Zurich | The City After Dark

When it comes to experiencing an energetic nightlife scene and discovering some cool clubs, Zurich wins hands down over all the other Swiss cities. Zurich has the highest density of nightclubs in all of Switzerland so it’s not hard to find a place to party late into the night, or even well into the morning after. There is a huge range of music genres and venue styles on offer but the most popular clubs, such as Aura and Jade, are quite splashy and flashy and frequented by the city’s so-called “somebodies”.

The emphasis at these venues is more about dressing up than dressing down, with big drink prices to match the big house sounds. Hipsters head over to Zurich West for a more gritty nightlife experience such as the intimate basement style of Zukunft and its edgy electro sounds. Plaza is one of the few that pulls off of a cool atmosphere, fun people, stylish surroundings and great DJ names. So read on for our guide to more clubs where you can get your groove on in Zurich.

Club Supermarket

The supermarket opened in the now trendy Zurich West in the late 1990s – at a time when the area was still a wasteland. The club can in part be attributed to ramping up the nightlife in this area, It attracts a young and wild crowd who come to party all night long in the large disco hall, not least thanks to the club’s reputation as the place to go for house and techno. This former garage set the standard for underground parties and pioneered the idea of working with external organisers – meaning guests can enjoy nights with a difference. You can reserve a table online.

Hive

At the forefront of electro-clubbing in Zurich, Hive tries to set a trend before others have even spotted it. Expect a slightly alternative setting with music that sometimes borderlines with the experimental. On the other hand, their bookers regularly also manage to bring big names like Mike Skinner into the DJ booth.

X-Tra Concert Venue and Night Club

This spacious location at Limmatplatz hosts some of the city’s most popular parties, such as the ‘Rollschuh Disco’ (bring your roller skates), the dark and very Gothic ‘More than Mode’ or the Schlager-themed ‘Lollipop Party’, a favourite among the city’s gay community. The venue is also known for its concerts, so have a closer look at the monthly program.

Papiersaal

In the centre of Sihlcity, Papiersaal presents folk and indie pop concerts on a small stage with a special love for Scandinavian acts. It’s an intimate place to discover stars in the making: Alt-J, Zola Jesus and MØ played here their first-ever Swiss shows. On Saturdays, it hosts the 80s and 90s themed club nights for an older audience.