ZURICH - In Your Pocket

20 QUICK PICKS
Zurich at a glance
Eat Drink Do
Local For fresh tapas and no-nonsense
Spanish charm head
to the Bodega Espanola (p.
30), an institution in Niederdorf.
Chose from the tapas
on display and take a seat on
one of the large tables - just
as locals famous and less so
have done for decades.
On the cheap For cheap, good food, head to
Lily’s at Langstrasse (p. 25):
the pan-Asian menu is full of
tasty and very reasonably
priced food and the service
is quick. Perfect to start off
your night in the Langstrasse
district.
Lads For generous portions of solid
Swiss food, particularly meat,
at very decent prices, head
for Rheinfelder Bierhalle (p.
32) in Niederdorf: kidneys,
liver, cordon bleu or schnitzel
- they have it all.
For couples If you’re looking for a nice
place for a tête-à-tête, the
Mère Catherine (p. 27) has
the right atmosphere. And a
very pleasing French-inspired
menu as well. The cheese
platter is recommended.
High end Brasserie Lipp (p. 27) could
rival many a Parisian brasserie,
serving standards like
mussels with french fries or
oysters. For an after-dinner
cocktail, take the elevator up
to the Jules Verne panorama
bar with a stunning view over
the city.
Unexpected The restaurant Clouds (p.
29) on the top of Zurich’s –
nay, Switzerland’s! – tallest
building is definitely worth a
visit, for the view as well as
for the food. And how high up
are we here? A mere 126m
– a giant for Zurich, a dwarf
if you’re familiar with other
urban centres.
Club Gonzo (p. 38) is one of
Zurich's most happening underground
hangouts. This small rock
and pop club in a cellar is worth
queuing for. A dance floor, a bar
and a constantly overcrowded
smokers’ room are ready for
some serious rock’n’roll with you.
Gentlemen, start your engines!
For really cheap drinks, go to
BQM (Leonhardstrasse 34, F-2),
a student's bar situated in the
main building of the Swiss Federal
Institute of Technology ETH (just a
5-minute walk from Central). With
beer at 3.60Sfr and cocktails at
9.40Sfr this is definitely one of the
cheapest places in town (closed
on weekends).
All the important sports events
on big screen, pub food, many
different beers on tap and a very
international crowd (and yes, not
just lads but ladies too!) - you'll
find it all at the Oliver Twist pub
(see p. 37).
The easy bar with the difficult
name – Schmuklerski (p. 35) is
a nice place for good coffee and
good conversation with a large
bar menu if the talking makes you
hungry. Of course, you can also
come in the evening and there’s
a restaurant too.
The Sein bar (p. 36) close to
Bahnhofstrasse is a stylish bar
with a well assorted wine menu
and a wonderful selection of unconventional
tapas – for instance
sturgeon carpaccio or mince veal
with romanesco broccoli.
How did that one go? In Switzerland
they make fizzy drinks from
milk. But wait, it's no joke. Rivella
is the Swiss answer to Coca Cola,
you can get it at most shops and
restaurants and actually its not
that bad. Made of milk serum,
it doesn't look like mik and is
supposed to be quite healthy too.
Browsing through titbits and treasures
at the Kanzlei fleamarket
(p. 45) is a prototypical Saturday
morning for a Zurich local – especially
if it’s followed by a large café
latte in one of the happening bars
around Helvetiaplatz.
Some of Zurich’s main sights
come for free: A must see are the
Giacometti murals in the main
police station (p. 41) - they're
overwhelming. Or if it’s foggy
outside, go and check if there is
sun on Zurich’s own little mountain
Uetliberg (p. 42): either walk up or
spend some francs on a train ticket
and hike back down to the city (45
minutes only).
Ice hockey is a big thing in
Switzerland and the season’s
just started. Feel the heat when
Zurich’s ZSC Lions play against
their rivals. Matches are at the
Hallenstadion (Wallisellenstrasse
45, O-1), just next to Oerlikon
station and start at 19:45 on 2, 9,
19, 23, 26 Oct and on 13, 16, 20
and 24 Nov.
If the weather is particularly awful,
a visit to one of Zurich’s most special
cinemas is a good option. At
the Xenix (p. 15) you can take your
drink in from the bar and watch the
film snuggled up on a couch with
your loved one.
Zurich’s new spa (p. 48) in the
former brewery is impressive – but
when it gets busy it isn’t as relaxing
as it could be. You can escape the
bustle by ordering the Toi et Moi
package, 90 minutes for two in a
private bath, including a glass of
prosecco and massages.
So you've always wanted to be
a rock star? This is your chance!
Every Tuesday night the Karaoke
From Hell show is staged at the
Mascotte club (p. 36). A live
band accompanies anything you
choose to sing - as long as it's rock
or heavy metal! Even if you don’t
want to hit the stage it's a load of
head-banging fun.
Zurich In Your Pocket zurich.inyourpocket.com
Zurich is a business destination first and foremost
- and hotel rates reflect that. From Friday night to
Monday morning, prices often drop sharply. Why not take
advantage of this and spend a weekend in one of the
many four- and five-star hotels in the city? Despite this,
accommodation in Zurich remains rather pricey and real
budget accommodation is rare. But nevertheless there is
something for any taste and almost any budget.
In Switzerland hotels are officially categorized with
stars from one to five. The categorization is done by
hotelleriesuisse, the national hoteliers association. A hotel
can also receive the supplement ‘superior’, indicating
a higher level of service and quality. We list the hotels
according to their official classification in the following
categories: Cream of the Crop*****, Upmarket****, Midrange***
and Budget (0 to **). Outside this classification
we list pensions - usually small and with less services
than a hotel - and some of the hostels in town. The prices
indicated include VAT. The city tax is 2.50Sfr per night and
is usually additional.
One grand hotel after another: Eden au Lac
and Steigenberger Bellerive au Lac. PD
Cream of the Crop
Eden au Lac F-6, Utoquai 45, 8Kreuzstrasse, tel. +41
44 266 25 25, fax +41 44 266 25 00, info@edenaulac.ch,
www.edenaulac.ch. Since 1909 the five-star Eden au
Lac has been the temporary home of some of Zurich‘s
most distinguished guests. In a listed, Art-Nouveau style
building, the hotel exudes a luxury old-world charm. As the
name suggests, the lake promenade is just across the
road. The rooms have high ceilings and tasteful furnishings.
Many of them come with a balcony or a terrace looking out
onto the lake - with a view of the Alps, if visibility is good.
There are junior suites and suites with a separate room for
your business meetings. For families, some rooms can be
connected by means of an additional door in the entrance
area. Every Thursday there is live jazz in the Eden Bar on
the ground floor and in the restaurant Eden chef Giuseppe
Storniolo definitely has more to offer than just his good
reputation. Q50 rooms (singles 450 - 590Sfr, doubles
690 - 765Sfr, business suite 1180Sfr). Breakfast 40Sfr,
Wi-fi 6 Sfr/1hr, 26Sfr/24hrs. PJHAR6ULKDW
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zurich.inyourpocket.com
WHERE TO STAY
Park Hyatt Zurich D-5, Beethoven-Strasse 21,
8Stockerstrasse, tel. +41 43 883 12 34, fax +41 43 883
12 35, zurich.park@hyatt.com, zurich.park.hyatt.ch. The
luxury Park Hyatt built in 2004 in the middle of Zurich’s business
district will impress you. The very spacious standard rooms
have full-height windows, free-standing sea-shell bathtubs, a
B&O sound and TV system and more. As it’s just a short walk
to Bahnhofstrasse or to the lake, the Park Hyatt is just as
good a choice for your business trip as it is for exploring Zurich.
Needless to say there is a first-class restaurant (parkhuus)
and an upmarket bar (Onyx Bar) on the ground floor, as well
as a spa with sauna and steam bath. If a standard room
doesn’t quite match your needs, there are executive and
deluxe rooms and suites with uncountable amenities. Q142
rooms (singles 490 - 1050Sfr, 130 doubles 640 - 1200Sfr, 11
suites 1790 - 4400Sfr, 1 presidential suite 5500 - 6400Sfr).
PJHAR6ULKDXW hhhhh
Widder E-3, Rennweg 7, 8Rennweg, tel. +41 44 224 25
26, fax +41 44 224 24 24, reservations@widderhotel.ch,
www.widderhotel.ch. The fabulous Widder is situated in
nine former residential houses in the mediaeval old town, with
the prestigious Bahnhofstrasse just around the corner. Each
of the 49 rooms is different in layout and atmosphere. Many
have traces of historical paintings which were brought to new
life when the hotel was built in over ten years of work. Some
rooms have modern elements which contrast with the ancient
walls and beams. Others are furnished with antiques and
look more classical. Some rooms have a private roof terrace
with views over the old town towards the lake and the Alps.
Naturally they all have the latest entertainment technology
and bathrooms to dream of. Q49 rooms (22 singles 560 -
610Sfr, 16 doubles 755 - 935Sfr, 9 suites 1420 - 2100Sfr, 1
family room 1175Sfr, 1 presidential suite 3800Sfr). Breakfast
32Sfr, Wi-fi free. PJHAR6UFLKW hhhhh
Zurich Marriott Hotel E-1, Neumühlequai 42, 8Beckenhof,
tel. +41 44 360 70 70, fax +41 44 360 77 77, marriott
.zurich@marriotthotels.com, www.zurichmarriott.com.
The views from the rooms in the main tower of the Zürich Marriott
Hotel just next to the main train station are breathtaking. The old
town, the river, the lake, it’s all there just outside your window. The
rooms with their light walls and dark wood furniture are modern
and elegant and come with quite some technology. If you would
like more space or an additional seating area, upgrade your
room to superior or executive category (the latter with 24 hour
access to the Executive Lounge). There is of course a gym with
sauna and solarium. The in-house bar 42, the Swiss restaurant
eCHo and the Thai restaurant White Elephant make for a real
first class experience. Event facilities for up to 600 persons
available. Q264 rooms (42 singles 235 - 410Sfr, 103 doubles
245 - 535Sfr, 8 suites 550 - 950Sfr, 30 junior suites 355 - 565Sfr,
1 business suite 950 - 1750Sfr). Breakfast 39Sfr, Wi-fi 35Sfr per
day. PJHA6UFLKDW international chain hotel
Symbol key
P Air-conditioning A Credit cards accepted
T Child friendly H Conference facilities
R Internet in room U Facilities for the disabled
F Fitness centre L Parking on site
K Restaurant 8 Nearest tram station
D Sauna C Swimming pool
6 Animal friendly
J City centre location
W Wi-fi connection
October - November 2012
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