Cafeography
Zurich · Oberstrass & ETH

Cafés in Oberstrass & ETH

The university hill above Central: the Polyterrasse, Einstein & Zweistein on Leonhardstrasse, Lamassu on Weinbergstrasse and Kafi Freud.

Photo: Nate Hovee, Pexels License

The ETH main building, completed in 1864 to Gottfried Semper's plans, looks down from its terrace over the old town toward the lake. The University of Zurich opened about 50 years after the ETH in the building next door, and more than 30,000 people work or study on the hill every day.1

Behind the campus lies Oberstrass, a quarter of Kreis 6 with about 11,083 residents in 2025, a separate municipality until 1893.2 Its Rigiblick funicular climbs to a 1901 restaurant building that has been a theater since 1984.2 The cafés follow the students: on Leonhardstrasse and Weinbergstrasse, then out along Schaffhauserstrasse.

Local tip: Ride the Polybahn up from Central instead of climbing the steps; a regular zone 110 ticket covers it, and the CafeBar in the ETH main building opens at 07:00 on weekdays.3

At a glance

21Cafés listed
15With opening hours
06:15Earliest opening
22:30Latest closing
  • Opens earliest: Kafi Seilbahn Rigiblick, from 06:15 (Mon–Fri 06:15–19:00 · Sat 07:00–18:00 · Sun 07:30–18:00).
  • Closes latest: Kleine Freiheit, until 22:30 (Mon–Fri 09:00–22:30 · Sat 10:00–22:30 · Sun 10:00–20:00).
  • Most common features: indoor seating (43%), outdoor seating (43%), wi-fi (33%).

CafeBar

  • Rämistrasse 101
  • Mon–Fri 07:00–19:00 · Sat 08:00–15:00
  • Indoor seating
  • Vegetarian options
  • Wheelchair access
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Coffee chains in Oberstrass & ETH

The Polybahn to the Polyterrasse

The Polybahn has run from Central up to the Polyterrasse since 8 January 1889. The 176 m line climbs 41 m in about 100 seconds, with a car about every 2.5 minutes; ordinary ZVV zone 110 tickets are valid, and UBS has owned it since 1998.3

At the top, the CafeBar in the main building at Rämistrasse 101 opens at 07:00 on weekdays and 08:00 on Saturdays, and Miró parks a coffee truck on the Polyterrasse.

Leonhardstrasse and Weinbergstrasse

Einstein & Zweistein at Leonhardstrasse 36 opens at 07:00 from Monday to Friday and closes at 18:30, or 17:30 on Fridays, with the bQm Kulturcafé & Bar next door at number 34. Lamassu at Weinbergstrasse 25 was opened in 2020 by a coffee enthusiast, an osteopath and an artist; it is mostly takeaway, with a marble counter and a neon piece by Baltensperger + Siepert, and pours Henauer and Miró beans alongside its own roast.4

Kleine Freiheit at Weinbergstrasse 30 seats its guests in wicker beach chairs and serves breakfast on weekdays.5 It stays open until 22:30 from Monday to Saturday. Café Elena on Neumühlequai, down by the Limmat, opens at 09:00.

Schaffhauserstrasse and the upper streets

Kafi Freud at Schaffhauserstrasse 118 opens at 07:00 from Tuesday to Friday and at 09:00 at weekends; Cafe am Platz at number 43 opens at 07:00 on weekdays. Zufreeden at Weinbergstrasse 157 opens Tuesday to Saturday, and Stolzehüsli on Ottikerstrasse only on Wednesdays and at weekends, from 11:00.

Further north, Cafeteria GZ Buchegg is the café of one of the city's 17 Gemeinschaftszentren (community centers).6 Café Bar Meierei on Spyristrasse is an evening place, open Wednesday to Friday 16:00–22:00. Down toward Wipkingen, Kafischnaps fills a former butcher's shop and serves breakfast until 16:00.75

Coffee between lectures

Tannenbar on Tannenstrasse and Hype at Haldenbachstrasse 11 both open at 07:00 on weekdays, and Hype opens at 09:00 at weekends. Klara's Kitchen at Weinbergstrasse 68 serves from 07:30 to 15:00 on weekdays, and Schigu Kafi on Kronenstrasse keeps short hours, 10:30–12:00 and 13:30–17:00 from Tuesday to Friday.

Holmes' Teestube at Universitätstrasse 21 is a tea room near the university. The Polybahn has also run on Sundays since it reopened in 2021.3

Sources

  1. Polyterrasse, Federal Institute of Technology and Zurich University, Zürich Tourism (zuerich.com), accessed October 2026
  2. Oberstrass, Wikipedia, accessed October 2026
  3. Polybahn, Wikipedia, accessed October 2026
  4. Best cafés in Zurich (updated 14 June 2026), The Way to Coffee, accessed October 2026
  5. Breakfast and brunch in Zurich, Zürich Tourism (zuerich.com), accessed October 2026
  6. Zürcher Gemeinschaftszentren, Stiftung Zürcher Gemeinschaftszentren, accessed October 2026
  7. Cozy cafés in Zurich, Zürich Tourism (zuerich.com), accessed October 2026
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In Oberstrass & ETH, also browse: Outdoor seating Confiseries & bakeries Open late Wi-Fi

FAQ

Oberstrass & ETH cafés: questions

How do you get from Central to ETH Zurich by Polybahn?

The Polybahn funicular runs from Central up to the Polyterrasse beside the ETH main building. The 176 m ride climbs 41 m in about 100 seconds, with a car about every 2.5 minutes. Regular ZVV zone 110 tickets are valid. It has run since 8 January 1889.

Where can you get coffee near ETH and the University of Zurich?

The CafeBar in the ETH main building at Rämistrasse 101 opens at 07:00 on weekdays, and Miró runs a coffee truck on the Polyterrasse. Einstein & Zweistein on Leonhardstrasse opens at 07:00, and Lamassu at Weinbergstrasse 25 pours Henauer and Miró beans alongside its own roast.

Which cafés near ETH Zurich stay open in the evening?

Kleine Freiheit at Weinbergstrasse 30, known for its wicker beach chairs, stays open until 22:30 from Monday to Saturday. Café Bar Meierei on Spyristrasse opens Wednesday to Friday from 16:00 to 22:00. Most other cafés around the ETH close by 19:00.

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