Frau Gerolds Garten

Zurich-West was once the industrial quarter of the city, a district of machine halls, railway arches and factory yards, and over the past decades it has turned into one of the most lively parts of town. Frau Gerolds Garten captures that transformation in miniature. On the Geroldstrasse, at the foot of the Prime Tower, a patch of former industrial land has been planted with trees, planters and raised beds, and filled with small buildings made out of old shipping containers. The result is a garden-like space in the middle of a district of glass and steel, and on a warm evening it is crowded with people.

The core of the place is an outdoor restaurant and beer garden. Long wooden tables stand under the trees, string lights hang overhead and a bar serves cold drinks. Most food is ordered at a counter and carried to the table, a casual system that keeps the mood relaxed, and menus lean toward simple seasonal dishes, sausages, salads and plates for sharing, with a changing selection of beers, wines and summer cocktails. Herbs and vegetables grow in beds on the site, a reminder of the garden idea behind the name. In colder months a heated indoor section and a winter programme keep the place going, so it works as a venue through the year, though it is at its best in warm weather.

The container shops and stalls around the garden offer design objects, plants, clothes and other goods, and rotate over time, which gives the place a market atmosphere. Art installations and occasional events add to the creative feel. A terrace overlooks the railway lines that run beside the site, and on a clear day the Alps can be glimpsed in the distance.

The surroundings are worth exploring. The railway arches of the Viadukt market hall are nearby, and not far away is a famous tower of stacked shipping containers that houses a bag shop, making the district something of a showcase for container architecture. Zurich-West is also home to galleries, theatres and clubs.

Getting there is easy by tram or train to Hardbrücke station. Expect crowds on sunny evenings and weekends, so arrive early or book if you want a guaranteed table.