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Hidden in Zurich's main station: Au Premier celebrates its comeback
If you don't know it, you won't stumble upon it by chance. The Au Premier had been closed for several years - now the well-known meeting place is returning to the upper floor of Zurich's main station. A look at the new concept.
With the reopening of Au Premier at the end of November, a historic venue returned to Zurich's main station. For decades, the establishment shaped social life around the station. Today, it is repositioning itself as an elegant bar with adjoining salon and banquet rooms. A traditional restaurant is deliberately no longer part of the concept.
Au Premier is located in the historic south wing of the station. After a long period of vacancy during the extensive renovation of the main station, the space on the upper floor was redeveloped in close coordination with heritage preservation authorities and the property owner. "The Au Premier has always been a link between the station hall and Bahnhofstrasse," says Wiebke Kuhlmei, member of the management team at "Candrian". "We wanted to preserve this connection while creating a contemporary use that fits today's station and its guests."
Today, the Au Premier is divided into a bar and five flexible rooms. These spaces can be used for meetings, banquets, family celebrations or confidential discussions and can be combined as required. State-of-the-art conference technology, soundproof doors and sophisticated ventilation meet the building's historic structure.
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Art connecting Zurich with Europe
The architectural design was developed by Aebi & Vincent. The style is deliberately "restrained": classic, high-quality and free of fashionable effects. Historic elements were respected, while new materials were introduced with care. The bar itself is particularly striking: a round bar made of pink marble with a zinc surface, flanked by leather benches and large domed windows. From every seat, guests enjoy views towards Bahnhofstrasse.
The interior is complemented by large-scale works by artist Adrian Scheidegger. His paintings refer to European gardens that can be reached from Zurich's main station - creating an elegant, poetic link between Zurich and the rest of Europe.
Light cuisine, cocktails and champagne
Gastronomically, the Au Premier deliberately positions itself as a bar. There is no dedicated kitchen on site; the dishes are freshly prepared in "Candrian"'s in-house production facility at the station. The selection ranges from tartare and sushi to sandwiches and patisserie, accompanied by a curated choice of champagnes, wines and classic cocktails. The location is ideal for a light lunch, a quick stop before dinner or a nightcap with friends or colleagues.
The audience at Au Premier is as diverse as the place itself. In the morning and during the day, travelers and business people dominate the scene. In the evening you will meet local guests between the ages of 30 and 55, often on their way to dinner in the city. Even former guests of the earlier Au Premier will find a familiar place here again.
For "Candrian", Au Premier is more than just a new project. The company's roots go back more than 100 years and are closely linked to Zurich's main railway station. Accordingly, the location is seen as an anchor point. The bar does not take reservations.
Au Premier
Bahnhofplatz 15, 8001 Zurich
2nd upper floor
+41 44 217 15 15, [email protected]
aupremier.ch
