Simplon Bar & Restaurant, Zürich’s Station-District Cocktail House

What it is

Simplon Bar & Restaurant is a central Zürich bar-restaurant on Schützengasse in Kreis 1, a short walk from Zürich Main Station. It is primarily a bar with full restaurant service, so the experience sits between a casual meal and a drinks venue. The house identity leans on a mix of modern hospitality and older bar culture, with a clear cocktail focus and a reference to the 1927 founding of the Swiss Barkeeper Union in the former Hotel Simplon.

Atmosphere and setting

This is an indoor city venue shaped by its location in the station district rather than by views or outdoor space. Expect a polished but informal room, suited to seated dining, drinks, and unhurried conversation. The mood is more conventional city bar than late-night club: comfortable for a lunch break, a pre-theatre drink, or an evening meal that may stretch into another round. The surrounding area is busy with commuters, office workers, shoppers, and travellers, so the pace outside is brisk even when the room itself feels settled.

What to order and how a visit unfolds

The menu is broad enough to support several kinds of visit. You can stop in for a quick cocktail, a one-course lunch, or a longer dinner built around burgers, schnitzel, cordon bleu, tartares, flammkuchen, desserts, and vegetarian dishes. That range makes it useful when a group wants both food and drinks without moving on to a second venue. A typical visit is straightforward: arrive from the station area, take a table, order from the bar or menu, and stay as long as the occasion suits. The venue is not built for rushed turnover, and the strongest appeal is the ability to linger in the centre of the city without committing to a formal restaurant.

History and practical context

The historical angle is specific rather than grand. Simplon links itself to Zürich’s bartending tradition through the former Hotel Simplon and the founding of the Swiss Barkeeper Union in 1927. That gives the place a local hospitality story that distinguishes it from the many generic bars around the station. In practical terms, it is easy to reach on foot from Zürich HB, and public transport is the most sensible way to arrive. Driving is possible but not ideal in this part of the city, where parking is limited and expensive. The venue is best for travellers who want a central, seated stop with reliable food, drinks, and a sense of place tied to Zürich’s bar culture rather than to spectacle.