This is a beautiful library that takes a classic, clean, simple facade and elevates it up many…read morenotches. The natural lighting compliments the area perfectly. It's a perfect place to study because of how well lit, quiet, and peaceful the building is. If it's your first time inside you'll likely be distracted by the architecture which is perfectly understandable.

Definitely worth a visit just to admire the impressive architecture by Santiago Calatrava, which…read moreyou wouldn't suspect to be hiding inside by the outer looks of the building. Make sure to also take the glass elevator all the way up. It's easiest to enter the building from the back. When entering from Rämistrasse, it's slightly tricky to find the way to the library. There are lockers to leave your bags, which you're not supposed to bring inside (need a 2CHF coin). No flash photography so that the people studying there won't be disturbed.

Great spot for drinks, coffee, or light snacks and meals. It's a coffee shop/ bar/ bookstore…read more Nice location with many seating options inside and outside. It's self-serve with many drink and food options. It's also a good spot for studying, working, or to relax with family and friends. I like this cafe a lot, and would recommend stopping by. The food and the drinks are okay, but it's more the atmosphere the scores the points.

Great place to relax with coffee, beer or other beverage. Next to Limmat so you see people with…read moredogs, baby or old couples. Even if it's a book cafe, most people here just come in for drinks and hanging out. During the day, you see some working/studying here. Good and reasonably priced cappuccino (can choose small 4.50 CHF or large5.xx CHF) and wine/beer (less than 7 CHF). Muslie was great but haven't tried other food. you can pick up some pre-made salad or sandwiches. Great to sit outside or backside to hang out.

This is the central location for the Pestalozzi Bibliothek Zürich (PBZ) system, and it shows…read more Three floors of books, one floor just for friendly check-in and automated check-out, and a central location. It's referred to as the "Altstadt" branch in the PBZ literature and website. I'm not sure I'd consider the "café" area much of a cafe --- as far as I can tell, there's tables where it's OK to eat, and an automated Nescafe machine. "Library café" usually implies the option for a slice of cake to me. I do like that there's a bit of a kid's play area downstairs, near the kid's books --- but it's not much of one (certainly smaller than the kid's room at the library in Boulder, Colorado where I spent so much time). All in all, when the Höngg and Altstetten branches don't have the book I'm looking for, I turn to this one.

Everybody should profit from this opportunity that the city of Zurich offers...There are books (for…read morekids and adults), magazines, language courses, dvds and a wide choice of music. I love that place! Everything for a very affordable price (something like 30 chf per year for students) and very flexible loan conditions. There are several libraries throughout the city of Zurich. I advise everyone to go there and have a look of what I am talking about on their own. You can rent a book in one library and give it back in another one! Amazing! The building in the old city (the one I go to) is huge and the staff very nice!

Bücherauswahl hinsichtlich der Japanischen Sengoku Jidai nur sehr begrenzt - auch andernfalls…read morejedoch, so sind auch etliche naturhistorische und gesellschaftsspezifische Themen defizitiär. Personal grösstenteils äusserst unfreundlich und Bezahlung ebenfalls extremst kompliziert, Preise für gescannte Dokumente und Heimlieferungen überteuert, was alles unglaublich unprofessionell für eine Bibliothek universitären Niveaus ist. Diese wissenschaftliche Bibliothek braucht eindeutig dringendst eine Überarbeitung hinsichtlich der dargelegten Materialien, Organisation UND Personalfachkräften, dieses Erachten ist wohl von kaum jemandem zu bestreiten, der oder die jemals das Glück - oder wohl eher das Pech - hatten, der Zürcher Zentralbibliothek einen Besuch abstatten zu müssen.

This isn't a large library, but it's a convenient one…read more First, a note on the Pestalozzi Bibliothek Zürich (PBZ) system --- memberships are yearly, and range from CHF 35 for two-items-at-a-time to CHF 60 for 25 items. It's a bit hard to explain to people used to American public libraries, but it's not a bad deal. German-language books are their strong suite --- everything from board books up through some truly dense tomes. My German reading's not up to my age, so I started with chapter books, and am currently ripping through the young adult fantasy (more dragons, please!) The English-language selection has some Danielle Steele and John Grisham, along with some newer things that look pretty similar to my eyes. Jonathan Kellerman, Martina Cole, James Barrington. Also some more interesting things --- Jhumpa Lahiri caught my eye. If you're looking for movies, there's a fairly good selection covering several languages --- lots of James Bond, a passable collection of romantic comedies, some documentaries, and a whole box of Bollywood (someone else will have to weigh in on how well they've selected their Indian musicals, I haven't the foggiest). Don't miss the Schwyzerdüütsch horror film "Sennentuntschi". The hours aren't as long as some of the other PBZ branches, but neither are Höngg's in general, so it all works out.