ZURICH
With its gilded banks and formal dining halls, a certain
conservatism has long defined Switzerland’s largest city.
But amid an influx of talented young creatives, Switzerland’s
mountain-backed, lakefront metropolis is being invigorated
by innovative restaurant menus and indulgent bar concepts.
“I grew up in South Africa, but my dad is Swiss and he was
adamant that Zurich is the best place to learn about fine
dining,” says Dirk Hany, owner of the city’s Bar am Wasser.
Dirk’s professional life encompasses accolades from the
prestigious Spirited Awards and Mixology Bar Awards; a
long stint as ambassador for drinks brand Pernod Ricard,
which took him around the world; and jobs fronting such
stellar Zurich drinking dens as Widder Bar. His original
dream, however, was to be a chef. “I wanted to manage
a grand culinary hotel,” he says. “But I soon realised the
potential of cocktails as a liquid kitchen. Plus, bar work puts
me front of house, where I can be my sociable self.”
The menus at Bar Am Wasser, a full-service, sit-down
bar offering everything from amuse bouche-style aperitifs
to dessert drinks, are works of art — and not just for the
cocktails within. Each season’s menu is tailored to specific
local flavours, creatively interpreted and designed by local
artists. “People beg, borrow and steal them,” laughs Dirk.
With the city’s bars newly reopened, ‘back to the roots’ is this
summer’s theme. “It seemed time to revisit classic cocktails
— with a twist, of course,” explains Dirk. “And it’s time to
revisit Zurich’s much-missed bars and restaurants.”Tried-and-tested recommendations are the key to making the
most of a trip to Switzerland’s lakeside metropolis. Twisper
ambassador and award-winning cocktail maker Dirk Hany,
owner of cocktail den Bar am Wasser, curates the perfect tour24 HOURS IN
PARTNER CONTENT FOR TWISPER