Bar Restaurant James Joyce in Zürich

Expresso + ice cream scoops of crème vanilla = delicious!

Crowds on the weekend mostly expat

We had a great evening at James Joyce, very cozy, good beer, good food (very fair/cheap and tasty, chocolate mousse is a must! =) and attentive, nice service, keep it up, we'll be back!

During our past visits, we had come to appreciate certain aspects of James Joyce Bar and Restaurant, but our recent encounter with the reception staff shattered those perceptions entirely. Despite our previous visits, we were met with a level of rudeness and incompetence that was both unexpected and disheartening. The receptionist's inability to locate our reservation and subsequent dismissive attitude left us feeling marginalized and undervalued as customers.

A great team, attentive, friendly, relaxed and super flexible. We had reserved for 6 people and came to 12... we were addressed quickly and flexibly and with a smile and just minutes later we were all sitting at the table... after that the service from all the employees was great! We had a great #Stpatricksday and would love to come back.

We love the pub feeling and are always amazed how efficient, uncomplicated and friendly the staff is even in busy times. And we love the food!

Excellent, very tasty food, kind personal. The prices are acceptable as well.

Stopped by for late night round of beers. Great atmosphere, fantastic interior design. Good tap list

Burgers. Beefburger : tasty, medium well more than medium but was juicy meat. James joys burger: tasty and the meat was very nicely cooked. Cheese on both was done melted. Tomato, and two slices of pickled cucumbers were slightly without love. Strangely there are no sauces and never were, apperently people don’t like that. I like a good burger sauce bringing all these simple and delicious incredients together. Especially if it’s barely seasoned. Rösti fries were surprisingly nicely made on oily side and the regular fries were super basic and no salt. Definitely eatable but in the end it’s buns, raw veggies, one cooked Pattie and due to no sauce better done at home with some love. Ambiente is nice though!

Very nice bar. Friendly and courteous staff. Small menu but everything freshly prepared. From my seat I could look into the kitchen and watch the staff prepare the dishes. Well visited. Reservation is recommended.

Friendly, personable. Personell remembers the name and preferences of regular customers!

Aperitif for 30 people. Excellent service, very attentive but not intrusive. Very good and efficient coordination beforehand. Pleasant ambience and fine aperitif!

The James Joyce is simply a safe address. Good food, friendly service and a facility that is second to none.

Very popular and therefore unfortunately always very full

I liked that very much. The food was very tasty, as were the drinks and the atmosphere was very cozy and nicely decorated. I found the bench very comfortable. I was particularly impressed by the extremely friendly service.

Special ambience, the food was fine. The seating on the stools was not for long periods of time.

The food was very tasty, the beef tartare is very good. The only thing that would have been good was two more slices of toast, but it was delivered quickly when requested. Top location, very nice staff. For an Irish pub, a larger selection of ales and perhaps 2-3 different ciders would be even better. Then it would be perfect 👌🏻. We'd love to come back 🥰

Great Atmosphere with excellent food and drinks

Great service, all of high quality

The place and service was fabulously. Wish they had more veg options on the menu.

An Irish style pub. The food was not great just mediocre but it soaks up the Guinness

Do not take anyone's "word" for it. Regardless of whether they claim to be Irish or not. If you've ever wanted to spend 10 CHF on a one-pour pint of Guinness you won't enjoy, this is the place. This is not a pub.

Fantastic Irish Bar and Restaurant! The entire interior is actually imported from Ireland.

Unfortunately, burgers are overrated. Service was friendly and the restaurant was otherwise very cool

Gorgeous pub with great service

Classic in Zurich. Good daily menu.

The James Joyce bar, located on Pelikanstrasse in Zurich, is a unique establishment that beautifully blends Irish charm with Swiss hospitality. The bar is famous for its connection to the renowned Irish writer James Joyce, who spent the last years of his life in Zurich. In fact, the bar’s fittings were shipped from the iconic Irish bar of the former Jury’s Hotel in Dublin, adding an authentic touch to the ambiance. The bar is also in close proximity to Fluntern Cemetery, where James Joyce is buried. This connection adds a layer of historical significance to the bar, making it a must-visit for literature enthusiasts and fans of Joyce. The James Joyce bar is not just about history and literature; it’s also about good food and drinks. They host a popular ribs night every Monday, where you can enjoy juicy, delicious spare ribs with a variety of sauces. The bar also offers a wide selection of whisky, wines, and beers. In summary, the James Joyce bar offers a unique experience that combines history, literature, and gastronomy. Whether you’re a fan of James Joyce, a food lover, or simply looking for a place with a unique atmosphere, the James Joyce bar is definitely worth a visit.

- I got a 8oz burger and it was soooo disappointing especially for this price - 36 chf. Such oily unhealthy french fries - atmosphere also so so - we set on small chairs without backs - slow, not that friendly service

Very characteristic place. Too bad it was practically empty on a Saturday night. It's a pub but the lighting is too bright and doesn't create the right atmosphere. It all seemed rather cold and detached to us. Regarding food and drinks: the dishes are well prepared although nothing unforgettable. Fast and efficient service.

I should have known when we walked up for dinner on a Saturday night around 8 pm and the restaurant was practically empty, what I was getting in to. We ordered their snack plate appetizer but they were out of shrimp so told us it was substituted with tempura. I asked if it was the same price and the server assured me “it’s a lot of tempura”. I guess 4 pieces of green beans is a lot to some people. The spring rolls were also cold and undercooked. We waited about 25-30 minutes for our mains. I had the fish and chips and my husband had the James burger. My fish and chips were also cold and the fish was super bland and dry. The burger was undercooked and you could tell it was literally pulled out of the fridge, thrown on the grill and then slapped onto a bun. I would absolutely not recommend this place. I’m shocked the reviews are as good as they are.

We were there for Lunch - food and service was excellent, but overall too expensive even for Zurich price levels

New favorite place in Zurich. Fine vegetarian food, nice atmosphere, nice service! Theo is very nice and so are the others!

Nice place for an afterwork beer. Close to public transportation and close to Zurich mainstation.

Delicious food, courteous service. It's all ok.

Ribs Monday :) ribs were delicious and the atmosphere was very good

I enjoyed delicious burgers and fries at the Joyce Pub. The price is fair for the quality. Although the burgers are a little more expensive (cf. Zurich city), it is definitely worth it. The service was friendly and very accommodating.

Good food, you like going there.

we just came to drink after work, nice place

Original Dublin Pub imported by a big Swiss bank. Nice, nearly original hot spot.

Very harmonious, very good quality... if you feel like visiting Britain...Ireland again!

Enjoyed a delicious meal on a cozy terrace

Great Service and atmosphere. Quiet enough that you can talk and Listen during lunch but with enough people to have a nice casual vibe. I had the fish and Chips (nicely served with vinegar) but the fish was missing some seasoning and overall didn't feel as fresh.

Great bar. Good gin selection. Good atmosphere and friendly staff. Gladly again

Unfortunately, there has been a building construction site there for a long time. If this disappears, then it will be a 1A location again. I was only there for an aperitif. Very centrally located.

Selected, traditional and modern cuisine, with very tasty menus, very attentive service.

Very elegant Irish pub with a great atmosphere and attentive service.

Totally sensational, recommended restaurant. Beautiful ambience. Very friendly service.

Thank you so much for a great evening. Excellent Service. Simply the best.

It was quite different from my previous experience, maybe because it was in noon. It's more a restaurant with a bar attached than an informal setting. It's good to hang out after work if your office is nearby, or else it doesn't make sense to visit by travelling or changing connections.

It's probably one of the most cosizist Irish pubs I have visited. I appreciated thedim lighting and the tile art of the seasons. It is super clean and has no smoking. Respect to hard working service crew. The restaurant had 50 customers and 4 staff. The staff was super efficient.

Very good food, nice atmosphere.

The kindness of the people who work there is fantastic... good celebration of Saint Patrick's Day

Nice atmosphere, good food, good service and good location in the town center. It's one of the few pubs that are not crowded, which makes it easy to have conversations even in a group.

Excellent food and service ! The fish and chips were very delicious! Worth a trip!

Top service and very good dishes.

The food was good, but far too expensive for the portion. The small entrecote for 46.- was hardly to be found on the plate, and the 6 chicken wings for 17.- didn't satisfy our hunger.

A really nice but quite expensive place.

A stylish ambience with great food and continuous cooking at lunchtime... what more could you want from a restaurant?! The service is also good and the price is good in relation to the quality offered - for Zurich. ;)

Very friendly, long-standing staff. Very good food. Nice atmosphere. Always lots of people, reservations recommended.

Super Irish pub part of the Segmüller collection: 8 catering establishments with superb design and great quality of welcome and products.

One of my favorite pub in Zurich, very stylish, some kind of fancy place. The staff looks fantastic in their workwear.

Depend on who serves the food you can be happy there or not. Mostly nice though. It’s not a cheap restaurant. so guests expect professional service. Food: cottage pie ok not impressed Burger good quality taste ok Truffle soup was very good Cocktail was good Tables are too close each other.

I only had one 🍸 drink, so I can't rate the food. The ambience is special and the service is super nice.

The food was quite ok. Unfortunately the service wasn't very attentive. Quite ok in terms of price. But there are better pubs in Zurich.

- delicious food - good price - friendly staff - Good location

Lovely surroundings and great location in Zurich but the food didn’t match the location, unfortunately! I had the Fish & Chips which tasted more like fish fingers. My partner had the wild boar which was also a disappointment.

Always my pleasure. Cozy, very nice service.

Great establishment and the food was incredible. The onion rings as a starter were crispy and flavorful. The fish and chips were awesome. Lots of flaky fish and reasonable amount of fries served as it should have been with malt vinegar. We also had an order of veal schnitzel which was pounded flat and fried crispy. Also quite delicious. The bartender brought us some nice double espresso for dessert. We had plum crumb and a chocolate lava cake for dessert which were out of this world. Drinks were flowing with beer and club soda and otherwise a very delightful evening. Our waiter and bartender we're very friendly and struck up an awesome conversation after dinner. Definitely a place to come and enjoy 👍👍👍👍👍👍

Great place for a educated pint.

Very nice atmosphere where nice people meet. Fresh draft beer. Of course, but not only, Guinness. The staff is nice and friendly. If you want to meet up with friends in the evening and spend some time chatting, this is the right place for that. It is easy to get to and is not far from the main train station.

Huge burgers that my friends said were amazing. Delicious French fries and dessert too!

Cool location and services.. just for drinks a little lame on a Friday.. but otherwise cool

Great food, nice service, cool bar👍

Basically a nice restaurant. The interior design makes you look forward to more. The food is in a higher price range for fast food and way too greasy. Fries smell like fish (even though I didn't have fish n chips). Salad is soggy and not edible. Toast of club sandwich drenched in oil. The staff had very loud conversations, which was annoying and hard to ignore. After two visits (the first about 3 years ago) unfortunately disappointing and not worth another visit.

homely atmosphere, delicious food and very friendly staff.

Extremely friendly staff. Great ambience and the food is amazing. Always worth a visit!

Friendly and very professional service. Food was excellent. Good portions.

My wife made a booking over the phone with a James Joyce employee for a James Joyce event at 4 p.m. on Saturday the 5th of February. When we arrived, an official at the door told my wife and I that the restaurant was full and that there were no bookings. No apology, we were just sent on our way. Not honouring a booking with no explanation is shameful.

The James Joyce remains the same as it has been in the flesh for decades and still exudes a special pub charm. The service was very nice, professional and courteous. The chicken masala curry was outstanding. However, the classic fish and chips has, unfortunately, lost its former privilege (the best fish and chips in town). The beer batter crust commonly used was more comparable to a Wienerschnitzel batter crust, i.e. H. not light and loose. In this regard, one can only hope that the recipe from the 90s or noughties can be used again. The mousse au chocolat deserves special mention, which is really very airy and relaxed and gives the palate a nice finish.

Everything fine and good service! Ventilation in the kitchen could be overhauled.

Cozy, delicious food and friendly service.

The ambient is really nice and the waitress were very nice, pleasant and profesional. 5 stars for them. However, the food nothing special.

Have been here several times now and have never been disappointed! Top ambience, top food, top drinks, value for money! Must try

Classy but relaxed, highly recommended

Good for beer. Leave out non-pub-food.

had the fish and chips, and Irish cider, good portion but fish a bit too oily, nice interior !

Upscale pub in Zurich with friendly service, nice ambiance and a tasty house grappa distilled from plumbs. My only gripe is that the draft beer was a few degrees warmer than I prefer, although this seems to be the norm in Switzerland. Overall a top notch place.

Very nice, elegant restaurant mostly famous for the classic James Joyce burger (very much recommended!) and Irish beers. Nice cosy ambient inside.

Very nice interior, great atmosphere, lovely service, and the food is just delicious here - art on a plate! I tried ravioli as well as hamburger, and I can only recommend - very fresh and tasty. The new chef Slavka and her team - thank you, well done!

centrally located, friendly service, good atmosphere. I have known this restaurant for many years and a visit is an essential part of every trip to Zurich.

Love this place, very cosy and good beer choice.

Great atmosphere, very accommodating team, good food and excellent whiskeys... An absolutely brilliant experience that I will repeat soon!

Comfortably the best Irish bar in town

Classy Irish pub with great beer selection and food. Indoor and outdoor seating.

Excellent food and service, staff are very friendly!!

Love this place. Easy and friendly—and love that it is open a bit later, perfect for getting another round of drinks after dinner

Nice pub, the in-house burger was great, there was also a large selection of beer… prices are usual in ZH.

Great location, cool outdoor seating. Very good service and good food. A bit pricy, but normal for Zurich

A really cozy Irish pub with an attractive menu and courteous staff

The James Joyce Burger is recommended