Cafes
Roots @ Balboa Empower yourself
Map
Opening Times
Monday to Friday: 7.00 am - 8.00 pm
Saturday 9.00 am - 5.00 pm
Sunday 10.00 am - 4.00 pm
Address
Balboa Bar & Gym / Roots @ Balboa
Schanzengraben 19
8002 Zurich-District 2
.How to get there
When the Roots at Lintheschergasse opened over a year and a half ago, I thought finally: a cool, vegan café and take-away in the city! There must have been a very high demand for affordable juices, protein shakes, nutrition bowls, sandwiches, healthy, super delicious food in Zurich.
And there was! For this reason, the three guys from Roots opened their second location in the Balboa "Gym of the Future" last month at the Schanzengraben. In a personal interview with Frédéric (Roots) and Erich (Balboa), the two tell how the idea came about ...
The makers of Roots, three men, wanted to create a place where they themselves would personally like to eat. Healthy, tasty, reasonably priced, fast. The kitchen is almost completely free of animal products - the consequence of a having a team of two vegans and a vegetarian.
But, from the very start, it was important for the three to steer away from the classic vegan cliché positioning, nor do they want to convert someone to become a herbivore. "Here, no-one has to do without cow's milk in their coffee," says Frédéric.
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Leading us to the second big accompaniment for Zurich, the Balboa Bar & Gym. Erich aka Renzo Balboa, a former banker, had taken a six-month time-out to travel with his family through South America. Whilst in Ecuador, he came to know Crossfit for the first time, and he realized that he wanted to dedicate his future to sport.
He was immediately inspired by the sport and the community idea. Back in Switzerland, he immediately looked for suitable locations and soon afterwards with his partners, also two men, they opened Balboa Garage, the first location of Balboa in the Kreis 5.
After great success last year the second location at the Schanzengraben was opened, the Balboa Bar & Gym. But what exactly is behind it? Balboa is a cross-disciplinary lab, and offers different groups of workouts. In short, it is sophisticated, functional training at the highest level.
Body boost, Heartcore, Strength Coach as well as muscle burners are on the weekly schedule. And for relaxation there are yoga lessons several times a week. All workouts have been developed by Balboa together with their coaches.
As sport and nutrition belong together and one wants more than just a gym, you have a suitable gastro-concept at the entrance on the ground floor. "Roots and Balboa were both founded by men, have a similar philosophy, and their target groups complement each other perfectly," says Erich.
It was therefore only logical that the bar should be operated by Roots. So the trainers not only have the opportunity to sweat together in the lower floor of the Temple, as the room is called, but can also chat with juice and coffee after the workout.
The community idea is very much in the foreground here and is celebrated at Sunday brunch. Naturally, the look and feel of the 'Gym of the Future' also has a high quality claim. The influence and style of Paco Savio, Creative Director of Balboa, is unmistakable.
He has created an urban, clean place that nevertheless radiates a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Everyone is welcome, whether for training or just for coffee, lunch or dinner. I recommend all four and to reserve a trial lesson in Balboa, which is also coming soon to the Viaduct in Zurich!
