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Zürich City Guide
The understated capital of design, art, and architecture, Zürich is emerging as the new cultural heart of Switzerland. With a rich array of international design studios, eco-friendly initiatives, sustainable design, and increasingly modern architecture, the city is becoming Switzerland’s creative laboratory. Since 2022, the city has hosted the Zürich Design Weeks, a flagship event organized by the Design Biennale Zürich and Archithema Verlag, which takes over iconic landmarks, showrooms, and local workshops.
Among the city’s rapidly developing areas, Zürich-West — a former industrial district — has become a beacon of contemporary architecture. Here, modern skyscrapers like the Prime Tower, innovative lofts, and avant-garde buildings dominate the skyline. Under the arches of the viaduct, a creative ecosystem thrives, featuring design boutiques, halls, vintage shops, and, nearby, the Gerolds-Areal. This area is home to Frau Gerolds Garten — a fine-dining restaurant nestled in an urban garden — and the renowned Freitag store, constructed from shipping containers. If this portrait of Zürich isn’t enough to spark your curiosity, discover its must-visit addresses and the talents that bring it to life.
Where to sleep, eat and drink
Sleeping in Style: Locke am Platz
In the heart of the serene Enge district, just minutes from the train station, Locke am Platz is an aparthotel with a meticulously reimagined design blending Riviera-inspired glamour and modern urban sophistication. Here, you’ll find 80 apartments for rent and a ground floor conceived as a hybrid living space, thoughtfully designed for everything from productive mornings to leisurely evenings.
Locke am Platz, Tessinerpl. 9, Zurich
Sharped coffee: DRAFT
Zurich's coffee shops are sprouting up all over the city, but DRAFT has quickly established itself as the go-to spot for the perfect caffe and latte. For brunch? Think porridge, truffled cheese croissant, avocado toast & egg, and bagels. The interior was recently designed by the talented Swiss studio RDZ, showcasing their signature use of metallic materials.
DRAFT, Wildbachstrasse 68, Zurich
Plant-Based Dining: Neue Taverne
Neue Taverne is no ordinary bistronomic restaurant—here, the charm of a pub meets delightfully modern cuisine. Vegetables take center stage: cabbage and beetroot, pumpkin and celery, cauliflower and salsify... On the menu, you’ll find vegetarian dishes, sometimes vegan, always creative and designed for sharing. For the ultimate surprise, just order the “Tavolata.”
Neue Taverne, Glockengasse 8, Zurich
Where to Cultivate & Be Amazed
The Artistic Visit: Kunsthaus Zürich
Built in 1910 on Heimplatz, this neoclassical "house of art" began as a modest gathering place for artists and art enthusiasts before becoming a Swiss institution. Following its ultra-modern extension by David Chipperfield Architects in 2021, Kunsthaus Zürich is now the largest art museum in Switzerland. It boasts the largest collection of Munch works outside Norway and an entire floor dedicated to Alberto Giacometti (72 sculptures, 17 paintings, and 62 drawings). The museum also features masterpieces by Picasso, van Gogh, Chagall, Warhol, Rothko, and Beuys, among others.
Kunsthaus de Zurich, Heimpl. 1/5, Zurich
The Gourmet Visit: Lindt Home of Chocolate
A trip to Switzerland isn’t complete without indulging in its legendary chocolates. Head to the Swiss Chocolate Museum, recently opened in Kilchberg, just outside Zurich. Designed by Christ & Gantenbein, the museum of Lindt & Sprüngli—the country’s largest chocolate maker—is a spectacular sight. It features a chocolate museum, an interactive tour exploring the cultural heritage of chocolate, and a workshop where visitors can create their own sweet treats. At the entrance, an impressive nine-meter-high golden chocolate fountain, developed by Atelier Brückner, sets the tone for this decadent experience.
Lindt Home of Chocolate, Schokoladenplatz 1, Kilchberg
The Architectural Visit: Swiss National Museum
Inaugurated in 1898, the Swiss National Museum chronicles over two million years of Swiss history and culture. Its original building, a fairytale-like medieval castle, was designed by Gustav Gull in a historicist style. In 2016, the site was expanded by the Christ & Gantenbein firm, which added a monolithic concrete extension with sharp, angular lines. Its slanted walls and steep staircases make the visit as much an architectural experience as a cultural one.
Swiss National Museum, Museumstrasse 2, Zurich
The Studio to Know: Eidola
Founded in 2020 in Zurich by industrial designer Denizay Apusoglu and architect Jonas Kissling, Studio Eidola focuses on recontextualizing materials, with a keen eye on their history, geology, and often overlooked potential. Their sedimentary-inspired creations are currently featured in the Swiss Design Classics exhibition at the Beijing Art Museum.
IG : Studio Eidola
The Artist to Watch: Yael Anders
For this creative talent, it all began with illustrated planners, where she developed her signature illustrative style—an analog pencil stroke with a unique flair. Today, Yael Anders translates her abstract illustrations into ceramics, jewelry, and eclectic artworks, collaborating with brands like IKEA, Samsung, and Modissa. Her creations have been exhibited at the Landesmuseum in Zurich and the Kunsthaus in Bern.
IG : Yael Anders
The Designer to Watch: Grace Prince
Born in London, Grace Prince has found fertile creative ground in Zurich to develop her distinctive style. Her furniture pieces, showcased multiple times by the Italian residency NUMEROVENTI in Florence and at Galerie GSL in Paris, explore delicate juxtapositions of materials, surfaces, and alignment. Eschewing ready-mades, every element is either handcrafted by her or produced in close collaboration with an artisan. Her upcoming solo exhibition, Held Absence, will be held at London’s Béton Brut gallery.
IG : Grace Prince