Bar Guide 2026: The best cocktail bars in Switzerland
The Bar am Wasser in Zurich has been one of the best in the city since it opened. Host Dirk Hany offers an innovative concept with cocktail menus that are served in different courses, similar to a fine dining restaurant. Of course you can also drop by for an aperitif or digestif.
The Kronenhalle bar is a Zurich institution: cocktails that have set the standard for decades are mixed under paintings by Miró and Klee. The iconic lights were designed by Diego Giacometti especially for this location. Here, art, history and bar culture come together quite naturally.
The Old Crow Bar is a place of pilgrimage for spirits lovers - over 1600 bottles fill the shelves, from rare whisk(e)y to forgotten liqueurs. The bartenders mix classics with precision and their own creations with finesse. Tucked away in the alleyways of the old town, the small bar is a treasure trove of liquid jewels.
The IGNIV Bar in the restaurant of the same name shows just how exciting the craft of cocktails can be. The menu features cutting-edge creations alongside perfectly executed classics. As befits an IGNIV, there are also drinks to share. The spectacular Champagne selection is also highly recommended.
The bar at the Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois in Basel invites you to spend relaxing hours by the Rhine. Under the direction of Chef de Bar Thomas Huhn sophisticated cocktails, classic drinks, and afternoon tea are created here. Delicious snacks from the renowned hotel kitchen are also served, sometimes accompanied by live piano music.
Under high ceilings and among avant-garde art, the Canvas Bar at The Dolder Grand hotel serves both classics and original creations such as the "Dolder Negroni". High-calibre snacks complement the extensive menu. Live piano music accompanies you during the day, while a DJ provides the right atmosphere in the evening.
The Widder Bar is one of the city's top addresses. Over 1000 spirits fill the shelves, including a legendary selection of whisk(e)y. The cocktails range from precise classics to sophisticated original creations. There is also live music and wonderful snacks - a bar that is more than worthy of a five-star hotel.
This bar is all about creativity. Guests of the adjoining restaurant start their gastronomic journey with one of the exciting cocktails, but you can also drop by for an aperitif. There is a lot of experimentation and the drinks are designed to surprise but not overwhelm guests.
The American Bar at Château Gütsch sits enthroned high above Lucerne and is reminiscent of a bygone era. At this legendary meeting place for connoisseurs classic cocktails are on the menu alongside exciting original creations. The fine selection of whisk(e)y and rum is a welcome distraction from the breathtaking view.
The award winning barkeepers around Managing Director Ivan Urech lovingly look after guests with the very best creations. Here you can drink in a pleasantly darkened ambience, surrounded by elegant furnishings, and choose from a huge range of distillates or non-alcoholic cocktails.
This cosy bar in St. Gallen is furnished in an English club style. There is a choice of over a hundred whisk(e)ys, cocktails - both classics and signature drinks - many exquisite wines, fine spirits and much more. The ambience is elegant and the service is extremely attentive and friendly.
Renowned mixologist Christophe Pinto designs the drinks in the MO Bar, drawing inspiration from the Silk Road. The result is exciting cocktails and mocktails that combine exotic and European flavours. Meanwhile, the interior combines timeless elegance and modern chic.
The Tales Bar tells stories in a glass. The high shelves are stacked with spirits from all over the world, with the bartenders mixing classics and their own ideas, often with unusual ingredients. Despite the high standard of bartending, the bar is very cosy and the favourite address of many Zurich restaurateurs.
A self-confident classic in Basel for years. In the imposing ambience of a former machine factory, Werk 8 offers 700 square metres of restaurant, bar and event location. The warm hosts provide guests with excellent cocktails, outstanding wines and soul food with attitude.
The Bar & Living Room at The Chedi Andermatt epitomises alpine elegance. Savour signature cocktails with Far Eastern influences by the fireplace or on leather sofas, accompanied by fine spirits and light snacks. At weekends, you might find yourself dancing to the beats of the DJ.