Roof Garden sits on the fifth floor of the Globus department store on Bahnhofstrasse, a planted rooftop that trades on French-Riviera cooking and long views over the old town. Reservations are sensible for the terrace in warm weather.
The room reads as an indoor lounge wrapped in panoramic glass, with a wrap-around outdoor terrace that opens when the weather allows. The greenery is the point. The Rooftop Guide calls it a "lush oasis above the heart of Zurich," and the planting carries the garden idea through the lounge and out onto the deck. From the terrace the sightlines run across District 1 to the Uetliberg ridge.
The kitchen is led by Chef de Cuisine Dominik Altorfer and leans on France and the Mediterranean coast, with dishes finished in an open kitchen. The drinks program matches that brief. Expect Riviera-style aperitifs, a list of classic and seasonal cocktails, and a wine selection built for slow afternoons rather than fast rounds. Pricing sits at $$$ for the city, in line with the Globus address.
Hours suit both a midday drink and a late one. Roof Garden runs Monday through Friday from 11am to midnight, opens at 10am on Saturday, and closes on Sunday, per the venue's published times. That makes it one of the few central rooftops in Zurich open straight through the afternoon rather than only at dinner.
The setting opened in 2022 as part of a wider rebuild of the Globus food floors, and the dress code is smart casual. For a first visit, our editors suggest arriving before 6pm on a clear day to claim a terrace table while the light is still on the rooftops.
For our editors, Roof Garden earns its place among the best rooftop bars in Zurich on view and comfort rather than a heavy cocktail reputation. Treat it as an apéritif address with a serious kitchen attached, not a late-night cocktail den. A few blocks away, 1838 Rooftop offers a similar terrace-and-small-plates format over Paradeplatz.
It suits couples, after-shopping pairs off Bahnhofstrasse, and small groups who want a long lunch that drifts into drinks. Those chasing a loud, late scene are better served elsewhere in the city.
More central options sit in our best bars with a view in Zurich guide. The full rooftop bars in Zurich roundup expands the picks, and our Zurich Bar Guide covers every occasion.
Getting there is part of the appeal. The rooftop crowns the Globus flagship at Schweizergasse 11, a few steps off Bahnhofstrasse, and a dedicated lift carries guests past the food hall to the top floor. That central position is rare for a Zurich rooftop, most of which sit out in District 5 or above lakeside hotels.
The space replaced the store's former top-floor restaurant in the 2022 rebuild of the Globus food floors, and the garden concept now sets it apart from the city's glass-and-steel sky bars. Planters, trailing greenery and warm textiles soften the lounge, while the terrace keeps the same planted look outdoors. Zurich's official tourism site, zuerich.com, lists it among the city's roof terraces worth seeking out for exactly this reason.
Timing rewards a little planning. The terrace is weather-dependent and fills first on clear afternoons, so an early arrival matters more here than at an enclosed bar. In cooler months the glass-walled lounge holds the same views without the open air, which keeps the address useful year round rather than only in summer.
On value, the read is honest. Drinks and plates are priced for the Globus setting, so this is a considered apéritif or a celebration table rather than a casual round. What it buys is a calm, planted room with genuine city views and a kitchen that takes the food as seriously as the setting.
What to order
- 01
Riviera Apéritif
A spritz-style opener in keeping with the French-coast theme.
- 02
Seasonal Cocktail
From the rotating classic-and-modern list.
- 03
Wine by the Glass
French and Swiss pours from the curated selection.
- 04
Terrace Snack
From Dominik Altorfer's open kitchen.
