The Penthouse crowns the FIVE Zurich hotel above the city, a rooftop bar and nightclub that pairs Japanese fusion plates and cocktails with a skyline view before the DJs take over.
Published November 28, 2025 · By Daniel Okafor
The Penthouse crowns the FIVE Zurich hotel at Döltschiweg 234, a rooftop bar and nightclub with views across the city to the Uetliberg. zuerich.com lists it among the city's rooftop draws, and it was a finalist for best bar at the 2024 Swiss Bar Awards, which sets the bar for a room that doubles as a late-night club.
Who would love it: the drinker who wants a view, a polished cocktail and a DJ later. Who would skip it: anyone after a quiet local, since this is a destination rooftop with prices to match.
The room
The rooftop runs to an open terrace and an indoor bar, with the skyline doing the heavy lifting at sunset. The look leans opulent, set for photos as much as drinks, and the layout shifts as the night runs on. Early evening is the dining and cocktail window; later the same space turns into a club. The view over the city and the Swiss forest is the constant.
What to order
The kitchen leans Japanese fusion, with plates paired to artisan cocktails, so the smart order is a few dishes early and a built cocktail on the terrace at golden hour. Service runs from five in the evening, which is the calm window before the DJ sets start. Expect top-tier rooftop pricing, in line with a destination bar rather than a neighbourhood spot. The cocktail list is the draw once the kitchen winds down.
The crowd and best time to go
The crowd shifts across the night, from diners and sunset drinkers early to a club crowd once the DJs take over. Arrive for the early evening if the view and a seat matter; come later for the party. The terrace is the move on a clear night. A house shuttle runs from the city centre on the hour, with returns into the early morning, which solves the out-of-centre address.
The detail worth knowing
The two-in-one format is the pitch. The Penthouse works as a Japanese fusion dining room and rooftop cocktail bar early, then becomes one of the city's high-energy nightclubs after dark, a swing that few Zurich rooftops attempt. The 2024 Swiss Bar Awards nomination is the read that the cocktails hold up against the view, and the hourly shuttle from the centre is the practical detail that makes the trip up to FIVE Zurich work on a night out.
Who it is for
This is for the view-seeker, the late-night dancer, and anyone working through Zurich rooftop bars who wants a terrace that turns into a club. Skip it for a quiet pint. For the wider city, see the full Zurich bar guide and our roundup of the best rooftop bars worldwide.
The verdict
The Penthouse wins on view and range, a FIVE Zurich rooftop where Japanese plates and cocktails give way to a DJ-led night. Take the shuttle, come for sunset, and stay for the set. For more of the city's high-up rooms, compare the lake views from the 25hours Rooftop and the panorama at Clouds.
