Best Bars near Cantina

Heldenbar is a compact queer bar and occasional club night in central Zürich, known for its weekly Wednesday format, free entry, and community-first atmosphere. Expect late arrivals, DJ sets, dancing, and the occasional drag show rather than a casual drop-in bar. It sits in the Provitreff building at Sihlquai 240, a short walk from the city centre.

Hotel Krone Unterstrass is a central Zurich hotel in the Unterstrass district, set on Schaffhauserstrasse with a tram stop at the door. It works best as a practical base for business trips, city breaks, and short stays, with on-site dining, bar service, and meeting facilities. The atmosphere is polished and functional rather than scenic, but the location makes getting around the city straightforward.

IQ Bar is a contemporary neighbourhood bar on Hardstrasse in Zürich-West, known for drinks rather than dining or sightseeing. Expect an indoor, seated setting where the focus is on gin, cocktails, conversation, and a late-evening crowd that builds through the week and peaks on Friday and Saturday nights. It suits adults looking for a low-key but lively city bar.

Basilica is a large indoor bar-lounge in Zürich-West built for long evenings rather than quick drinks. Expect a broad open-plan room, a 12-metre bar, shisha service, cocktails, and a crowd that shifts from relaxed after-work chatter to fuller nightlife energy on weekends and event nights.

Mata Hari is a compact tiki cocktail bar on Langstrasse, one of Zürich’s busiest nightlife strips. It is an evening-only stop for tropical drinks, music and socialising rather than a sightseeing venue. Expect a lively indoor room, a casual crowd and a short, drink-led visit that usually begins after dinner and can stretch into late night.

Aya Bar is a steady Zurich-West address for drinks, light food, and unhurried evenings. Set on Hardstrasse near Steinfelsplatz, it mixes indoor lounge seating with seasonal garden and winter-lounge formats, making it useful year-round. Expect an urban, sociable atmosphere rather than a late-night club scene, with after-work crowds, couples, solo visitors, and local regulars.

Eldorado is a compact craft beer bar in Zürich’s Kreis 5, known for a long beer list and an easygoing, evening-first atmosphere. Since 2012, it has drawn beer drinkers who want choice rather than spectacle: bottles and taps from around the world, a conversational room, and a central location on Limmatstrasse. It suits unhurried drinks, not sightseeing.

Venice Bar is a rooftop cocktail bar and restaurant in Zurich West, set above Schiffbauplatz in the city’s former industrial quarter. Expect Venetian-leaning aperitivo, tapas-style plates, and a lively evening crowd drawn by terrace views over the district. It is strongest after work and into late night, when the space shifts from dinner service to DJ-led drinks.

Gasthaus 210 is a straightforward urban hotel on Langstrasse in Zürich’s 8005 district, best used as a base rather than a destination. Its appeal is location: close to the main station, city centre, trams, shops, and the late-night energy of one of Zürich’s busiest corridors. Expect a functional stay in a dense, mixed-use neighbourhood.

XYLO Cocktailbar is a compact, urban drinking spot in Zürich's Kreis 5, set among the bars and late-night traffic of Neugasse. It is built for cocktails rather than long dinners, with a menu that leans into mezcal, natural wine, classics, and non-alcoholic options. Expect an indoor, bar-focused visit that works best from early evening onward.