Vaud Restaurants

As in all great wine regions, dégustation (wine tasting) and haute gastronomie (refined cuisine) go hand in hand.

In inns and auberges throughout La Côte and Lavaux (the two stretches of vineyard-lined shore) you'll dine beside ascoted oenophiles who lower their half lenses to study a label.

They then go on to order a multicourse feast to complement their extensive tastings.

To experience Vaud's best cuisine, look for déjeuners d'affaires (business lunches), plats du jour, and prix-fixe menus, which can offer considerable savings over à la carte dining.

Of course, you will be spoiled for choice by the quality of Lausanne's restaurants.

Prices—like quality—can be high, but if you wander through the backstreets you will see that the less affluent in Lausanne eat well, too.

Happy surpise: even some department stores have excellent inexpensive restaurants and cafés.