21 Best Restaurants in Vaud, Switzerland

As if turning its back on star sibling Anne-Sophie Pic and the aristocratic Beau-Rivage Palace, which shelters both, this young, lively brasserie-café faces the lake and the Ouchy waterfront scene. Its flashy brass-and-Biedermeier dining area and bar fill with smart Lausannois and internationals enjoying trendy cuisine du marché. In summer the pillared terrazzo terrace (protected from embarcadero traffic by rose gardens) is the place to go.

Since the tragic loss of world-renowned chef Benoit Violier, his determined widow, Brigitte, has continued to oversee the three-Michelin-star restaurant, propelling it to even higher accolades. Chef Franck Giovannini is winning hearts—and stomachs—with his fresh twist on haute cuisine. Giovannini draws on his decade of experience with the famed chef to uphold the restaurant's well-earned reputation as one of the best in Switzerland. It's a quick drive west from Lausanne to this understated manse. The service is spectacular, the staff is friendly, and the food is absolutely stellar. Giovannini creates imaginative combinations of flavors plus stunningly refined presentations. For these finely orchestrated prix-fixe menus the ingredients are key—lamb raised in the Pyrenees, cardoons (an artichokelike vegetable) grown in the village. Pace yourself, making sure to leave time and room for selections from the immense cheese cart or celestial desserts. Reserve as far ahead as possible—lunch may be your only option.

The Pichard family, keepers of this weathered centuries-old chalet, holds dear the inn's heritage of feeding and lodging stagecoach passengers and Alpine enthusiasts. In summer the front patio hugging the main street fills with boot-clad hikers reaching across platters of air-dried meats and mountain cheeses served with baskets of crusty, dark bread. The rustic structure has carved eaves with hand-painted designs, creaky floors, and old, rippled, handblown-glass windows. The change of seasons brings the crowd inside to sit on heavy wooden furniture eager to swirl ragged cubes of bread in fondue caquelons or scrape raclette and potatoes together on their plates. The menu also includes salads, meat dishes, and Rösti, but don't expect any fussy preparations.

The Auberge de Luins is beloved by locals and tourists alike—there is often a cluster of villagers gathered at the community table debating the quality of the latest vintage or regional politics.

This Italian eatery, just steps from Nyon's château, serves straightforward fare, well-priced plats du jour, and specialty items like shrimp and vegetables on a pillow of saffron cream. An expansive terrace lets diners study the château; in winter, broad windows reveal the comings and goings on the municipal plaza. In fall, the menu expands to include an assortment of game and locally picked mushrooms.

A number of dishes are served at this narrow eatery, with entrances on the main street and the promenade, but the most-ordered is filets de perche. Served with a garden salad, frites, or pommes vapeur (steamed potatoes) and savory tartar sauce, it's a weekly routine for many families. Without a reservation in summer, you will have to wait for a table outside; two small dining rooms connected by an open kitchen have difficulty containing the faithful in any season.

All the customers seem to know each other at this traditional dining institution, where shared wooden tables and clattering china create the perfect ambience for fondue, mussels, sausage, or choucroûte (sauerkraut). Prominent members of Lausanne's arts community swarm here after rehearsals and concerts, as service continues until 11 pm—late by Swiss standards.

Locals have been squeezing into this cozy, eccentric café for more than a decade. More than a dozen coffee drinks are served alongside buttery pastries and heartier breakfast options. This little "ladybug" is cute as can be: the decor is decidedly funky, with gravity-defying stacks of books glued to its colorful walls and oversize Warhol-esque portraits in the restrooms. An outdoor seating area on a main pedestrian street means it is prime people-watching territory.

This hip café, bar, and restaurant is beloved by students, business executives, and artists. The simple yet eclectic decor features vintage advertisements and polished-wood seating, and several tables are available outside during the summer months. Appetizers such as tempura zucchini flowers and main courses like chicken tagine with apricots are deliciously refined—their humble prices make this popular eatery a rare bargain. Brunch is served on Sunday, and the bar has seven beers on tap, a dizzying number by Swiss standards.

At this self-proclaimed gourmet burger bar, Lausannois feast on freshly grilled, juicy burgers while avoiding the town's McDonald's and Burger King. The chain has a refreshing "go-local" philosophy, and most ingredients are produced within a 25-mile radius. Try the Elvis burger with blue cheese and bacon, or the veggie burger with warm goat cheese, arugula, and spicy chutney.

Once the main relais (stagecoach stop) between the Simplon Pass and Geneva, this vineyard spot is out of central casting, groaning with history and heady with atmosphere: Igor Stravinsky and Charlie Chaplin were among the artists loyal to its charms. The tiny wood-paneled pinte, where winemakers come to read the daily papers—with a pitcher of St-Saph, as they call it—and to devour the upscale plat du jour, is enticing, as are the adjacent, white-tablecloth salons and upstairs-attic-beamed grillroom. The staff hovers while day-tripping connoisseurs and repeat faithfuls sniff and roll perfumed wine over their tongues and savor exquisite dishes from the top-notch kitchen.

While driving the Route du Vignoble, you can sample the local wine and munch a few rich Malakoffs at L'Union.

If it's an oven-fired pizza or plate of pasta you crave, there's no place more convivial or convenient than this trattoria on the main drag. The atmosphere is warmed by terra-cotta walls with bold blue accents and endless pitchers of wine. Fresh seafood is a specialty of the house, whether atop a piecrust or a mound of linguine. With a dozen chic guest rooms to boot, the hotel also has a satellite location serving light fare and desserts across the street on the lakefront promenade.

If sweets are on your mind, pick up a handcrafted chocolate in the shape of Charlie Chaplin's shoes from Läderach, on a pedestrian walkway near the tourist office. The chocolate showroom features live demonstrations and course offerings for budding chocolatiers.

After years of overseeing bubbling pots of fondue—the popular draw at this tiny eatery—the hand-painted murals and mirrors set in dark frames have a smoky patina. It's a casual neighborhood place where local wines are poured from pewter pitchers, and the people at the next table eavesdrop. Regulars favor the tender steak—entrecôte of beef or cheval (horse)—accompanied by an overflowing plate of fries or a half-moon of crispy Rösti.

If you're weary of regional cuisine, freshly made spring rolls, satays, and spicy dishes from this storefront eatery on the edge of Clarens will lighten up the program. This longtime resident of the neighborhood draws locals to its Asian-accented dining room, but at the first hint of warmth they scurry to tables on the terrace built directly on the water. It's not an inexpensive meal, but it is one that will leave you feeling a continental shift.

Known by locals as "Natio," this thriving bar's extended service hours and proximity to the cinema attract late diners of all ages. The trendy vibe overflows onto the patio, with seating under twinkling lights—a respite from the serious smoking crowd. A frequently changing menu combines fresh ingredients with a twist on the classics.

Locals come to this upscale spot for oven-fired pizzas—without a doubt the best in town. The elegant dining room is a year-round hit with locals; in summer there is nothing more delightful than sitting under the garden's sprawling trees and umbrellas. Inventive Italian dishes using local ingredients are robust and flavorful. Entrances connect to the opera house, making it a natural for pre- and postperformance dining.

The lunch-and-tearoom set (ladies with poodles, Brits in tweeds, fashionistas in Gucci) regularly descends on Zurcher, the irresistible confiserie on Montreux's main drag. A green salad, the potage du jour (soup of the day), and a chocolate torte make a great quick meal. The café is closed on Monday.