Widder Bar

A Thousand Bottles and a Jazz Trio

4 of 5

Over a thousand bottles. More than 250 of them whiskies. That is the Widder Bar, inside the five-star Widder Hotel in Zurich's old town, and it scored 96 points in the Falstaff Bar Guide for 2026. Drinks quality came in at 48 out of 50 and range at a full 10 out of 10. When a guide hands out numbers like that, it means the bar is not coasting.

The room is Art Deco, with red leather and exposed beams, and there is jazz or live music in the mix. The kitchen sends out cold and warm dishes, so you can eat here without leaving. One guide names a signature called Fruits N Roots, made with Glenfiddich 12, Caol Ila 12, plum, ginger, apple and bitters. That mixes a soft Speyside with a smoky Islay malt, and that sort of daring is the reason to come. The bar is also open on Sundays, which is helpful in a city that tends to close early.

Hours are noon to 1 a.m. Monday to Thursday, until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, and noon to midnight on Sunday. Treat it as a hotel bar with ambition. You will pay premium prices, and you will get a serious pour from people who care. If you are not a whisky person, say so, and let them steer. If you are, plan a long evening. Pair it with dinner upstairs at the Widder Restaurant if the budget allows.

Order this: A whisky flight, if you are curious, Fruits N Roots, A classic cocktail with live music behind it
The damage: $$$
Go: Weekday evening, early, when you can get a stool
Find it: Rennweg 7, 8001 Zürich (listed by one guide as Widdergasse 6)