The best places for the aperitif
Snack card
For an after-work drink or as a culinary stimulus before going to a restaurant: the aperitif often includes a small platter full of delicacies. In these Zurich restaurants we even eat them with our main course.
The aperitif is an integral part of everyday Swiss culture: You get together – be it after work, before dinner or just to have a quick chat, drink an aperitif and two. In Zurich you will find a high density of bars in which not only first-class aperitifs are served in liquid form, but also.
9 restaurants for every taste:
1. Milk bar: delicacies in the courtyard
The restaurant in the small, pretty inner courtyard between Paradeplatz and Fraumünster is better known for brunch or coffee. But die Milk bar Can also be done differently: The cheese, charcuterie and ready meals that are sold in the delicatessen department at the entrance can also be tasted as platters for an after-work drink.
2. Si o no: tapas at fair prices
In the small, cozy «Caffè-Bar» Si o no You can always find a place quickly on Ankerstrasse. Here you are spoiled not only with a large selection of drinks, but also with excellent tapas. Originally, these were eaten in Spain as an afternoon snack around 6 p.m. to bridge the long break between lunch and dinner. In the meantime, the small portions are eaten at all times of the day and night.
3. Hatecke: high quality meat from the Grisons
After St. Moritz and Zernez, the Scuoler Edelmetzgerei has Hatecke also opened a shop on Löwenstrasse in Zurich. And this is flourishing. People always queue up on Saturdays. Demanding meat enthusiasts will not only find what they are looking for in the butcher’s shop in the bright designer ambience, but also in the “Bar Boucherie”, the adjoining bistro.
Here you can taste the dried meat specialties that are offered in the counters. The mixed dried meat platter, the classic beef tartare or the finely sliced carpaccio are popular.
4. Vineria Centrale: Aperitif like in Apulia
A visit to the Vineria Centrale feels almost like an evening in southern Italy – you immediately forget that you are sitting not far from Langstrasse. The small, authentic bar not only serves good Italian wine, but also offers a colorful platter of antipasti with high-quality products from Italy. Even if you often have to queue for a few minutes – it’s worth it.
5. Lotti: A large selection with sustainable ingredients
Selected wine items in different price segments, dishes made from sustainable, regional products and a relaxed atmosphere: that is his co-concept Lotti unique on Bahnhofstrasse – maybe even beyond it. Gourmets get their money’s worth here with an aperitif.
In addition to classics such as marinated olives with lemon zest or raw ham and salametti platters, the manageable menu also includes specialties such as pea hummus with olive oil, Chällerhocker cheese with poached saffron-honey-pear and various «Zürifladen».
6. Mazi in the morning garden: This is how Greek tapas works
That Mazi in the morning garden was only opened this spring, but the bar that belongs to the owner of “Oh My Greek” has already blossomed into the new meeting place in the Werd district. Where the Morgarten bar used to be, brunch and various lunch menus are now served. In the evening you can enjoy Greek mezze. There is everything from Hokkaido pumpkin, to vine leaves filled with rice, vintage sardines in olive oil, halloumi sticks, to sautéed veal liver or baked feta cheese: the mezze menu is over four pages long.
7. Il Salotto: creative, Italian classics
The owner of Il salotto an der Badenerstrasse is originally from Calabria, Italy, and served as head chef for the Italian national football team during the 2006 World Cup. The fact that this then also became world champion speaks for the restaurant, which calls itself the number one of the Italian aperitif bars in Zurich. The huge and above all creative selection of Italian specialties, which are offered daily from 5 p.m., is also convincing.
8. Gamper Bar: The gourmet classic in Zurich
If you ask around the city of Zurich where they prefer to enjoy their aperitif, you will very often find the Gamper bar recommended. And rightly so: The establishment belonging to the Gamper Restaurant, which is two houses away, serves top-quality aperitifs – and at reasonable prices.
Sourdough bread is popular, which is richly topped, buttered or ordered as a slice, but also pickles such as olives, mushrooms or vegetables or mortadella, salametti, sardines or horse mackerel in olive oil.
9. Casco Viejo: A wide variety of Spanish tapas
A sizable selection of tapas can be found in the Casca Viejo in the middle of Niederdorf. The selection is more meat, fish and seafood-heavy – but there are also some vegetarian or vegan creations. In addition to simple classics such as patatas bravas or pimientos de padrón, artfully prepared portions such as arroz negro, consisting of black rice with octopus, prawns, sepia and calamares, or fried foie gras with caramelized onions and dried fruits are offered.