6 Best Bars in Vaud, Switzerland

An after-hours crowd heads to the stately Bar du Palace. If it's not your thing, the stylish, pared-down LP Bar is just a corridor away.

Slot machines, table games, and multiple dining venues distinguish the Casino Barrière. Be sure to bring your passport, because no other ID will get you in. The casino is open most days from 10:30 am to 3 am, except Friday and Saturday, when it doesn't close until 5 am.

This happening jazz bar at the Fairmont Le Montreux Palace is named for local legend Claude Nobs, the founder of the Montreux Jazz Festival. It features spacious, wood-paneled interiors, burgundy leather chairs, and enthusiastic bartenders who shake up inspired house cocktails to the beat of live musicians. A full menu features traditional Caesar salads and club sandwiches, alongside more exotic fare like crab tempura with ponzu sauce. All this fun, however, comes at the standard high prices of a hotel bar.

Whether you opt for one of the dozens of local wines or a specialty cocktail, l'Annexe is where locals go to imbibe when the sun sets.

One of the city's choicest and liveliest gathering spots is the sophisticated Le Bar. There's an armchair-filled lounge and a tiny wine bar where you can sip your favorite cocktail or wine. Upstairs, Bar Anglais offers spectacular lake views from its clubby setting and terrace chaises.

Look for a range of styles at Le Chorus, a renowned jazz cellar that serves food and drinks.