I'm looking to meet friends for a quite drink next Tuesday at 5 pm. Can anyone recommend a nice spot (close to Hauptbahnhof Zürich) where people can talk? I'm thinking of Kennedys as it is large and as far as I know is not as busy as Paddys. Is that a good choice? Any other suggestions?

The International is quite nice

I prefer hotel bars for these kinds of situations. Find a corner lounge, smoke a cigar, have a port or brandy.

any specific suggestion?

never been there, but wil not be going anywhere which is near Langstrasse!

Why the hell not?

Obviously he had quite a nasty experience there...

no, I it is too far from the station. I said I wanted somewhere near the Hauptbahnhof.

Kennedys - Spacious and nice.

Divino - Hbstr. Not a bar, but near hb and quiet.

The Lion Pub - Oetenbachgasse 6, 8001 Zürich.

Seriously, Langstrasse is certainly not the no go area that some people make it out to be (well it might be today), and secondly the International is just off Langstrasse in kreis 5, and not the Langstrasse in kreis 4 which is the part that you've probably heard all the (mostly incorrect) nasty stuff about.

Ok, I get the point but it is still too far from HB.

It's a 10 minute walk.

Few places are that noisy at 5pm...

How about Hafenkneipe (Militärstr - on the block behind Kennedy's) - opens at 5.

Or in the station itself - Brasserie Federal or Imagine both fine. No louder than Kennedys

I forgot to add, it should be a no smoking place (I don't know if smoking is allowed in bars in Zurich or not).

Smoking is banned in all indoor public places in all of Switzerland, apart from designated, ventilated smoking rooms.

You probably need to get out more.

Sure about that? Are there not pubs which are "Raucher lokale"?

Just about any of the better hotels have a bar with lounge seating. Even the Marriot across the Limmat has a humidor. If these are not too far, Baur au Lac, Eden au Lac, or even Dolder are pretty swag for kicking back. Except a cup of coffee might run you nearly 20 bucks. But you should be able to relax and enjoy your conversations in comfortable chairs.

Not in Zürich - indoor smoking is totally outlawed, apart from some places that have a special seperate fumoir. There are some "Raucher Lokale" in other kantons, such as Aagau, but the total area of space in these establishments must not exceed 80 sq/m, or thereabouts.

It's not a pub, but I like the Imagine Bar, which is in the Hauptbahnhof. It's also a restaurant, but there probably won't be many guests at 5pm.