Hi,
I relocated to Zurich not too long time ago and I am looking for gay friends (nothing against straight people).
I know I could possibly look for other type of web sites but I am not looking for sex. I am in a relationship and I would like to meet new friends.....that's all...
I hope nobody will feel "offended" by this message....
Cheers

I don't know if you're into after work drinks but the best Happy Hour in all of Zurich is at a Gay bar called Cranberries (I think 17:00-20:00 everyday). I go there often with my gay friends, it's quite a friendly crowd and the bar tenders really tend to pour heavy handed.

Hi...thank you very much...
Hopefully I'll see you around soon....
Cheers
Max

hi Max,

welcome to Zurich! Christopher Street day is coming up - a big deal in Zurich (http://www.csdzurich.ch). In past years, events have been a combination of political activism and pageantry - something for everyone. I understand Berlin's mayor, who is openly gay, will speak this year.

also, check out http://www.zuerigay.ch/en/index.php

as for cafes and bars, there is a cafe across the street from the Zentralbibliothek in Zurich which used to be a favorite with the gay community - not sure if that's still the case.

Thanks Mate....
I treasure any information I can collect about gay life in Zurich...

What is the scene like in Zurich? Laid back or into "hardcore"? I had been in Hamburg for almost a year and guys where into "let's meet and have sex".

I am looking for new friends to hang out with.. (chat, clubbing, dinners, movies, shopping, etc)

Thanks and bye for now
Max

I don't know much about the scene, just what I hear from friends (I'm actually female, but you can still call me mate if you like )

I'm not the best source, but from what I can tell the gay scene is very varied here. The gay friends I have are of the laidback sort, but I'm sure there are tons of showy, party-life men like the ones that come out at events like Street Parade.

The topic currently raging on Internet chats is the demise of Zurich's gay nightlife after the police cracked down on gay clubs because of drugs. Apparently this theme is going to be central during Christopher Street day, because the gay community feels their clubs are being unjustly singled out.

Hi...
I will still call you "mate" :-). I love females... and in fact I have more "female" friends than "men". You have been very helpful and I appreciate your hints.
Thanks a lot. I wish you a nice evening...
Cheers
Max

Hi Max74,

I have an interview for a job just outside of Zurich...there is a good chance I will get it and may be moving in a couple of months. How are you finding the gay scene in Zurich? Are people pretty friendly etc.

Thanks,
Scorpion335

Zurich have one of the biggest gay scene in Switzerland, but to be honest, I think the gay scene is pretty much the same in every big city. The variations might come from the mentaliy of the people, which you might find it in the forum. The crowds are comparativly more "NICE" that others scene.

To me, compare to the scene in Berlin, NYC, Amsterdam... the gay scene here is less interesting, and less diverse, you dont find bar with specific theme, and in the bar you mostly see only European looking people, almost only one type, one style. I have non-white friends being asked in a gay bar "how much are you?" in Zurich.

Always, gay bar/clubs have the best music for dancing.

It really depends on what type of gay scene you are looking for? Zurich offers both soft and hard core. But you are never gonna find anything like Amsterdam, London, Paris or Berlin ... so don't look. Others have looked .... and failed LOL

I live in Basel and the soft scene is quite impressive, but the hard scene is a big fat 0.

Although there is a gay scene in Zurich it is hard to compare to other places as Switzerland is such a small country. Zurich is definitley the place to be although I hear Lausanne is has great night life also. I have been all over U.S. and Europe and Switzerland is my least favorite for gay life. I am in a relationship and 40 so I do not find myself going out much but if I were younger I would be going out in Zurich for sure. Good luck and welcome.

Being a Brit, and a frequent traveller into central European gay zones - I find the Swiss gay life lacks etiquette, friendliness and variety. If anyone is looking for a high gay zone - Switzerland is certainly not the place to be. But, if you are looking for a more quieter and sedate gay lifestyle, then Switzerland certainly offers that. For younger gay guys/gals then I think Switzerland has quite a good balance ... but if you are an older person more familiar with a larger scene, then you are in for dissapointment.

Hello, I amd 37 y.o. originally from Eastern Europe, just moved to CH, decided to live in Zug, as it it offers a great combination of a country life with being close to the city (Zurich) for night life, etc. Would love to meet new gay and straight friends. In my free time, I enjoy outddors/sports, going to cinema, ballet, and travelling.

Hi...
I haven't been out too much ...so...I cannot say if I like the gay scene here or not. I am actually not looking for sex dates as I have a partner (and I do not believe in open relationships)...
What I have seen so far didn't impress me at all. I had been to T&M and Lotus but I thought music was a bit "old fashioned" and both places are not that amazing. I will give it a second chance....
Cheers guys...

Zveroboy, there are some gay dating sites you can meet friends from too.

max, it's sometimes difficult the world over (not just Zurich) to meet people for friendship and not just sex - the world can be a bit 'fast food' in that way ....

I've been here for just a week so I've just visited one gay bar (I don't know whether if I should consider Odeon to be gay), Cranberry, and it was quite okay (no offense, but there I found for the first time the real nice looking swiss man because I've not seen any in the streets... if only I were a bit more brave... haha). What has surprised me the most is the lack of gay guys in the rest of pubs/clubs (either that or they hide very well!), as I'm used in Barcelona to see them everywhere, specially in the discos where's there's a lot of people around my age (21). I wanted to go to T&M today because they are supposed to play oldies on mondays and I love them, but I'm still not used to this weather and just a bit of rain gets me down so I decided not go go out

Oh by the way, I have a lesbian friend and we've been trying to look for a pub/club where there's something like 50/50 woman/man, do you know any? I went with her to a lesbian event yesterday but there was only older people and they didn't even let us in because I am a man (even though the promo said it was for womans&friends)

Lucky for those who lives in Zurich or Basel.

I used to live in London and now here in Bern. Correct me if I'm wrong.. there is almost nothing happening here in Bern.
Just like Daffyd (Little Britain) said 'Im the only gay in the village!'

I have a feeling that we non-swiss gays are looking for something that just isn't there? Let's be honest, if we come from UK, Spain, Germany, France, the US - we come from much larger populations - therefore more gay people ..... Switzerland is a very small country.

Being Swiss and have lived here in Switzerland for a long time, I must agree with KitBoy...Although Zurich is the city with biggest gay population, the gay scene isn't really that big and isnt really happening. According to statistics, onle one third of Zurich's gay men are visiting gay bars or clubs. And unfortunately this third all know each other what makes it extremely difficult for outsiders to access. Furthermore, as I said, the scene isnt really happening, gay bars and club lack a lot of individualism, creativity, empathy and relaxed manner. However, there are lots of clubs and parties with a mixed crowd which are probably more eligible for the hipster-elite but still a great oportunity to party.