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Rote Fabrik is on the right side of the lake, and not just literally. This bank gets a lot less sun than the “Gold Coast” across the water, but attracts so many of the free spirited characters that make Zurich more than a city of gnomes.

Rote Fabrik is their watering hole. Literally, it means “Red Factory.” The old red building has been redone to include a concert venue for alternative and rock music, and the Ziegel au Lac - a restaurant that overlooks the lake and city of Zurich, and the other bank - the Gold Coast. Despite the lack of sun, this place is a lot more colorful than Pumpstation or the Casino across the other bank.

There isn’t much inspiring about the place at first sight. Furniture is plain vanilla wood and the prices are on the higher side - particularly given the ambiance of worn down casualness. But the place has an excellent view on the water - great for sunny afternoons - and an extensive menu of drinks, food, and deserts (the cakes are “to die for”). On certain days the restaurant also hosts small “free” concerts that you can sit though for a small donation. Also surprising is that this is a “social project” owned by the city. And if all this doesn’t inspire you, no doubt the intensely colorful grafitti in the bathrooms certainly should.

Rote Fabrik
Seestrasse 395
Postfach 1073
8038 Zürich
Tel: +41 44 485 5858