists.
The ZURICH YOUTH HOSTEL
► Mutschellenstrasse 114, 8038
Zurich, +41 (0)43 399 78 00, www.
youthhostel.ch/de/hostels/zurich ◄
is popular with young visitors, the young
at heart, families and groups travelling
on a small budget. It’s situated in a quiet
area not far from the lake.
Drink
Party mecca Zurich-West’s nightlife
offers everything from trendy bars to
alternative dives, and it’s constantly
reinventing itself. Things normally kick
off around 11pm and carry on into the
wee small hours. There are also plenty
of nightspots to be found in other parts
of the city.
MOODS ► Schiffb austrasse 6, 8005
Zurich, +41 (0)44 276 80 00, www.
moods.ch ◄ in the Schiffbau cultural
centre specialises in jazz, funk, soul and
blues, and often hosts big names.
Fans of whisky and jazz should head for
the WIDDER-BAR ► Widdergasse 6,
8001 Zurich, +41 (0)44 224 25 26,
www.widderhotel.ch ◄ It’s situated in
a small luxury hotel in the old town, and
regularly hosts live music.
For a romantic evening, try the JULES
VERNE PANORAMABAR
► Uraniastrasse 9 (entrance at the
Brasserie Lipp), 8001 Zurich, +41 (0)43
888 66 66, www.jules-verne.ch ◄
where you can sip cocktails in a former
observatory high above the city and take
in panoramic views of the Alps and
Lake Zurich.
The old-world, laid-back atmosphere at
JAMES JOYCE ► Pelikanstrasse 8,
8001 Zurich, +41 (0)44 221 18 28,
www.jamesjoyce.ch ◄ has been
drawing in a mixed crowd for over 30
years. The bar’s furnishings come from
a hotel in Dublin.
One of Switzerland’s oldest clubs
MASCOTTE ► Theaterstrasse 10,
8001 Zurich, +41 (0)44 260 15 80,
www.mascotte.ch ◄ hosts regular
events with both famous bands and new
talent. Tuesdays is karaoke night.
See
One of Zurich’s main attractions is the
DOLDER KUNSTEISBAHN, a
6,000m 2 artifi cial ice rink from 1930,
the biggest of its kind in Europe. Another
popular winter destination is the
UETLIBERG, which at roughly 870m
offers an attractive panorama of the city,
the lake and the Alps.
If you prefer something a bit warmer,
why not relax in 28º–40ºC water
surrounded by hundred-year-old stone
vaulted ceilings at the THERMALBAD
& SPA ZÜRICH. The Masoala
rainforest hall at ZURICH ZOO is
equally tropical, even in deepest winter.
Zurich is teeming with galleries,
particularly the KUNSTMEILE
RÄMISTRASSE. 14 of the city’s 50
museums are devoted to art.
BAHNHOFSTRASSE is a worldfamous
1.4km shopping street that links
the station with Lake Zurich, and boasts
department stores, boutiques,
confectioners and jewellers. The nearby
AUGUSTINERGASSE and its colourful
alcoves are also worth checking out.
Climb the 183 steps up the tower of the
GROSSMÜNSTER for great views of
the old town.
First time visitors should take a guided
tour of the historic centre. For more
information, visit Zurich Tourism www.
zuerich.com or call +41 (0)44 215 40
88. Visitors can also make all kinds of
savings with the ZurichCARD, which
offers 24 or 72 hours of free transport
and free entry to Zurich’s museums.