1838 Rooftop sits on top of the Mandarin Oriental Savoy at Paradeplatz, the highest-profile address in central Zurich. It runs as a seasonal terrace from April through September, open daily from noon to 10pm.
The bar takes its name from 1838, the founding year of the Hotel Baur en Ville, the historic house that reopened as the Mandarin Oriental Savoy in spring 2024 after a full renovation. Switzerland Tourism and the city tourist board both list the rooftop among the newest reasons to head up above Bahnhofstrasse.
The setting is the draw. The terrace looks out over the rooftops of the old town toward the lake and, on a clear day, the Alps beyond, a view that GaultMillau called the best of any bar in the city when it opened. The design keeps things restrained, with wooden floors, a living green wall and a canopied bar rather than a loud party deck.
The list pairs artistic cocktails with a short run of Asian sharing plates, the same kitchen direction that runs through the hotel's dining rooms. Mocktails get equal billing on the menu, which suits a daytime terrace that opens at noon and trades through the afternoon.
Pricing sits at the top of the Zurich scale. This is a Mandarin Oriental rooftop over Paradeplatz, so a round here costs more than a neighbourhood bar, and the trade is the address, the service and the view rather than a bargain.
Timing matters more here than at most bars. The terrace runs only across the warmer months, roughly April to September, and closes when the weather turns, so a winter visitor will find the rooftop shut even though the hotel's Mandarin Lounge and Savoy Brasserie stay open year round.
The crowd mixes hotel guests, after-work groups from the nearby banks and finance houses around Paradeplatz, and visitors who came for the panorama. Late afternoon into early evening is the sweet spot, before the limited terrace seating fills on warm nights.
Getting there means passing through the Savoy, since the rooftop sits five floors up and is reached through the hotel rather than a separate street door. That gives arriving a sense of occasion, and it also means a reservation is the safer bet on a clear summer evening.
Who it suits: anyone after a polished sundowner with a wide city view, couples marking an occasion, and visitors who want one memorable Zurich rooftop. Who should skip it: budget drinkers and anyone visiting between October and March, when the terrace is closed.
For a focused stop, the move is a window-side table near sunset, a cocktail or a glass of wine, and a plate or two from the Asian menu before heading back down into the old town. The bar rewards a short, scenic visit rather than a long night.
When the rooftop is closed for the season, the hotel keeps two indoor options running. The Mandarin Lounge pours cocktails and light snacks by an open fire from late morning until late evening, and the Savoy Brasserie and Bar serves from 7am, so a winter visitor still has a Paradeplatz seat even with the terrace shut.
What sets 1838 apart from the city's other view bars is the combination of the address and the season. Few Zurich rooftops sit this centrally or this high above Paradeplatz, and the short summer window makes a clear-evening table feel like a genuine fixture of the warm months rather than a year-round default.
1838 Rooftop sits alongside the rest of our picks in the best rooftop bars in Zurich guide. Browse the wider Zurich bar guide for nearby rooms, or read the global best rooftop bars worldwide pillar. For another high perch across town, see Clouds Bar in the Prime Tower.
Sources: Mandarin Oriental Savoy (official); Zürich Tourism; Switzerland Tourism; GaultMillau; BAR NEWS; New In Zurich.
