Bern

My favorite places in Bern

Five years in the Swiss capital – the breathtaking view of the large bridges overlooking the Aare River as you enter the city by train or when crossing the Kornhaus bridge from the Breitenrain neighborhood towards the city center still takes my breath away.

The city of Bern is nestled in a picture-perfect landscape. I will never get tired of gazing at the Gurten and the Bernese Oberland mountains in the distance as I stroll through the Kleine Schanze park or linger on a bench at the Münsterplattform. What better place than the Rosengarten to admire this picturesque old town, surrounded by the loop of the River Aare, whose turquoise color changes depending on the sunlight.

The Swiss capital is not only a beautiful city, but also very lively. It is delightful to wander through the charming old town, characterized by its countless cobblestones and arcades, especially along the Kramgasse or the Gerechtigkeitsgasse. A little quieter, the neighborhood of Mattenhof, Breitenrain, Lorraine and Länggasse have captured my heart.

Coffee in Bern

If, like me, going from café to café is one of your favorite activities, you are in the right place. Whether it is for a good coffee, a cold brew, a homemade iced tea or a mate, accompanied by a delicious piece of cake or a tasty pastry, I really enjoy spending time at the cafés in Bern.

Rösterei and jusq’a provide an excellent caffeine fix, while Apfelgold seduces me every time with its mouthwatering selection of cakes. Wartsaal and WerkStadt, whether in their nice indoors or out sunbathing on the terrace, offer a diverse selection of drinks and dishes. Marta and Lieblings are my favorite cafés for a drink along the Kramgasse and the Gerechtigkeitsgasse and enjoy Bern’s cellars.

My favorite cafés

5

Rösterei Gurtengasse

5

Rösterei Güterstrasse

5

Jusq’a

5

Apfelgold

5

Marta Cafe Musik Bar

5

Lieblings

5

Wartsaal Kaffee

5

WerkStadt Lorraine

Drinks in Bern

Whether you are looking for an aperitif or a late-night drink, Bern has plenty to offer. If you are also a beer lover, or like me have a partner who swears by craft beer, Barbière, On Tap Craftgallery and Biercafé Au Trappiste are definitely the best places to enjoy a wide selection of high-quality craft beers. Abflugbar fulfills all my desires when it comes to cocktails, and it is here that the White Russian has become my favorite cocktail.

It is also nice to enjoy a beer, glass of wine or aperitif in one of the two nearby bars, Burgunder and Lehrerzimmer. Many of the cafés and restaurants mentioned, such as Marta and Volver, are also great places to relax and enjoy a drink.

My favorite bars

5

Barbière

5

On Tap Craftgallery

5

Biercafé Au Trappiste

5

Abflugbar

5

Burgunder Bar

5

Das Lehrerzimmer

Eating out in Bern

It is not difficult to find a good restaurant in Bern, but rather to choose between them. For a cozy evening, Volver, Löscher, Du Nord, Falken, Creperie Caroussel or Le Beizli are among my favorites. For a special evening, Ludmilla, Brasserie Obstberg, Süder, Marzer or Casa Novo are excellent choices. More exclusive and if your wallet allows it, Moment or Steinhalle are experiences not to be missed. 

For a quick but good-quality lunch, there is nothing like a vegetarian plate at the excellent vegetarian Tibits buffet, the delicious and creative lunches in a relaxed atmosphere at Petit Couteau or an excellent Mönchsalat at Lötschberg.

My favorite restaurants 

5

Restaurant Ludmilla

5

Brasserie Obstberg

5

Restaurant Süder

5

Casa Novo Restaurant

5

Restaurant Marzer

5

Restaurant Steinhalle

5

Restaurant moment

5

Löscher

5

Restaurant Falken

5

Volver BarTapasCafé

5

Restaurant Le Beizli

5

Crêperie Le Carrousel

5

Restaurant Du Nord

5

Petit Couteau

5

Lötschberg

5

tibits Bern Gurtengasse

The must-try Gelateria di Berna

Probably the place where I ate the most calories during my entire five-year stay in Bern. A true institution, Gelateria di Berna deserves its own chapter. Having tasted the ice creams of countless gelaterias, both in Switzerland and abroad, nothing comes close to matching their creative and delicious ice creams. Special mention must go to Mare di Berna ice cream, which won over my taste buds from the very first spoonful.

You will find the branch in almost every neighborhood of the city. The branch in the nice and quiet Mattenhof neighborhood, ideally located opposite a small park with a few benches and a little shade, is my favorite place to enjoy my favorite ice cream in peace and quiet. I also used to go to the Breitenrain and Marzili branches. Be careful though, if you go to the Marzili branch: on sunny days, you can expect it to be very busy due to the proximity of the swimming pool and the Aare.

My favorite locations

5

Mattenhof

5

Breitenrain

5

Marzili

And much, much more…

Now that you know all about my favorite cafés, bars and restaurants, you can imagine that this list is by no means exhaustive.

In fact, Bern has many more. Cafés, brasseries, elegant or more casual restaurants, friendly coworking spaces, brunches to start or end the weekend, a quiet terrace in the shade of trees or on the banks of the Aare. There is something for everyone’s taste.

And plenty of other great places

5

Restaurant Brasserie Lorraine

5

Café Kairo

5

Caffè Bar Sattler

5

Länggass-Tee

5

Adrianos

5

Effinger Kaffeebar

5

Piazza Bar

5

Dampfzentrale Bern

5

Pusterum

5

ZAR cafe*bar

5

Ida - Kaffee & Raum

5

Ô Capitaine