Zurich Web Café

Last week on Thursday we held a first "real" Web Café meeting at the Casablanca on Langstrasse. Present were Olivia, Samuel, Philip, Moritz and me, Mathias. During a short period (before having a couple of beers), we discussed possible next steps.

We decided upon Olivia's suggestion, that it'd make sense to wait and see how the smoking ban would affect certain cafés' populations. The ban will be in effect from April, 2nd. So this might deal us a few new cards. Also, Philip suggested that it'd maybe even make sense to approach cafés which do not have free Wireless and persuade them to install one, if they would otherwise be well-fit for our plans.

And, thirdly, there will be a meeting some time in March with the Zurich initiators of The Hub, Michel and Christoph. They are planning to install a coworking space in the city and are quite open to our idea, as well. As we set a date I will announce it here and ask for your attendance! Seems like we are on a roll now!

With the snow melting away in Zurich (and the rain starting to fall) it is time to wake the slumbering Web Café project. Thanks to Olivia, who has contacted me via Twitter, there will be an open meeting this Thursday, Feb. 25th, at Café Casablanca (http://www.cafe-casablanca.ch/joomla/) on Langstrasse, at 6:30 p.m. There we shall discuss whatever needs to be discussed. So far Olivia and I are being joined by Samuel, but please feel free to join in!

Sorry, there has not been much action in this project from my side, recently. I will pick up looking for the ideal Café in the new year again. If you have been checking out some joints over the last weeks, let us know!

Okay, I think I have found another favorite. Yesterday I spontaneously went to check out Café Plüsch (http://www.cafe-pluesch.ch/, nobody joined me! :( ) at Aemtlerstrasse. It is a nice place situated in what seems like a 60s building. And most everything we are looking for seems to fit here. Although the Café is not huge, there's quite a few tables, you can choose between sitting on regular chairs or chilling on a divan-like thingy. The interior is somewhat retro-modern sixtiesish. It is dimly lit during the evening with some people there, but last night it was not exactly crowded. The opening hours are very good, the food looked great, they have soups in the winter, it seems, and a variety of vegetarian grub. Choice of beers, coffee and teas, the basic works.

The wireless of course is free and completely open (no password) and there are even some power sockets. Staff seemed friendly ... What else? While it is not the super-cozy place that Piccolo Giardino is for example, it would probably make the better Web Café. It has a bit more of a working atmosphere, if you know what I mean. I don't know if the location of the Café itself is so great, but it is fairly easily accessible with Trams 9 & 14 via Schmiede Wiedikon and by buses 32, 33, 67 and 76. What do you think?

I stole the picture from KatColorado (http://www.flickr.com/photos/katcolorado/) at flickr since I once again forgot to take a pic myself.

I checked out two more Cafés over the last two days. First up was Bubbles on Werdstrasse (http://www.cafe-bubbles.ch/). I like it well and it is just around the corner from my house (selfish me!), it has fair prices, enough space, free wireless interwebz and nice staff, BUT: I guess the opening hours wouldn't be acceptable as they are (it opens early but closes at 9 p.m.) and as usual there is the problem that power plugs are lacking in numbers. A friend with whom I visited remarked that she thought the Bubbles lacks charm.

What Café Bubbles lacks, the Piccolo Giardino (http://www.piccologiardino.ch/, I stole the picture from there) has in abundance. Charm, that is (I honestly didn't check for power plugs there). Upon entering I instantly liked the place, which is of course, as they say in Southern Germany, a Gschmäckle, a matter of taste. I felt very much at home, they have free wireless internet access, good drinks, regular prices (why does it seem that I can only really compare beer prices in Zurich?) and cool staff. And, what made me even feel more at home, just minutes after I had sat down, the entire Liip crew entered the joint. So, it already is somewhat of a Web hangout. ;)

I would seriously like to consider Piccolo Giardino as one of the hot candidates, but I fear they are already well established, having concerts and DJ nights and all, and they might not be interested in being invaded by Mac-loving N.E.R.D.s. But, from what I heard they are part of the little El Lokal gastronomy empire, maybe they have another idea. We'll see.

Do you have any experience with the Piccolo Giardino? Been there before? How did you like it? Could you imagine the Zurich Web Scene there?

Last night after work I went around to Café Sphères, another venue I really liked. But: It struck me as a bit expensive, I am not sure if it has enough space, and, once more, the issue with the power plugs. There seem to be little, especially if you are sitting in the upstairs section, this would be a problem. And, just another thought, they seem to be well established as a place which holds talks, readings and such on a regular basis. I think we should respect this, if they are in this light not too keen to become a Webster hub. But, for now, I'd say, they stay in the race.

I will rest now for the weekend and check out more places next week. If anybody feels like joining me, let me know!

Thanks also to Philippe who pointed me in the direction of more Cafés to check out via Twitter and has joined the project. Check out his thoughts on the wall!

Last night after work I spontaneously went to check out Café Z, following a hint from Nico who seemed to like the joint. Upon arrival (around 6 p.m.) I found a nice-looking Café, friendly staff and quite a few people there. The coffee I had was very decent and came at a fair price (which I don't remember exactly, but it seemed reasonable at the time). They do have Wireless Internet access, which comes with a password but seems to function quite well.

Overall, I really liked Café Z, but I don't think it'd be a good candidate for the Web Café, for two reasons: 1) it is rather small (it has about seven tables?) and doesn't seem to have extra rooms for events; 2) it has relatively few power outlets. You'd have to be lucky to get a table with a plug near it.

Has anybody else been to the Café and would like to speak either in favor or against it?

I took the picture from the Café's Facebook page: http://bit.ly/Zv1FV

As first steps, users have collaboratively (!) decided to put their suggestions onto the wall. Awesome, the first candidate cafés are already rolling in! http://www.amazee.com/node/11539/wall
Secondly I've opened the Writeboard with an entry where everybody can drop their café suggestions links, so it doesn't get foggy within the wall discussion. Nevermind, you can put the links onto the wall, please do, but also place them into the writeboard! http://www.amazee.com/node/11539/writeboard