Bern Restaurants

Traditionally, dining in Bern has been a pretty grounded affair, characterized by Italian home cooking and German-style meat and potatoes. Two favorite local dishes are the Bernerplatte—great slabs of salt pork, beef tongue, smoked bacon, pork ribs, and mild pork sausage cooked down in broth, then heaped on top of juniper-scented sauerkraut, green beans, and boiled potatoes—and Berner Rösti, shredded potatoes panfried with onions, butter, and chunks of bacon. But newer options include creative vegetarian cuisine, refined gastronomic delicacies, fresh fish—often caught in the nearby River Aare—and myriad international foods. Most menus change with the seasons, featuring asparagus in spring, berries in summer, and wild game in fall. Food presentation can be sophisticated, and service is almost universally friendly.

Many of Bern's established restaurants are dark, often underground, and accessible through a kind of cellar storm door that looks much like the one Dorothy just missed getting to when the tornado hit her Kansas farm. But once you're down there, you'll find the atmosphere cozy and warm, with a hint of the medieval—especially in the simpler, beer-hall-type venues. Another option is sitting at one of the few tables that are usually outside each restaurant, but under the famous Bernese arches, so you're sheltered from summer showers on a hot July evening, say, or a biting spring breeze. As soon as the weather permits, indoor restaurants are abandoned—but still open—as diners flock outdoors.

Be sure to make reservations, especially if you want to eat outside in warm weather. Popular garden restaurants that attract both tourists and locals will be packed at lunch, so you might try arriving a little before noon—but don't try the other extreme and come late, because most kitchens switch to the snack menu after 2 pm—if they're still open. Bärenplatz and Waisenhausplatz are good bets for all-day dining options, with some restaurants open 365 days a year.

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  • 1. Einstein Café & bel étage

    $ | Altstadt | Coffee

    Just below Einstein’s House, you’ll find this cozy bi-level spot perfect for breakfast, a light lunch, coffee or tea with cake, or an evening tipple. The small lunch menu includes crowd-pleasers like Caesar salad and croque monsieur, or you can snack on an antipasti plate or Mediterranean-style dips for an afternoon pick-me-up.

    Kramg. 49, Bern, Bern, 3011, Switzerland
    031-3122828

    Known For

    • Historic environs
    • Tasty pastries
    • Einstein Mule (ginger liqueur, ginger beer, lime juice)
  • 2. Klösterli Weincafé

    $$ | Bärengraben

    The focus here is on local and seasonal ingredients, served with a flourish on slates and in miniature Dutch ovens, and the impressive Swiss and European wine list includes 20 available by the glass. Indecisive types can let the staff put together a wine sampler to accompany a full meal or a snack of cheese and dried meat. This charming location itself has a long tradition of hospitality. More than 200 years ago, travelers would get refreshments here after hitching their horses and oxen in the stalls below.

    Klösterlistutz 16, Bern, Bern, 3013, Switzerland
    031-3501000

    Known For

    • Generous lunchtime specials
    • Snacks available all day
    • Lovely outdoor seating area
  • 3. Verdi

    $$ | Altstadt

    The menu, inspired by Italy's Emilia-Romagna region, sees cold-weather ingredients like truffles, cream, and polenta transition to tomatoes, basil, and fennel as the weather warms up. Meat lovers should consider the classic "Bollito misto" dish served with a green sauce. The wine cellar, visible through glass doors off the dining room, ranges all over Italy. Meanwhile, the stunning stone-walled basement regularly hosts events like family-style dinners and wine tastings.

    Gerechtigkeitsg. 7, Bern, Bern, 3011, Switzerland
    031-3126368

    Known For

    • Plentiful antipasti buffet
    • Elegant decor with distinct seating areas
    • Being dedicated to the Italian composer

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
  • 4. Adriano's

    $ | Altstadt | Coffee

    This friendly, glassed-in coffee bar serves fresh croissants from 7 am (9 am on Sunday), sandwiches throughout the day, and wine or beer to a sidewalk crowd come nightfall.

    Theaterpl. 2, Bern, Bern, 3011, Switzerland
    031-3188831

    Known For

    • Good selection of drinks and cocktails
    • Warm and tasty croissants
    • Extensive coffee selection
  • 5. Altes Tramdepot Brauerei & Restaurant

    $$ | Altstadt

    A beer hall at heart, this restaurant brews lager, amber, and wheat varieties in copper vats behind the bar. Filling dishes like flammkuchen, cordon bleu, Weisswurst, and warm pretzels filled with ham pair perfectly with the house brews. There are also a few vegetarian dishes. Don't miss the outdoor beer garden overlooking the Altstadt. The kitchen stays open from 11 am to at least 11 pm every day of the year.

    Grosser Muristalden 6, Bern, Bern, 3006, Switzerland
    031-3681415

    Known For

    • Specialty beers at Easter, in October, or during the full moon
    • Hearty burgers, including a vegetarian version
    • Great views of the Old Town
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  • 6. Della Casa

    $$ | City Center

    Beloved by Swiss politicians, this institution is affectionately nicknamed "Delli" and has been operating since 1892, nearly as long as the Federal Parliament Building down the street. It specializes in traditional dishes like Bernerplatte, luscious veal liver with Rösti, and hearty oxtail stew with fried macaroni. The simple restaurant on the ground floor and the somewhat more formal, wood-paneled restaurant upstairs share the same big, generous kitchen. It's a good bet if you're hungry, because your second portion awaits on a warming table nearby.

    Schauplatzg. 16, Bern, Bern, 3011, Switzerland
    031-3112142

    Known For

    • Traditional and hearty Swiss fare
    • Local patrons, some of them prominent
    • Generous portions

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
  • 7. Fugu-Nydegg

    $$ | Altstadt

    Modern Thai and Japanese cuisine are the two pillars of this sleek two-level restaurant in the Old Town, with shady sidewalk seating in summer; in winter, try to get a seat upstairs where it's brighter. In addition to curry, noodle, beef, and fish dishes, the menu offers innovative desserts like bananas in fried dough smothered in chocolate sauce. At lunchtime, you can get meals to go for an affordable set price.

    Gerechtigkeitsg. 16, Bern, Bern, 3011, Switzerland
    031-3115125

    Known For

    • High-quality Asian food
    • Unusual drink menu
    • Fashionable look and feel
  • 8. Harmonie

    $$ | Altstadt

    Fondue is Harmonie's raison d'être. Whether classic (Gruyère), moitié-moitié (half Gruyère, half Vacherin), or gussied up with truffles and champagne, pots of hot cheese arrive trailing copious amounts of bread and, ideally, a carafe of Vaudois white. Käseschnitte (open-face sandwiches with melted cheese), traditional pork sausage, veal, beef, lamb, and sides of crispy brown Rösti or Spätzle (dumplings) complete the picture of a nation well fed. The family-run establishment, open since 1915, is warm and wood-paneled, with wooden furniture.

    Hotelg. 3, Bern, Bern, 3011, Switzerland
    031-3131141

    Known For

    • Classic Swiss food
    • Single portions of fondue
    • Cheese specialties of all types, including grilled cheese and macaroni with cheese

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed weekends
  • 9. Jack's Brasserie

    $$$ | City Center | Coffee

    Time moves a little more slowly here amid the civilized elegance of chandeliers and china teapots, gilt ceiling details, grapevine motifs, and striped banquettes, and the day's papers hang from lampposts at discreet intervals between tables. The menu changes seasonally, but the classic French theme is constant—expect tartares and minestrone in summer, cassoulet or veal liver in winter, and Jack's giant Wiener schnitzel year-round. There's an excellent selection of Swiss wines and expensive but top-flight French reds.

    Bahnhofpl. 11, Bern, Bern, 3001, Switzerland
    031-3268080

    Known For

    • Elegant, old-world vibe
    • Wiener schnitzel that dwarfs the plate
    • Nice selection of fish and seafood

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No lunch or dinner Sun.
  • 10. Lorenzini

    $$ | Altstadt

    This two-story complex of bars and a restaurant is a popular gathering place for stylish patrons looking for an Italy fix. Eclectic photos, prints, and paintings adorn the walls, and various sculptures add interest throughout. Two specialty bars serve coffee, wine, and cocktails, and the restaurant offers delectable homemade pastas and desserts, with a signature dish of veal escalope with ham and sage, paired with saffron risotto. Tuscany and Piedmont jostle for space on the wine list. Upstairs, the open-air atrium with flowers and olive trees is a particular treat in summer.

    Hotelg. 10, Bern, Bern, 3011, Switzerland
    031-3185067

    Known For

    • Outdoor seating sheltered by arcades
    • Elegant but not stuffy dining
    • Tempting dessert case

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
  • 11. Lötscheberg

    $$ | Altstadt

    Everything’s organic at this petite Swiss delicatessen featuring regional specialties, and it's not far from the Hauptbahnhof. Try a local cheese or meat plate with a glass of Swiss wine, one of their substantial salads or sandwiches, or a fondue or Rösti if you have a bigger appetite.

    Zeughausg. 16, Bern, Bern, 3011, Switzerland
    031-3113455

    Known For

    • More than 200 wine choices
    • Sustainably farmed products
    • Terrace seating
  • 12. Noumi Grill & Bar

    $$ | Altstadt

    This hip and friendly world-food eatery tucked into the traditional Bellevue Palace gives off an urban vibe, with a DJ spinning tunes during dinner and eclectic dishes designed for sharing. Plates inspired by global food markets run the gamut from Thai papaya salad to Cajun fish tacos to grilled dumplings, which you’d be remiss not to pair with one of the interesting cocktails whipped up by the talented mixologists.

    Kocherg. 3, Bern, Bern, 3011, Switzerland
    031-3204664

    Known For

    • Shareable small plates
    • Vegetarian-friendly fare
    • Chatty, helpful service

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
  • 13. Restaurant Rosengarten

    $$ | City Center

    This restaurant serves light snacks and sandwiches as well as hearty Mediterranean dishes and Swiss classics like fondue against a backdrop of panoramic Altstadt views.

    Alter Aargauerstalden 31b, Bern, Bern, 3006, Switzerland
    031-3313206

    Known For

    • Cheese fondue on the veranda in winter
    • Freshly squeezed orange juice
    • Beef tartare with local bakery bread
  • 14. tibits Bern Gurtengasse

    $ | City Center | Coffee

    Following the success of its train station branch, Tibits opened this larger and more glamorous version nearby. The food is 100% vegetarian and sold by weight from a buffet of hot, cold, and sweet selections with an international flair. Sandwiches and soups such as pumpkin, lentil, or pea fill in the gaps. To drink: fresh fruit and vegetable juices, organic wine, flavored coffee, herbal tea, and cocktails such as rooibos-tea-infused vodka. Everything on the menu can be ordered to go, making the train station Tibits an especially practical option for travelers. Both branches offer outdoor seating in warm weather. When loading your plate, keep in mind that those samosas are heavy!

    Gurteng. 3, Bern, Bern, 3011, Switzerland
    031-3130222

    Known For

    • Large buffet available all day
    • Free tap water and bread rolls
    • Sunday brunch

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
  • 15. Zimmermania

    $$ | Altstadt

    A deceptively simple local favorite and one of the most typically French bistros in Bern, this cultural transplant tucked away on a backstreet near the Rathaus has been serving classics like entrecôte Café de Paris (beef in butter sauce) with French fries, escargots in herb garlic butter, and calf's head since 1848. In a city that celebrates the onion, this is a good place to try onion soup. Lunch specials are good value; wines come from Switzerland, Italy, and France.

    Brunng. 19, Bern, Bern, 3011, Switzerland
    031-3111542

    Known For

    • Simple yet elegant atmosphere
    • Business lunches
    • Tarte au citron

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. and for a month in summer
  • 16. Meridiano

    $$$ | City Center
    Closed Permanently

    A sweeping view of the Altstadt and the Alps pairs perfectly with the opulent yet refined interior in gold, cream, and black, and at night it's a perfect location for a romantic splurge. Try the four-course "Genuinely Swiss" menu for a culinary tour of Switzerland, or, if you're feeling flush and decadent, go for the six-course tasting menu. In comparison, the lunchtime specials are a bargain. Ask for a seat on the terrace in summer—the view, including a glimpse of the rooftop's honey-yielding beehives—is spectacular.

    Kornhausstr. 3, Bern, Bern, 3013, Switzerland
    031-3395245

    Known For

    • Creative presentation using items like stones and moss
    • Award-winning wine list, including rare Swiss vintages
    • Its Michelin star

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch Sat., Credit cards accepted
  • 17. Café im Kornhaus

    $$ | Altstadt
    Closed Permanently

    Outdoor tables, a sunny central location, light meals, homemade pastries, several kinds of coffee, and open doors from 8 am (9 am on Sunday) until midnight give the Kornhaus Café a constant, marketlike buzz.

    Kornhauspl. 18, Bern, Bern, 3011, Switzerland
    031-3277270

    Known For

    • Vast hot beverage menu
    • Evening drinks
    • Convenient location

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