Best Coffee Shops in Zurich
Coffee shops are my little slice of heaven. Being a foreigner in a foreign country I look for what makes me feel like home and comfortable. I am from Seattle, known for its coffee among other things. So I love walking into a coffee shop. Especially if it has almond croissants.
I get so much energy and happiness from a great coffee shop experience. Is that crazy? What is it about a cup of coffee delivered to your table to make you think everything is going to be alright? It’s all about the simple pleasures in life. Maybe it’s the Seattle girl in me and the coffee shop culture. But I’m pretty sure it has to do with receiving great service, coffee, and pastries.
These are the best coffee shops in Zürich. They are the ones I frequent, find approachable, and enjoy relaxing in with my kids. I love going to a café to catch up with friends and enjoy my morning. Things are expensive in Zürich, and coffee is my one splurge. I don’t go out to lunch or dinner and you’ll definitely never find me out for drinks at night. My mom hours are from 9am until noon while my kids are in school, so I wander through Zürich and order a coffee as my treat. So 6 francs for a cappuccino it is. Here are the best coffee shops in Zürich, according to my children and I.
Sprüngli
Sprüngli has the best hot chocolate in Zürich. Our girls love walking up to the Luxembourgerli counter and each getting their own little complementary colorful macaron. It is a wonderful point of difference. We love to sit upstairs, preferably at a corner table facing the Paradaplatz. The girls love coming here for the bouillon soup. They do have a children’s menu with the standard children’s fare if needed. But with a kid in a candy shop, there is so much to choose from, ours haven’t ordered from the menu, but it is so nice they have it. There are free postcards when you get to the top of the stairs (also where you pay at the end) so we grab a few so the kids can write/color while we enjoy our amazing cappuccino or hot chocolates. Here is my post on my love for Sprüngli.
Milchbar
Milchbar is tucked in a gorgeous little square off the bustling Paradaplatz and Bahnhofstrasse. It’s a gorgeous place to sit outside in front of the beautiful green fountain with its perfectly bright planted flowers, the kids run around, hiding in the hedges for ages. Milchbar gets their pastries from Cafe Péclard, so they also have the best almond croissants in Zürich!
Tip: There is a bathroom downstairs in the building opposite the baristas and cashier.
Milchbar
Babu’s Bakery & Coffeehouse
This is a fabulous little coffee shop close enough to the Zurich HB main train station. Babu’s is exactly the place I was looking for when we first moved to Zürich. It reminds me of Muriel’s Kitchen in South Kensington, London. It’s a wonderful brunch place with mismatched china and friendly, happy service. If it’s your first time to Babu’s, walk in, grab a seat, then go to the counter to order your food. I love the homey bakery atmosphere, fresh juices, and the girls love their waffles. Here is my post about Babu’s after the first time we went. We were so happy to have found this little bubble in Zürich.
Tip: There’s a bathroom with changing table! You’re welcome!
Cafe Henrici
Henrici is in the heart of the cool kids area, the Niederdorf. On the weekend this place is busting at the seams busy. But my friends and I went on a weekday morning a few weeks ago and it was pleasantly empty. The owner served us and was so charming we will definitely be having more of our Instagram meet ups here for sure. Cafe Henrici is a large space for a week day morning get together. The acai bowl and the flammkuchen are not to be missed. I had a yummy sandwich and the dark brown bread was amazing. My husband and Heike split the apple strudel with ice cream in a pretty hard fought battle. Henrici has been named the best coffee shop in Zürich!
Bovelli
I love Bovelli. It looks like a cool bar, but every time I go lots of moms with prams walk right in. Bovelli is a gorgeous coffee shop in the massive Hiltl block in town. I absolutely love the blue cups and their gorgeous large bar. The coffee is fantastic and the barista was friendly and fun.
Tip: There’s a bathroom in the back around the corner.
Maison Blunt
If you want beautiful, you’ve come to the right place. This place is eye candy for you and your morning coffee. The coffee is amazing. I ordered coffee that came in a tiny glass cup like a shot of espresso. So good. And their cappuccino comes in a beautiful blue cup. The real eye candy is the amazing plates of brunch they serve. We couldn’t stop taking pictures of the gorgeous tile floor, wall, and even bathroom! This place is so fun with all the colorful sofas. Everywhere you look is color. This place can cheer up even the dreariest day.
Tip: The bathroom is just as pretty as the cafe.
Cafe Lang
Cafe Lang is so beautifully Parisian it makes the perfect morning coffee date spot. My husband and I go on morning dates (since I’m so tired by 8pm I can’t be bothered to go out at night let alone AFTER the kids are asleep?! Anyone, anyone?) and Cafe Lang was the perfect spot to sit down for a moment after our gorgeous brunch at Maison Blunt last weekend. The beautiful French decor pop me right back to Paris. Speaking of Paris, I really should book a train ticket STAT! 
Cafe des Amis
This place is adorably French. They have an extensive brunch menu with everything I love to see from eggs to lox to gorgeous cheese plates. The sweet French ladies sitting next to us were eating a fabulous looking cake, a note for my next visit. The coffee comes in large and small, so obviously, get the large.
Grande
I love Grande Cafe on the Limmat river. The first time I went here, I ordered my usual cappuccino in Swiss German, but the barista asked me a follow-up question I had never been asked before. I asked if she could please ask me again more slowly as I could not figure out a few words. She was asking if I wanted the dark or the light espresso roast for my cappuccino. I was so delighted that we started chatting away on what she recommended. She brought me a straight espresso shot of each to taste the difference. If you are not living in Zürich, you may not understand this amazing customer service blew my mind! Needless to say, I will stop by this café anytime I am in the area. It is tiny on the inside with plenty of outdoor seating. Plus, the tile floor and cute interior are reasons to relax and stay a while.
La Stanza
La Stanza has really good coffee, perhaps the best coffee in Zurich. And the pastries they have are SO GOOD! There is a tiny glass self serve pastry spot at the far end of the bar filled with custard croissants, marmalade croissants, pistachio and creme cannoli, and lobster tails filled with creme. Oh my goodness they are so delicious. I love people watching here. The clientele is made up of serious business men who pop in, read the entire newspaper while drinking an espresso. It is very busy first thing in the morning but as soon as they finish the newspaper, you can find a chair or bar spot.
Tip: There is a bathroom in the back around the corner with Aesop soap and lotion so no one will know you just changed a diaper.
La Stanza
Pic Chic
This unicorn of a coffee shop and lunch spot is my secret place to meet friends in the morning. It’s quiet in the morning for a cup of coffee and the service is super friendly. I love walking in to Pic Chic because someone I know is always working, smiling, and greets me. They have great restaurants inside in case you are there at lunchtime. With Wesley’s Kitchen, Lebanese Mezze buffet, and sushi, there’s something for everyone. There’s a take away section so you can grab and go as well.
Tip: There’s a bathroom in the back behind the sushi bar.
Pic Chic
ViCafe
I saved the best for last. Takeaway coffee is not a big thing in Zurich. But, our go to coffee shop on the weekends in Vi Cafe across from the Zurich Opera House in Bellevue. We always grab a coffee from here to start or end our journey. This is a walk up coffee shop without any seating. You can get a paper cup and walk around like an American! I’m not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing, but they won an award for best coffee, so I’m assuming it’s acceptable.
Tip: There’s a bathroom and seating at the Munsterplatz location, across from the Fraumunster. It’s a great location to sit inside or outside in the sunshine. The other locations I love are on the Bahnhofstrasse across from the main train station and the location on the stairs leading up to Lindenhof from Rennweg. I think the busiest one is at Bellevue. Bring your own coffee cup for 50 Rappen off your drink. There, I just saved you money.
ViCafe – EnSoie
ViCafe – Munsterhof
Kraftwerk
This is a big, open, airy coffee shop. There are cozy living rooms, tucked away work areas, tables to look serious and any other kind of atmosphere you would like. It’s here. The bar is made of freight containers and is cool and hip. So obviously I gravitate toward the cozy living room area. At Kraftwerk coffee is a craft, and they take your coffee seriously. Which the Seattle girl in me appreciates.
Tip: They have a bathroom, but in my new mom haze I couldn’t find easily, so just ask someone.
Kraftwerk
What is your favorite coffee shop in Zurich? Please let me know in the comments below so I can go try it and add it to our list.
(Here are our favorite places for brunch in Zurich)
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