YOUR NEXT DESTINATION / January
Katja Weber,
co-founder of Frau Gerolds Garten
Weber was born in Germany
and moved to Switzerland in
2006 to work in the finance
industry. In 2008, when Eu-
rope was hit by the financial
crisis, she quit her job and
decided to do something else.
The food and the fashion mar-
ket scene became her passion,
including the Christmas mar-
kets in Zurich, which at the
time were not as developed as
they are today. However, the urban island of greenery in
the heart of trendy Zurich-West known as Frau Gerolds
Garten has become her best-known enterprise.
What do you enjoy most
about living in Zurich?
First of all, the city itself is
really very, very beautiful.
That’s obvious. Secondly,
its people are very open. Of
course, not everyone, but
most of them are. Residents
of Zurich are known for
being very tolerant. Not
just because there are a lot
of foreigners and people
from other places here, but
a lot of Swiss people have
international roots as well.
French, Italian, German
influence... And also, the
people here tend to be very
well educated. That’s really
cool. As a result, they are
interested in what’s going
on around them, including
politics. Conversations here
are quite exciting.
What’s important to the
typical resident of Zurich in
their everyday lives?
It’s hard to generalise,
because all different kinds
of people live here. Some
of them feel that they need
a car, although I can’t un-
derstand why, because the
city’s public transportation
system is one of the best in
the world. I’m German and I
love cars, but the first thing
I got rid of when I moved to
Zurich was my car. I have a
bicycle, and I also take the
tram quite frequently. It’s
easier and more sustainable.
Undeniably, though, people
from Zurich love the moun-
tains. On a clear day, we can
see the Alps from here. Lots
of people go to the moun-
60
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tains every weekend to ski
or hike.
How do you pamper your-
self in the winter?
After the hullabaloo of the
Christmas markets, Janu-
ary and February are very
calm months in Zurich.
It’s a great time to relax,
maybe go to a day spa and
enjoy some good food at a
restaurant. The choice of
restaurants here is excellent
and ethnically very diverse.
In fact, in recent years
Zurich has become one of
the biggest culinary destina-
tions in Europe. Right now,
Sunday brunches are very
popular here.
Real Estate since 1991
USEFUL ADDRESSES
WHERE TO STAY WHERE TO EAT
The rooms in this stylish hotel
next to Zurich’s main railway
station are decorated like an
English townhouse. It has a relaxed
atmosphere and a very comfortable
location from which to embark on
an unhurried and carefree tour of
the Old Town. Prices from EUR 135.
Schützengasse 7; townhouse.ch Home of the wool and linen weavers’
guild for the last 700 years or so,
the Zunfthaus zur Waag also has a
restaurant that’s open to the public.
It serves first-class, traditional cuisine
served in an elegant, Biedermeier-style
dining room. A particular favourite
is the mouth-watering Zürcher
Geschnetzeltes, or Zurich-style sliced
veal. Reservations recommended.
Münsterhof 8; zunfthaus-zur-waag.ch
Townhouse Boutique Hotel
25hours Hotel Zurich West
Located in a former industrial
area, this hotel’s neighbourhood
thrives on change and is home to
various clubs, global companies,
and contemporary museums.
Designed by Alfredo Häberli, the
hotel features vibrant colours and
local flair but also manages to feel
comfortable as home. Prices from
EUR 110.
Pfingstweidstrasse 102; 25hours-
hotels.com/zuerich
WHERE TO SHOP
Freitag flagship store
The colourful, 26-metre-tall
tower of 19 stacked shipping
containers near Hardbrücke Station
is popular not only with fans of
recycling. Spread over four floors
of retail space inside the tower, the
renowned local Zurich brand Freitag
offers 1600 ‘freeway bags’, each a
unique specimen made of recycled
materials such as truck tarpaulins
and seat belts.
Geroldstrasse 17; freitag.ch
Alprausch flagship store
What souvenir would you
bring home from Zurich?
The 25hours Hotel Zurich
West has a great gift shop
featuring all sorts of cool
things, from famous Freitag
bags to local recipe books.
If I had to choose one thing,
I’d probably bring back
some beautifully packaged,
organic soap. The name translates to ‘Alpine high’,
and the company was founded
in 2000 by Swiss snowboard
pioneer Andy Tanner. Combining
retro designs with contemporary
functionality, Alprausch produces
stylish street- and sportswear. Its
flagship store is one of the coolest
shops in the city, so make sure to
stop by and pick up at least a t-shirt
to take home.
Europaallee 11; alprausch.com
Where is the best selfie spot
in Zurich?
The lake is the iconic spot.
It’s worth taking a boat trip
out on the lake and then
snapping a picture with the
city in the background. The
boats in Zurich are a part
of the public transportation
system, just like the trams.
And you might even get a
swan in the picture – they’re
one of the most familiar
symbols of the city. VIU flagship store
A creative force in the eyewear
industry, VIU features fun yet classy
high-quality prescription glasses
and sunglasses at surprisingly
affordable prices. Its acetate frames,
for example, are handcrafted by
traditional manufacturers in Italy.
See the brand’s complete collection
at its flagship store.
Schoffelgasse 2; shopviu.com
Zunfthaus zur Waag
Restaurant Viadukt
Find this unique restaurant at Im
Viadukt, a shopping strip under the
arches of an urban viaduct. The food is
seasonal, light fare with international
flair. Definitely try the creamy
fennel soup. But reservations are
recommended, because the place is
very popular and fills up even for lunch.
Concerts and other cultural events also
regularly take place here, under Arch F
of the viaduct.
Viaduktstrasse 69/71; im-viadukt.ch
DON’T MISS
Zurich Succulent Plant
Collection
When asked about unique experiences
in Zurich, many locals mention this,
one of the world’s most important
collections of succulent plants. It
was established in 1935 and houses
approximately 6500 varieties of
succulent species spread out between
seven public greenhouses and an
outdoor succulent garden. Paradise for
Instagram users!
Mythenquai 88
FIFA World Football Museum
Covering three floors and approximately
3000 square metres of exhibition space,
this museum examines all aspects of
football (soccer). Here you’ll find over
1000 items of exclusive memorabilia
and even the original World Cup trophy.
A giant pinball machine invites visitors
to test their own skills at the game.
Seestrasse 27; fifamuseum.com
GOOD TO KNOW
To save time and money, get the Zürich
Card, which offers many benefits over a
period of 24 or 72 hours. Enjoy unlimited
travel by tram, bus, train, boat, and
cable car in Zurich and the surrounding
region, free or reduced admission
to 40 museums, and much more. A
24-hour card costs CHF 27 (EUR 24)
and a 72-hour card CHF 53 (EUR 47).
The card can also be purchased at the
Zurich airport.
For more useful addresses and recommendations, visit:
zuerich.com
facebook.com/visitzurich
instagram.com/visitzurich