Food and drink

Hidden behind an austere Biedermeier façade on Rämistrasse, Kronenhalle is a Zürich institution. The elegant neighbourhood joint was opened by Hulda and Gottlieb Zumsteg in 1924 and has been a hub for artists, businesspeople and well-heeled locals ever since. It’s also one of the few places in the world where you can drink and dine next to works by Chagall, Miró, Braque, Matisse and Picasso. 

Hunker down in the dark, teak-panelled bar or dine in the bustling brasserie, where you can expect German-Swiss classics and exceptional service. Don’t miss the chocolate mousse that’s spooned directly from a giant terrine.

Opened in March 2017, Schnupf offers just six dishes, including sardines on toast, globe artichoke with vinaigrette and a much-lauded steak frites with béarnaise. There’s also a neat wine list, Adler Bräu beer on tap and a seasonal cocktail menu. 

Schnupf is open until 02.00 Thursday to Saturday and there’s a bar as well as a laid-back dining space. The best tables are to be found in the secluded garden, which is open year-round.

Our Zürich outpost opened in 2018 and we like to think it’s one of the top addresses in town in which to grab a coffee – and pick up the latest issue of the magazine. A short walk from Zürichsee, the space was turned into a café and shop by our in-house design team. 

Drop by for silky Miró coffee, take stock of our latest books and keep an ear out for a live broadcast from our radio studio out back. Flat white in hand, pop next door to Monocle’s dapper cousin Trunk Zürich.

Having played bartender and host for many bars and pop-ups across town, Claudio Sacchi struck out on his own in 2017. “I wanted to create a casual environment where guests could hang out with their friends and meet new people,” he says. 

Bar Sacchi is inspired by traditional Italian aperitivo joints, with a contemporary twist. The menu offers classic cocktails and natural wines but it’s the negronis – stored in a barrel and shot into tumblers through a soda gun – that have the regulars returning. 

The name may conjure up images of late-1980s nightclubs but Acid is in fact a welcoming little bar-cum-café where much effort goes into sourcing regional, homemade and seasonal produce. The peachy walls are graced by the works of local artists, illustrators and photographers. Everything on the menu is available from first thing in the morning until late at night, so if you just so happen to fancy scrambled egg on toast in the early hours, the friendly staff are more than happy to oblige.