casablanca
This is a popular bar among hipsters. I like the interior. In the morning you can eat breakfast, at night you can drink. As far as I know, it is closed on Mondays. Langstrasse 62.
berta bar
Nice neighborhood bar for a glass of wine and a discussion with some friends. Bertastrasse 26 (beim Idaplatz).
kafischnaps
This is definitely my favorite cafe at the moment. It hasn't been running for too long, but the interior is really cool. I love the pattern of the floor. It used to be a butcher's shop, now it is a cafe and a hotel (five rooms are available). You can have there breakfast all day long. Unfortunately, it is a bit out of the way of everything, but luckily, Zurich is not too big, so you are there fast. Kornhausstrasse 57.
le mur
This is a bakery/cafe around the corner from where I live. Very tasty croissants and bread early in the morning (7.15 am during the week, 8 am on Sundays). You can't really sit down because it is so small, but you wants that if the bed is not too far... Engelstrasse 59.
my place
This cafe is also a design store. Everything you sit on or put your drink on or see on the wall is also to buy. And it's not crappy second hand stuff, but vintage design stuff. Unfortunately, it is not cheaper than in a normal vintage design store. But at least you can try it out while drinking a cafe and have a good panini. Hottingerstrasse 4.
odeon
This is an old Viennese cafe in Zurich with a interior decoration that is under preservation order. I don't like the place especially although the interior is cool. It's too small and not cosy enough I would say. Nevertheless I mention it here, because it used to be the cafe for many intellectuals at the beginning of the 20th century. Lenin, Einstein as well as a lot of authors (Tucholsky, Joyce) and artists (Arp and other dadaists) were hanging out there. If you are impressed by that (like I am), then you should definitely go there. Limmatquai 2.
spheres
The concept of this cafe is pretty cool, because it is also a bookstore with a good selection of novels, political and art books. Go there on a day off, eat some brunch and read a book. Hardturmstrasse 66.
si or no
This is a nice bar with a good wine selection. It is mostly very crowded and smokey. Can also be quite loud at night. I definitely like the lamps the have and if you are lucky to sit on a sofa, it is very comfortable. Ankerstrasse 6.
superzero
This is a nice cafe in the Niederdorf Area but apart from the touristy cafes. You can eat lunch for not too expensive: mostly soup or salad. And night the often have a dj. Zähringerstrasse 39.
plüsch
This is a nice cafe/bar in Kreis 3. You can have breakfast in the morning and local beer in the evening. If you stay until the place closes you have a great chance to get a free sandwich. It nice to sit outside on a sunny day and read the newspaper. Aemtlerstrasse 16.
zähringer
This is a nice cafe known for its alternative lefty crowd. You can eat there for quite cheap and play board games. In summer, it is especially nice to drink your beer outside. Zähringerplatz 11.