Basel - like most Swiss cities - can be uncomfortably hot in the summer, which means the city's rooftop bars are best visited later in the season or in early autumn. Baslers like Nick Ross, a 'drinking aficionado'(who is also a computer programmer) join other breezy barflies after a hard day at the office. ‘‘There's no better way to end the day than escaping the computer screen, and heading out for an open air drink," says the 42-year-old, who's been enjoying the ‘high life' since he arrived in Basel four years ago. "Some of the best views in Basel can be seen from its bar terraces,'' Nick claims. So I decided to take his advice and check some out.
| | NOOHN Henric Petri-Strasse 12 Roof Terrace open during the warmer months |
| It might take you a while to reach the roof terrace of this sophisticated establishment popular with young professionals. At the entrance you can relax for a drink in the spacious lounge, then choose from a variety of eateries on different floors, with food based on a Euro-Asian concept. There's an a la carte restaurant with a garden for summer, a sushi bar with rotating delicacies on a conveyer belt, a self service restaurant for those in a hurry, and even a take away if you decide just to head home. But don't miss the sunset from the roof, where after a cocktail or two amidst the tropical atmosphere you might even forget you have work in the morning. | |
| | HINTERHOF Münchensteinerstrasse 81 Terrace open during the warmer months |
| For anyone who wants to party big time! A former fruit warehouse was transformed into this massive bar and club complex, where international DJs and other acts play each week. Regular contemporary exhibitions are also held in the art room. The crowd is as eclectic as the music, ‘‘from little children to grandmothers, expats, business people, hipsters, alternatives, etc... everyone is welcome,'' says manager Philipe Hersberger. Except at night when it's strictly over 18s only. From the roof terrace you can enjoy a view of Basel's industrial landscape. | |
| | BAR ROUGE Messeplatz 10 Rooftop bar open all year |
| When the nights draw in and there's an autumnal chill in the air, Bar Rouge provides an enclosed view of the city skyline. On the 31st floor of Basel's trade fair building, it's the highest drinking establishment in Switzerland. Open in the afternoons as a lounge bar, then from Thursday to Sunday after 10pm it's a club. If you're feeling peckish there's everything from paninis and soup to American crispy chicken and buffalo wings. With its classy red interior this is a stylish place to strut your stuff till the early hours. Don't miss the impressive floor to ceiling windows in the bathrooms! | |
