Zürich has the highest density of trendy nightclubs in Switzerland, and with no closing time and, late night revellers won’t be disappointed.

Nightlife in Zürich: Niederdorf via Seefeld to the City Centre

When things gradually quieten down in the bustling Zürich Bahnhofstrasse (main street) after business hours, the Niederdorf on the opposite side of the river Limmat is only just starting to come to life.

Bars and restaurants are strung together here like pearls on a necklace, ranging from the traditional wine bar öpfelchammer, which the writer Gottfried Keller used to frequent, to the Casa-Jazzbar and beer halls and the folklore of the älpli-Bar.

If you stroll through the shopping precinct via Oberdorf to the Bellevue, you will come to the legendary Kronenhalle-Bar, a meeting place for celebrities who enjoy having a drink while admiring a real painting by Chagall or Picasso. If you turn off in Niederdorf into a side alley leading to the Limmat quay and then follow the Limmat to Lake Zürich, you will pass Pier 7, the only floating bistro in the city: a small but friendly establishment with a bar.

Via the bar and lounge of the restaurant Terrasse on the Bellevue you get to Seefeld: from the Odeon-Bar, which shaped the history of Zürich as a meeting place for writers and a café for intellectuals, to the bar and lounge Purpur, many establishments are available for partying: and until the wee hours of the morning, because there has been no such thing as closing time in Zürich for a decade.

The oldest club in the city of Zürich is called Mascotte – it is close to Lake Zürich and plays dance music ranging from pop to hip hop and R’nB. The Kongresshaus houses the club Adagio, which has a great party atmosphere thanks to its mix of dance classics, chart toppers, soul und funk as well as the best of vocal house. A medieval atmosphere is created by the wall and ceiling paintings, the stone floors and candlelight.

In the city centre, the popular club Kaufleuten attracts fashion-conscious party people: with beats ranging from house to soul, salsa, meringue and over-30s parties. And in Saint Germain in Bahnhofstrasse, Paris Hilton, P. Diddy and Snoop Dogg are some of the VIP guests. The alternative cultural centre Rote Fabrik provides a contrast on the left shore of the lake: in the former silk weaving factory, concerts and cultural events dominate the night-time programme. But the Stall 6 in Gessnerallee near the river Sihl also offers some unconventional sounds.

Nightlife in Zürich: The Trendy District of Zürich-West

The trendy district of Zürich-West has become synonymous with a party lover’s paradise: where industrial machines were once operated, the former factory buildings are now full of young, urban socialites. Zürich-West became established as a trendy district at the latest thanks to the cultural centre ‘Schiffbau’: the former boat building facility today houses a restaurant, the jazz club Moods, stages of the theatre and the Nietturmbar with a view of the district.

While on the ground floor theatre audiences and local celebrities rub shoulders, the Les Halles two streets away attracts a completely different type of visitor: the former Peugeôt garage today houses a restaurant and bar with an integrated organic shop. The atmosphere in here is very cosy: many generations have sat on the chairs, because the interior furnishings came from second-hand shops. The combination of a television studio and a bar is probably unique: the talk show host, Kurt Aeschbacher, films his talk shows in a former laboratory, while at night parties – ranging from Celebreighties to Flirty Dancing – are held in the same rooms of the so-called Labor-Bar.

Just two minutes on foot from Les Halles in Geroldstrasse are the clubs Hive with electronic music that is unlike the mainstream and Supermarket, which stands for the mix of charming Zürich underground and top international line-ups. The club Silbando is very close by and creates a tango atmosphere.

Every weekend, thousands of people converge on Zürich-West to party like there’s no tomorrow. There are plenty of options, because numerous other bars, clubs and lounges, such as club Q, club Indochine, club Rohstofflager and the bar and lounge Rohstofflager currently complete the offering. However, it is virtually impossible to provide a complete list of offers, because new ones are constantly cropping up. 

Nightlife in Zürich: The Multicultural Langstrasse District

Zürich’s most multicultural district in and around Langstrasse is located between Zürich-West and Zürich Main Station: people from more than 115 countries live here. Whether the legendary karaoke bar Acapulco, the Café Memphis Bar with live music, Longstreet Bar or the Riff Raff Bar: in the middle of the red light district, life pulsates 24/7.

The club Abart is a place for young people with an affinity for rock ranging from alternative to industrial, whereas the club Zukunft plays electronic rhythms. In the Latin Palace, on the other hand, the focus is entirely on salsa and Latin American music, and in the club X-TRA hit parties are organised on a regular basis.

Club Kanzlei hosts themed evenings with soul, reggae and hip hop. People meet on the grounds to enjoy the mild summer nights outdoors and to chat, attend concerts or watch films at the open-air cinema and the bar Xenix.

Nightlife in Zürich: Outdoor Action

In summer, the nightlife is not only found in clubs but also outdoors: because after nightfall, some river and lakeside pools transform into bars, stages and cinemas. These are the ultimate meeting places on mild summer nights.

A visit to the ‘Frauenbadi’ (‘women’s swimming pool’) means swimming through the old city with a view of the Grossmünster Church. It is Zürich’s oldest covered swimming pool: an enclosed, rectangular wooden building with sunbathing areas. It was built in 1837 as a small ‘swimming pool for women’ on the Limmat. Only women are allowed to swim during the day, but at night men are also welcome to join in. The Barfussbar is a barefoot only area in the wooden pool with unique mood lighting right in the heart of the old city. On Kulturmittwoch (Culture Wednesday), concerts, theatre sports and readings are on the programme: barefoot of course!

The equivalent to the Frauenbad (women’s swimming pool) is the Flussbad Schanzengraben (riverside pool): because only men have access to it during the day. Near the last remains of the city wall dating back to the 17th century, the men’s swimming pool transforms into the Riminibar at night: here you can chill out on Oriental cushions, have a barbeque and enjoy cool drinks. Flirting is also on the programme while the green light produces elaborate reflections in the water.

The Seebad Enge (lakeside pool) remains true to its name even at night. Although it does change its appearance: only the feet are dipped into the water, ducks swim past and the fountain creates a peaceful background noise. Concerts, a poetry slam and readings provide cultural summer delights.

Every summer, the Flussbad Unterer Letten (riverside pool) hosts the open-air cinema Filmlfuss for about two weeks. Food and drink is available from the Flussbar, which is open on Tuesdays irrespective of the film schedule and organises cultural events. Opposite the Obere Letten, late night revellers enjoy gathering at the Pier West; here you can enjoy life in the light of the moon and frequent the bars under the starry Zürich sky.

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