Cool Kids Are Into Art: A Zürich Guide
A Curated Guide to my fav artsy spots in Zürich
Zurich has this reputation of being a finance bro city: efficient, polished, a little too proper.
But what makes it interesting is that beneath that surface is a scene that’s incredibly refined: interested collectors, world-class galleries, historic restaurants filled with masterworks, and a lifestyle that quietly integrates culture at a very high level.
It’s not loud, it’s not trying to impress you but if you know where to go, Zurich is the place to be.
1. Kronenhalle
Since 1924, friends, families, and creative professionals have gathered at the Kronenhalle in the heart of Zürich, drawn by outstanding cuisine and an atmosphere that pays homage to tradition. What makes it extraordinary, however, is not the food alone but the walls: the collection of original works by Picasso, Miró, Chagall, Matisse, and Braque that hangs throughout the dining rooms, acquired directly by the founding Zumsteg family over decades. The interior was designed by architect and designer Robert Haussmann, and the light fixtures are by Diego Giacometti, Alberto’s brother, whose bronzework is as quietly remarkable as the paintings surrounding it.
2. Le Club Lacoste – The Dolder Grand
The Dolder Grand is one of those hotels that justifies the category of grand hotel in the most literal sense with incredible tennis and golf facilities. In collaboration with Lacoste, the hotel has reimagined its tennis experience as something closer to a private club experience: a newly designed court nestled in the surrounding forest, reserved for hotel guests, spa members, and Le Club Lacoste members. So chic!
3. Pavillon Le Corbusier
A small but iconic architectural statement. This lakeside pavilion is Le Corbusier’s final project. The coloured steel panels, modular structure, and precise proportions make it less of a building and more of a manifesto. The setting, with the lake just steps away, makes it one of those rare museum visits that feels like a genuine pleasure from start to finish. Really loved strolling around.
4. Babu’s
Babu’s opened its doors with a bakery and coffeehouse concept that was new to the city, with the aim of reinventing brunch culture and making high-quality, handmade, freshly baked bread, pastries, and cakes more available. The atmosphere is cosy and vibrant, with a steady flow of creatives and locals.
5. Kunsthaus Zürich
One of the greatest art museums of Europe, the Kunsthaus holds the largest collection of Alberto Giacometti sculptures and drawings in the world, a fact alone worth the visit :)), alongside major works by Monet, Munch, Hodler, and Picasso, and a collection of Swiss art from the 18th century to the present. The 2021 extension by David Chipperfield is a significant and well-curated addition to the exhibition space.
6. The Matcha Club
Founded by Chiara Dalla Mora, a former corporate professional turned entrepreneur, The Matcha Club was born out of a genuine frustration: matcha served outside Japan was almost never prepared correctly, tasting watery or bitter, and rarely from ceremonial-grade leaves. The result is Zürich’s contemporary organic matcha bar with a minimalist, considered identity that feels entirely right for this city.
7. UB Law
An unexpected library stop in the Faculty of Law. Its elliptical wooden skeleton spirals 30 metres up to a radiant glass dome that floods the entire atrium with natural light. The quietly breathtaking interior is one of the best architectural surprises in the city.
8. Hauser & Wirth
One of the most significant contemporary art galleries in the world, with spaces in London, New York, Los Angeles, and Menorca among others, its original home is right here in Zürich, where Iwan and Manuela Wirth founded the gallery in 1992. A reminder that this city’s relationship with contemporary art runs considerably deeper than its reputation suggests.
9. La Stanza
A hot spot in the city with a creative, international, relaxed crowd. More about the energy and the people than just the drinks, though the menu selection is great!
10. The Bagel Shop
The Bagel Shop does one thing and does it properly: freshly made bagels with a yummy selection of fillings. The young, colourful space is the perfect lunch stop, not trying to be anything more than it is, and that’s exactly why it works.
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