The name means "backyard" and the bar is literally behind a Kreis 4 apartment building, accessible through a passage with no signage on the street. A regular crowd knows to come here on Thursday evenings when the natural wine selection is best and the owner is behind the bar. The 30-cover courtyard is heated in winter and cooled by the apartment walls in summer. No website. No social media presence worth mentioning.
The room is Kreis 4's answer to Zürich's broader natural wine scene. The bartenders take their craft seriously without making a show of it, and the menu rewards repeat visits rather than first-timers chasing the obvious order. The No Sign programme is the right place to start.
Best time to visit is mid-week between 6pm and 9pm when the bar settles into its rhythm. Weekends fill up and the room takes on a different energy. Reservations are recommended for groups, and on Friday and Saturday for couples.
Hinterhof sits in Kreis 4, one of Zürich's most distinctive drinking neighbourhoods. The crowd skews toward thirty-something locals on weekdays and a slightly younger international mix on weekends. The lighting is low. Conversation works at the bar; the booths handle small groups.
Dress code is smart-casual. The bar is most rewarding for an unhurried 90-minute visit between 7pm and 9pm — early enough to talk to the bartender, late enough that the room has filled in. Tags worth knowing about: No Sign, Natural Wine, Thursday Evenings.
Hinterhof accepts walk-ins mid-week before 8pm. After that, expect a wait — reserve in advance through their Instagram or by phone. The bar takes cards. Tipping follows local convention in Zürich. Most regulars order two drinks at the bar, then move to a table when one opens up.
What to order
- 01
The No Sign programme
- 02
Editor's Pick
- 03
Off-Menu Request