Cafés in Zurich a Kafi crème and a Gipfeli
Luxemburgerli at Sprüngli on Paradeplatz, hot chocolate in the 1842 Conditorei on Napfgasse, and filter coffee from roasters on Brauerstrasse and Stauffacherstrasse.
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Photo: OConnor Studios, Pexels License
Zurich has kept its old coffee rooms. Café & Conditorei 1842 on Napfgasse began that year as a sweets shop opened by the baker Johann Georg Eberle; in 1874 his son sold it to a family friend, and its present owners, the Arbeitskette Foundation, gave it the founding year as a name in 2019.1 Sprüngli's refreshment room on Paradeplatz was where Zurich society met for coffee and cake in the afternoon, and older regulars still treat it as their meeting place.2
Spiegelgasse, a short lane in the Niederdorf, holds two chapters of 20th-century history. Hugo Ball and Emmy Hennings opened the Cabaret Voltaire at Spiegelgasse 1 on 5 February 1916, the start of Dada; squatters held the building in 2002, and since 2004 it has been a museum, bar and cultural space.3 Lenin and Nadezhda Krupskaya lived a few doors up at Spiegelgasse 14 for about a year, and whether he ever went to the cabaret is unknown.4
The younger scene is competitive. Zurich's baristas include a World Brewers Cup champion and several Swiss Barista and Latte Art champions, and specialty coffee turns up in co-working spaces as well as neighborhood cafés.5 Bar Butter on Zwinglistrasse, open since October 2022, pours a single Colombian origin, and Commercial: The Project on Feldstrasse has run since January 2024 with a short menu built around water, grinders and machines.5
Zurich by area
Zurich numbers its districts as Kreise. Kreis 1 is the Altstadt on both banks of the Limmat, with the Rathaus, Hochschulen, Lindenhof and City quarters, and Kreis 4 is Aussersihl, west of the main station.1718 The confiseries and grand cafés sit in the 1st, while most of the roasters work in the 4th and 5th.

Altstadt
Both banks of the Limmat: Sprüngli on Bahnhofstrasse, the 1842 Conditorei on Napfgasse, Henrici in the Niederdorf and the Odeon at Bellevue.
81 cafés
Kreis 4 (Langstrasse)
Langstrasse and Aussersihl: Miró on Brauerstrasse, Ombak on Stauffacherstrasse, Bar Butter on Zwinglistrasse and the Europaallee cafés.
43 cafés
Zürich-West (Kreis 5)
Former shipyards and railway arches: the Markthalle on Limmatstrasse, the Schiffbau, MAME on Josefstrasse and Café Lang at Limmatplatz.
28 cafés
Enge & Wollishofen
The left lakeshore: the Museum Rietberg café in the Wesendonck villa's winter garden, espresso bars on Bleicherweg and Quai Café on Mythenquai.
13 cafés
Seefeld (Kreis 8)
The east lakeshore from Bellevue to Tiefenbrunnen: Kornsilo at the old mill, Monocle Café on Dufourstrasse and Mame on Seefeldstrasse.
22 cafés
Wiedikon (Kreis 3)
Kreis 3 below the Uetliberg: Kafi Dihei on Zurlindenstrasse, 169 West on Weststrasse and the cafés around Sihlcity.
30 cafés
Oberstrass & ETH
The university hill above Central: the Polyterrasse, Einstein & Zweistein on Leonhardstrasse, Lamassu on Weinbergstrasse and Kafi Freud.
21 cafésBrowse by mood and hour

Outdoor seating
Terraces on the Limmatquai and at Bellevue, lakeside tables on Mythenquai, garden cafés in Hottingen and the kiosks at the Letten river baths.
110 cafés
Confiseries & bakeries
Conditoreien and bakery-cafés: the 1842 Conditorei on Napfgasse, Babu's on Löwenstrasse, Collective Bakery and the bakers of Fellenbergstrasse.
20 cafés
Open late
Café-bars that serve past 22:00: the Odeon at Bellevue, Henrici and Raffael's in the Niederdorf, Metropol on Fraumünsterstrasse and Café des Amis in Wipkingen.
39 cafés
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi near the ETH and the University, by Europaallee, in Seefeld and Hottingen, and at the community-center cafés.
32 cafés
Breakfast & brunch
Zmorge and weekend brunch: the brunch cafés around Langstrasse, Café Tartines on Römerhofplatz and Vier Linden on Freiestrasse from 06:30.
11 cafésAltstadt 81 cafés
Albanesi
- Outdoor seating
- Indoor seating
- Partial wheelchair access
Babu's Bakery & Coffeehouse
- Outdoor seating
- Indoor seating
- Wheelchair access
- Bakery café
Belcafe
- Outdoor seating
- Takeaway
- Air-con
- Indoor seating
- Wheelchair access
- Smoke-free indoors
- Open late
- Open by 6am
All 81 cafés in Altstadt
See the full listKreis 4 (Langstrasse) 43 cafés
Zürich-West (Kreis 5) 28 cafés
More about cafés in Zürich-West (Kreis 5)
Ahoi!
- Wi-Fi
- Outdoor seating
- Vegetarian options
- Wheelchair access
Ambrosi
- Outdoor seating
- Indoor seating
- Vegetarian options
- Wheelchair access
- Open late
Auer & Co
- Vegetarian options
- Wheelchair access
- Open late
Bistro Limmat
- Wheelchair access
All 28 cafés in Zürich-West (Kreis 5)
See the full listEnge & Wollishofen 13 cafés
More about cafés in Enge & Wollishofen
Klopstock Cafe Bar
Poushe Strudelhaus
- Outdoor seating
- Vegetarian options
Quai Café
- Wi-Fi
- Outdoor seating
- Indoor seating
- Card payment
- Partial wheelchair access
- Open late
RPOS Coffehouse
All 13 cafés in Enge & Wollishofen
See the full listSeefeld (Kreis 8) 22 cafés
More about cafés in Seefeld (Kreis 8)
Bistro Horizont
- Outdoor seating
- Takeaway
bubblish
- Takeaway
- Vegetarian options
- Partial wheelchair access
- Smoke-free indoors
- Bubble tea
Cafe Black
- Outdoor seating
- Partial wheelchair access
Confiserie Freytag
- Outdoor seating
- Indoor seating
- Vegetarian options
- Wheelchair access
- Smoke-free indoors
All 22 cafés in Seefeld (Kreis 8)
See the full listWiedikon (Kreis 3) 30 cafés
More about cafés in Wiedikon (Kreis 3)
169 West
Babu's
Café Côte d’Azur
- Indoor seating
ISULE
- Takeaway
- Indoor seating
- Vegetarian options
- Bakery café
All 30 cafés in Wiedikon (Kreis 3)
See the full listOberstrass & ETH 21 cafés
More about cafés in Oberstrass & ETH
Cafe am Platz
Café Bar Meierei
Café Elena
CafeBar
- Indoor seating
- Vegetarian options
- Wheelchair access
All 21 cafés in Oberstrass & ETH
See the full listHottingen & Fluntern 14 cafés
Café Paradiesli
- Outdoor seating
- Indoor seating
- Smoke-free indoors
Café Tartines
Careum Bistro
- Wi-Fi
- Outdoor seating
- Takeaway
- Indoor seating
- Partial wheelchair access
- Toilets
- Smoke-free indoors
CTRL Café Bar
- Wi-Fi
- Outdoor seating
- Indoor seating
- Toilets
Wipkingen (Kreis 10) 14 cafés
Café des Amis
- Outdoor seating
- Indoor seating
- Card payment
- Partial wheelchair access
- Open late
Chez Nous
- Wheelchair access
LOKAL
- Outdoor seating
- Indoor seating
- Open late
Nude
Altstetten & Albisrieden 21 cafés
Arche Bistro
- Outdoor seating
- Takeaway
- Indoor seating
- Vegetarian options
Bäckerei Café Fellenberg
- Outdoor seating
- Takeaway
- Wheelchair access
- Bakery café
Bistro Albisrieden
- Outdoor seating
- Takeaway
- Indoor seating
- Vegetarian options
Bode Bäckerei-Konditorei
- Outdoor seating
- Indoor seating
- Card payment
- Wheelchair access
- Bakery café
- Open by 6am
Oerlikon & Schwamendingen 1 cafés
Jasmin
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Coffee chains in Zurich
Branches by area
Starbucks
Show 17 locations
- Altstadt 8
- Enge & Wollishofen 2
- Hottingen & Fluntern 1
- Kreis 4 (Langstrasse) 2
- Oberstrass & ETH 1
- Seefeld (Kreis 8) 1
- Wiedikon (Kreis 3) 1
- Zürich-West (Kreis 5) 1
ViCAFE
Show 9 locations
- Altstadt
- Bahnhofstrasse 93Mon–Fri 06:30–18:00 · Sat 07:30–18:00 · Sun 09:00–18:00
- Münsterhof 20Mon–Fri 07:00–18:00 · Sat 08:00–18:00 · Sun 09:00–18:00
- Theaterstrasse 14Mon–Fri 06:30–18:00 · Sat–Sun 08:00–18:00
- Kreis 4 (Langstrasse)
- ViCAFE @ bridge, Eisgasse 20Mon–Fri 07:00–21:00 · Sat 08:00–21:00
- ViCAFE Rösterei & Kaffeebar, Hohlstrasse 418Mon–Fri 08:00–16:30 · Sat 09:00–17:00 · Sun 09:30–17:00
- Wiedikon (Kreis 3)
- Birmensdorferstrasse 240Mon–Fri 06:30–16:00 · Sat–Sun 08:00–16:00
- Wipkingen (Kreis 10)
- Röschibachstrasse 79Mon–Fri 07:00–15:00 · Sat–Sun 09:00–17:00
- Zürich-West (Kreis 5)
- Geroldstrasse 17Mon–Fri 07:00–16:30 · Sat 09:00–18:00
- Zollstrasse 121
Caffè Spettacolo
Show 6 locations
- Altstadt
- Bahnhofplatz 15Mon–Sat 05:00–21:00 · Sun 06:00–21:00
- Stadelhoferstrasse 8Mon–Fri 05:30–19:00 · Sat–Sun 07:00–18:00
- Altstetten & Albisrieden
- Altstetterplatz 11Mon–Fri 05:00–19:00 · Sat–Sun 07:00–19:00
- Baslerstr. 50
- Kreis 4 (Langstrasse)
- Hardplatz 1
- Wiedikon (Kreis 3)
- Birmensdorferstr. 80
Walter Buchmann
Show 6 locations
- Hottingen & Fluntern
- Café Berner, Hottingerstrasse 33Mon–Fri 07:00–17:00 · Sat Closed · Sun 08:00–13:00
- Kreis 4 (Langstrasse)
- Café Zum Walter, Birmensdorferstrasse 21Mon–Sat 07:00–17:00 · Sun 08:00–17:00
- Oberstrass & ETH
- Café Unterstrass, Schaffhauserstrasse 57Mon–Fri 06:30–18:00 · Sat 07:00–16:00 · Sun 08:00–16:00
- Café Oberstrass, Universitätstrasse 9Mon–Fri 07:00–17:00 · Sat 08:00–14:00 · Sun Closed
- Wiedikon (Kreis 3)
- Eichstrasse 29Mon–Fri 06:00–18:00 · Sat–Sun 07:00–17:00
- Café Hubertus, Letzigraben 101Mon–Sat 07:00–17:00 · Sun 08:00–17:00
Joe & The Juice
Show 4 locations
- Altstadt
- Limmatquai 70Mon–Fri 08:00–20:00 · Sat 09:00–20:00
- Schifflände 26Mon–Sat 08:00–20:00 · Sun 09:00–20:00
- Seefeld (Kreis 8)
- Seefeldstrasse 44
- Wiedikon (Kreis 3)
- Kalandergasse 1Mon–Fri 07:00–20:00 · Sat–Sun 10:00–19:00
Il Baretto
- Altstadt
- Bahnhofplatz 15Mon–Fri 07:00–18:00 · Sat–Sun 08:00–18:00
- Museumstrasse 1Mon–Wed 05:30–22:00 · Thu–Fri 05:30–23:00 · Sat 06:00–23:00 · Sun 06:00–22:00
- Kreis 4 (Langstrasse)
- Josefstrasse 13Mon–Sat 07:00–21:00
Rent a Barista
- Kreis 4 (Langstrasse)
- Kasernenstrasse 1
- Zürich-West (Kreis 5)
- Rent a Barista Coffeetruck Hardbrücke, Hardstrasse 243
Ralph's Coffee
- Altstadt
- Bahnhofstrasse 30
How coffee works in Zurich
Kafi is the Swiss spelling of coffee.6 The standard coffee in Swiss restaurants is the café crème, an espresso drawn long to about 120 ml.7 It is also ordered as a Schümli and comes black or with a little cream, which gave the drink its name.8 On Henrici's 2026 menu it appears as "Kaffee nature oder mit Crème" for CHF 5.20, 30 centimes more than an espresso.9 For milk coffee, ask for a Schale, regionally also called café au lait.7
Zmorge is Swiss German for breakfast. On weekdays it is quick, usually between 06:30 and 07:30, often a Gipfeli (the Swiss croissant) and coffee; at weekends it starts around 09:00 and runs long, and Sunday brunch is an institution.10 Mid-morning brings the Znüni, fruit, rolls or croissants with coffee or tea, and the Zvieri around 16:00 is the afternoon equivalent.10
Service has been included in Swiss prices since 1974, and employers must pay at least the agreed minimum wage without counting on tips.11 A tip is still usual in cafés: round up by a franc or two on a small bill, or leave about 10 percent. Card readers often prompt for one, though cash is more certain to reach the staff.11
Under the cantonal hospitality law, cafés and bars close from midnight to 05:00 unless the city grants longer hours; Zurich's usual practice allows 04:00 from Sunday to Thursday and 05:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.12 Indoor smoking has been banned since 1 May 2010, when the cantonal ordinance came into force; some places built separate smoking rooms, called Fumoirs.13 Most shops close on Sundays, though the shops in and under the main station are exempt.14
What coffee costs in Zurich
| Drink | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Café crème Long coffee from the espresso machine, black or with cream | CHF 4.65 (average) German-speaking Switzerland, CafetierSuisse survey, November 2025 |
| Café crème The same, city average | CHF 4.86 (average) City of Zurich, CafetierSuisse survey, December 2024 |
| Cappuccino Espresso with steamed milk and foam | CHF 5.37–6 Regional average 2025; Henrici, Niederdorf, 2026 |
| Espresso Single shot, house blend | CHF 4.90 Henrici, Niederdorf, 2026 |
| Gipfeli Butter croissant | CHF 2.80 Henrici, Niederdorf, 2026 |
Prices as of 2024–2026. The regional averages come from CafetierSuisse's survey of 670 cafés, bakeries and restaurants, reported on 24 November 2025, the first to include the cappuccino.15 The city figure is from its 2024 survey, which found Zurich the dearest city and some restaurants in the canton charging CHF 6.16 Espresso, cappuccino and croissant prices are from Henrici's menu of September 2026.9
Sources
- Café & Conditorei 1842, Wikipedia, accessed October 2026
- Confiserie Sprüngli, Wikipedia, accessed October 2026
- Cabaret Voltaire (Zurich), Wikipedia, accessed October 2026
- Lenin (1870–1924): the Russian revolutionary leader in Zurich, Zürich Tourism (zuerich.com), accessed October 2026
- Best cafés in Zurich (updated 14 June 2026), The Way to Coffee, accessed October 2026
- Caffee, Kafe or Cafe: how do you spell Kaffee correctly? (30 July 2019), Kaffeemacher, accessed October 2026
- Liste von Kaffeespezialitäten: Schweiz, Wikipedia (German), accessed October 2026
- Schümli oder auch Café Creme: der Schweizer Kaffeegenuss (21 August 2016), roastmarket Magazin, accessed October 2026
- Karte (menu, version 26.3, September 2026), Café Henrici, accessed October 2026
- The Swiss diet: mealtimes and what to eat (updated 10 April 2025), Expatica, accessed October 2026
- Tipping in Switzerland: between tradition and law (3 July 2025), UBS, accessed October 2026
- Nachbarschaft und Nachtleben: Was ist erlaubt?, Stadt Zürich, accessed October 2026
- Passivraucherschutz: Baugesuche für Fumoirs (7 January 2010), Stadt Zürich, accessed October 2026
- Zürich, Wikivoyage, accessed October 2026
- Cup of coffee at the resti is getting more expensive again (Keystone-SDA, 24 November 2025), blue News, accessed October 2026
- Café crème: Eine Tasse Kaffee kostet immer mehr (2 December 2024), SRF Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen, accessed October 2026
- Altstadt (Zürich), Wikipedia, accessed October 2026
- Aussersihl, Wikipedia, accessed October 2026
Cafés in Zurich: common questions
How much does a coffee cost in Zurich?
A café crème averaged CHF 4.86 in the city of Zurich in CafetierSuisse's 2024 survey, the highest of any Swiss city, and some restaurants in the canton charged CHF 6. Across German-speaking Switzerland the 2025 averages were CHF 4.65 for a café crème and CHF 5.37 for a cappuccino. Henrici in the Niederdorf charged CHF 4.90 for an espresso and CHF 6 for a cappuccino in 2026.
Which district of Zurich has the most cafés?
Altstadt and Kreis 4 (Langstrasse) have the most cafés, followed by Wiedikon (Kreis 3). The Altstadt has the widest choice by far, from Sprüngli on Bahnhofstrasse to Henrici in the Niederdorf; Kreis 4 around Langstrasse comes second, ahead of Wiedikon and Zürich-West.
What is the difference between a café crème and a Schale in Zurich?
A café crème, also called a Schümli, is the standard Swiss coffee: a long coffee brewed on the espresso machine with about 120 ml of water and served black or with a little cream. A Schale is milk coffee, also known as café au lait. The café crème is the default coffee in Swiss restaurants, and Kafi is simply the Swiss spelling of coffee.
Do you tip in cafés in Zurich?
Service has been included in Swiss prices since 1974, so staff are not paid out of tips. A small tip is still usual in Zurich cafés: round up by a franc or two on a small bill or leave about 10 percent. Card readers often ask for a tip, but cash is more certain to reach the staff.
How late are cafés open in Zurich?
Under the cantonal hospitality law, cafés and bars in Zurich close from midnight to 05:00 unless the city grants longer hours. The city usually allows opening until 04:00 from Sunday to Thursday and until 05:00 on Fridays and Saturdays. Smoking indoors has been banned since 1 May 2010, though some places have separate smoking rooms.
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