Our restaurant tips with traditional Swiss cuisine

The city’s oldest wine bar is located in an authentic Bernese vaulted cellar. It’s said that for over 100 years, it was run by unmarried and mainly blond women. The last one to uphold that tradition was Leonie Pulfer up until 2001. Tradition is also important when it comes to the menu: at the Klötzlikeller, they serve veal liver, Rösti and the Bernese speciality “Suure Mocke” (Bernese pot roast). It offers a small but delectable selection of seasonal dishes, both for meat eaters and vegetarians.

Known for its speciality “Entrecôte Café de Paris”, the Café Fédéral right across from the Parliament Building is popular even way beyond the region. The menu includes delicious meat specialities as well as some vegetarian and vegan options: how about a vegan tartare fédéral, for example? Or maybe a seasonal vegetarian dish? The culinary experience is perfectly rounded off with a creamy chocolate mousse for dessert – it’s supposed to be especially good here.

The Beaulieu has been an integral part of Bern’s Länggasse neighbourhood ever since it opened in 1895. Its seasonal menu includes traditional Swiss dishes such as Rösti, Fondue and “Züri Gschnätzlets” (veal in a cream sauce). They also serve modern, international dishes: different curries, club sandwiches, or duck breast flambée. Our tip: During the week, it’s worth stopping by for lunch. The lunch menu changes daily and includes a salad and a main course. Needless to say, there’s always also a vegetarian option.

Cheese, cheese, cheese everywhere you look, from cheese toast to Raclette and Fondue to Spätzli (thick egg noodles) with cheese sauce. The Lötschberg on Zeughausgasse street serves Swiss specialities combined with excellent wines from the neighbouring canton of Valais in a modern chalet-style setting. And if you’re looking to indulge on a Sunday morning, you should try out their brunch: cheese, scrambled eggs, bacon, Rösti – we guarantee that no one’s leaving this place hungry.

The new kid on the block: the restaurant Röschtigrabe on Bärenplatz square. Right across from the Parliament Building, this restaurant serves up typical Swiss dishes made from fresh, regional, diverse ingredients true to the motto “culinary delights without borders”. The Rösti with bacon, eggs sunny side up and a Cervelat (traditional Swiss sausage) will give you a true taste of Switzerland.

The Goldener Schlüssel is not just any restaurant: it is the oldest restaurant in all of Bern – that alone makes it worth a visit. But it will also win you over with its traditional cuisine. All of the dishes, which include the Schlüssel’s traditional Cordon bleu, are prepared with fresh, seasonal ingredients. Our recommendation for the wintertime: make sure you try the Schlüssel Fondue! The cheese comes from the Bernese cheese dairy “Chäshütte”, and the sides, such as pears, “Härdöpfu” (potatoes), and bacon can be mixed and matched at leisure.

The “Delli”, as the regulars lovingly call it, has been serving high-quality Swiss cuisine for over 120 years. Typical dishes such as perch fillet, “Älplermaggronen” (macaroni with cream, potatoes and applesauce) or the “Berner Platte” (meat platter) are lovingly prepared. If you’re looking to enjoy traditional dishes in a rustic ambiance, you have come to the right address. This restaurant in Bern’s Old City has kept its historic charm, making for a wonderfully cozy atmosphere.

The atmosphere at the Harmonie is still as it was 100 years ago – and the same goes for its cuisine: the typical Swiss dishes are prepared the traditional way according to “Grosis” (grandma’s) recipes. The restaurant’s winter speciality would have to be its Fondue, be it the classic version or the one with truffles. If you’re not a huge fan of cheese, you can pick a different seasonal option from the menu. Our tip: finish off your meal with a “Süessmost-Crème” (apple cider custard). Yum!

If you dare to venture outside of Bern’s Old City, you’ll be rewarded with a true insider’s tip: at Freibank, they serve “Metzgete”, which mainly consists of different types of meat and sausages from all parts of the animal. Not everyone’s a fan, but if you are, you’ll love it. Only meat from Swiss animals is used – sometimes, you’ll even find yourself sharing a table and striking up a conversation with the farmer. If you’re a bit hesitant to try the meaty speciality, you can choose your meal from a menu filled with dishes made from all Swiss vegetables, meat, and fish.

It is a bit further away, but still on city grounds: the Bären Oberbottigen. The rustic restaurant serves a large selection of Swiss specialities. It’s mainly known for its excellent fish dishes, for example the fish duett “Jason” with Swiss whitefish and perch fillets. The seasonal menu also offers hearty, tasty options for vegetarians and vegans. Our tip: order the “Glacegugelhopf” (ice cream bundt cake) for dessert, a Bären special.

This restaurant is famous for being the birthplace of the popular “Berner Platte” (“Bernese platter” with meat and vegetables). The dish was created to receive the tired warriors of Wohlen after their pitiful defeat in the battle for the city of Neuenegg. Nowadays, the platter is known far beyond the cantonal borders – and for some years now, there has even been a vegetarian version available at the Kreuz, although only in the winter months. Other traditional Swiss dishes such as boiled meat with vegetables, “Ghackt’s mit Hörnli” (minced meat with elbow macaroni) or veal schnitzel with cream can of course be ordered year-round at the traditional inn.

This rustic country inn has been serving hearty meals since 1828. It’s trumps include the traditional Emmental architectural style – the historic building is under heritage protection – and it’s excellent Swiss specialities. Among connoisseurs, the Rössli is known for it’s cordon bleus – some even claim they are the best far and wide. A trip to the Emmental is worth it for them alone, but the battered perch fillets, boiled meat salad or the fitness rösti are definitely a welcome bonus on the menu.

The history of the Bürgisweyerbad goes all the way back to the 14^th century: there were once four springs with healing water that became popular among the locals for its limb-strengthening effect. Today, the former bathhouse and farm is a wonderful place to dine. Whether vegan, vegetarian or with meat, the kitchen serves up traditional and not-so-traditional Swiss dishes. When the weather is nice, we recommend doing some exploring behind the house, where a small lake completes the pleasant landscape around the inn.

Rumour has it that this restaurant serves the best “Pouletflügeli” (chicken wings) far and wide, but you’ll also find tasty pork schnitzel, fish fillets or beer pork burgers on the menu. The name of the inn (“restaurant by the Bramberg monument”) is no coincidence: in 1339, the legendary Battle of Laupen took place right here on the Bramberg. The people of Fribourg wanted to take the fortress of Laupen, but the people of Laupen bravely defended their castle for ten days and came out victorious

Is there anything better than enjoying a tasty “Znacht” (dinner) in the restaurant after an e-bike excursion through the Gantrisch region? “Äbä!” (Didn’t think so.) For all those who like to watch their food cook, we recommend the Gasthof Bühl in Schwarzenburg, where you will find “Heisser Stein” (hot stone) with pork steak, horse or beef entrecôte on the menu. Or, if you’re not patient enough for that: dishes such as tuna salad, stir-fry with noodles and vegetables, pike-perch fillet or the typical cordon bleu are also served.