My Favourite Local Shops: Kreis 1 - 6
When I go shopping, I often end up between the shelves of large retailers. But i also know that I should really visit the «Lädeli» (small shops) of this city much more often. In every district, there are wonderful little stores with unique products, where you can still strike up a conversation with the people, who are usual knowledgeable and delighted to discuss their wares. To give you a good overview of these Zurich shops, I’ve created a list of my favourite «Lädeli» that I’ll continue to update. Enjoy discovering them and here's my list of shops in Kreis 7 - 12.
Kreis 1
My favourite: Schwarzenbach in Niederdörfli
I still remember my first visit to Schwarzenbach in Niederdorf with my parents when I was a child. The shop, which opened in 1864, is now run by Heini Schwarzenbach in the 5th generation. When you enter the store, you feel like you've stepped back in time, as the furniture is over a hundred years old. I'm always overwhelmed by what to buy, but what always ends up in my shopping basket is the coffee with a chocolate note.
Address:
Münstergasse 19, 8001 Zurich
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday: 9am - 6:30pm
Saturday: 9am - 5pm
YumiHana
Asian shops often carry products from a wide range of countries, but YumiHana in District 1 focuses specifically on Korea and Japan. At both of its locations, you’ll find food products, K-beauty items, stationery, and even rice cookers or a Sukiyaki pot (used for a Japanese stew). The wide selection attracts many Japanese and Koreans living in Zurich. It's definitely worth visiting the shop and treating yourself to a new product.
Opening hours:
Monday to Saturday: 9am - 7pm (Bahnhofquai location)
Monday to Saturday: 10am - 7pm (Schützengasse location)
Address:
Bahnhofquai 9-11, 8001 Zurich
Schützengasse 4, 8001 Zurich
My other favourite shops in District 1:
Berg und Tal, Niederdorfstrasse 3, 8001 Zürich
Urban Food Store, Niederdorfstrasse 46, 8001 Zürich
Ramos Lebensmittel, Neumarkt 7, 8001 Zürich
Bioladen Vitus, Ankengasse 7, 8001 Zürich
Hatecke, Usteristrasse 12, 8001 Zürich
Pretot Delikatessen, Kuttelgasse 3, 8001 Zürich
Punto Italiano, Zähringerplatz 14, 8001 Zürich
Saftlade, Münstergasse 31, 8001 Zürich
Shui Tang, Spiegelgasse 26, 8001 Zürich
Kreis 2
Mein Favorit: Chäs und Brot
Photo: Chäs und Brot
When i'm in the mountains, I almost always have a cheese sandwich with me. However, i’ve grown tired of the usual types of cheese. That’s why I now take a trip to visit «Chäs und Brot» in Wollishofen, where I get some advice and discover new cheese treasures. They also offer excellent fondue mixes, other delicious delicacies, and great lunch menus. If the store were around the corner from me, I would stop by much more often.
Address:
Mutschellenstrasse 197, 8002 Zurich
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday: 7:30am - 6:30pm
Saturday: 7:30am - 4:00pm
Baurens Produits
Photo: Baurens Produits
If you are looking for culinary inspirations exploring the products at «Baurens Produits», may bring many recipes to mind. Perhaps you’ll feel the same when I tell you what you can find here: various types of truffles, top-quality olive oil, Mozzarella di Bufala Campana, or truffle honey. The quality of the products is high, as this small family business supplies restaurants in Zurich, Lucerne, Bern, and Lausanne. And you can also find these products in their own gourmet store, «Trois Champignons». I must admit, it’s not cheap, but you’re getting very fresh, high-quality products.
Address:
Mutschellenstrasse 18, 8002 Zurich
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday: 8:30am - 1pm/ 3pm - 6:30pm
Saturday: 8:30am - 4pm
My Other favourite shops in District 2:
s’Lädeli, Kalchbühlstrasse 75, 8038 Zürich
Aura Markt, Albisstrasse 48, 8038 Zürich
Hofladen Leimbihof, Grossackerstrasse 121, 8041 Zürich
Die Frischlinge, Waffenplatzstrasse 49, 8002 Zürich
Kreis 3
Mein Favorit: Barkat
The first time i visited Barkat it was a little imposing. The shelves are stuffed and sometimes the products even tower up to the ceiling. But there is a big advantage to this shop: you can find almost everything you need here. You just have to find it. The also have an online shop to but, as i love English tea bags, i can often be see browsing the shelves at Barkat in Schmiede Wiedikon.
Address:
Birmensdorferstrasse 141, 8003 Zürich
Opening Hours:
Monday to Saturday: 7:30am - 8pm
Other Favourite Shops in District 3:
Betulius und Töchter, Gertrudstrasse 68, 8003 Zürich
Lian Hua, Birmensdorferstrasse 94, 8003 Zürich
Bachsermärt, Badenerstrasse 171, 8003 Zürich
Kreis 4
My Favourite: Zio Liudi
I’ve often made three visits to Zio Liudi in one day. In the morning, to grab a fresh coffee; at lunchtime, to enjoy a wonderful lunch menu; and in the evening, I’d pick up the last ingredients for my caponata. And if there was a fire outside the shop during the winter months, it’s likely that I would have stayed, chatting with my neighbours and cooking the caponata the next day. But it’s definitely worth it. Just like everything you can buy here.
Address:
Sihlfeldstrasse 127, 8004 Zürich
Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday: 9am - 7pm
Saturday: 9am - 4pm
Mitton Feinkost
When I recently entered the delicatessen «Mitton» on Dienerstrasse for the first time, it only took a few moments, and I completely forgot that I was in Zurich and not somewhere in Italy. Pasta, olive oil, wine, freshly sliced salumi, cheeses from the counter, and many other fine things are available at Giorgio Vianello's store. Additionally, every day at lunchtime, you can get piadine and a warm dish to take away, freshly prepared by the owner. By the way, they will soon be offering workshops here
Address:
Dienerstrasse 72, 8004 Zürich
Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday: 11am - 7pm
Saturday: 10am - 5pm
J.B. Labat
It was a lovely summer evening when i first ended up at J.B. Labat with a date. My date needed a bottle of «Meletti Amaro» for a Meletti Spritz, which she wanted to drink later in the evening with friends. The store owner climbed up a ladder and retrieved the bottle from a high shelf. I felt a bit like i was in the wand shop from Harry Potter. The former pharmacy shelves are really packed all the way up to the ceiling with spirits that you don’t often find elsewhere. Since that first visit, i've come back here occasionally when I need a special bottle. Because here, you really feel like you can find anything.
Address:
Brauerstrasse 51, 8004 Zürich
Opening Hours:
Tuesday to Friday: 11:30am - 7pm
My other favourite shops in Kreis 4:
Welschland, Zweierstrasse 56, 8004 Zürich
Aggarwal, Kernstrasse 27, 8004 Zürich
Comestibles Granada, Hohlstrasse 4, 8004 Zürich
Di Bennardo, Morgartenstrasse 5, 8004 Zürich
Foifi Zerowaste, Gartenhofstrasse 227, 8004 Zürich
J.B. Labat, Brauerstrasse 51, 8004 Zürich
Koscher City, Weststrasse 115, 8004 Zürich
Mamas Lädeli, Hohlstrasse 90, 8004 Zürich
Metzgerei Fulvi, Schöneggstrasse 28, 8004 Zürich
New Asia Market, Feldstrasse 24, 8004 Zürich
Sala Thai, Zwinglistrasse 32, 8004 Zürich
Shinwazen, Zwinglistrasse 11, 8004 Zürich
La Cucina, Lagerstrasse 18a, 8004 Zürich
Kreis 5
Mein Favorit: El Maiz
Foto: El Maiz
For a long time, i thought that the Mexican products in Migros or Coop were authentic. But a visit to «El Maiz» schooled me and schooled me good. Although Mexico is a whopping 13000 kilometres away they have over 2000 authentic Mexican products here.If i haven’t convinced you yet, i suggest you start browsing their online shop. Once you do, your mouth will water, and the next thing you know, you’ll be on your way to «El Maiz»
Address:
Josefstrasse 23, 8005 Zürich
Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday: 10am - 6:30pm
Saturday: 10am - 5pm
Lian Hua Hardturm
I love Asian cuisine. For making papaya salad (Som Tam), i even bought a julienne slicer, so that has to mean something, right? That’s why i’m a regular at the large Lian Hua Hardturm store. They have all sorts of food from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Thailand, and India. They even have the green papaya and snake beans that i’ve often struggled to find for my Som Tam. And if you get hungry while shopping, you can grab a bite at the small food court. Want to see what it’s like? Check the video here.
Address:
Förrlibuckstrasse 30, 8005 Zürich
Opening Times:
Montag bis Samstag 9.00 - 19.00 Uhr
My other favourites in Kreis 5:
Berg und Tal, Limmatstrasse 231, 8005 Zürich
Tritt Käse, Limmatstrasse 231, 8005 Zürich
Beat Heuberger, Zollstrasse 61, 8005 Zürich
Heinrich 109, Heinrichstrasse 109, 8005 Zürich
Kreis 6
My Favourite: Feinkost Aus Ungarn
When I enter an Italian delicatessen or an Asian store, I know what kind of products to expect. But when it comes to a Hungarian shop, I can’t say the same. Thanks to a little research, I now know that this charming and well-stocked store offers products like Kolbász (Hungarian sausage). According to a Google review, it’s even better than what you would find in Hungary. In addition, you can also find a small selection of Czech and Slovak products. And you can conveniently fill your shopping bags from home through their online shop.
Adresse:
Rötelstrasse 1, 8006 Zürich
Öffnungszeiten:
Dienstag bis Freitag 10.00-18.30 Uhr
Samstag 10.00-17.00 Uhr
Patrizia Fontana
Ravioli with lemon ricotta or artichokes, homemade lasagna, spinach gnocchi, tiramisu, olive oil, homemade pies and cakes, and daily changing lunch menus. You can find all of this in Patrizia Fontana's store. Sounds great, right? But you know what’s even better? Simply stopping by. The first time I was there, I just wanted to buy some ravioli. I ended up walking out with two full bags of delicious Italian goodies that I devoured in no time. And since then, I’ve been a regular here.
Adresse:
Scheuchzerstrasse 20, 8006 Zürich
Opening Times:
Dienstag bis Freitag 9.00 bis 18.30 Uhr
Samstag 8.30 bis 16.00 Uhr
My other favourite shops im Kreis 6:
Nah und Fein, Winterthurerstrasse 13, 8006 Zürich
Maxi Frischmarkt, Ottikerstrasse 4, 8006 Zürich