Pittaria

If you think falafel isn’t worth getting excited about, you’ve definitely never been to Pittaria. Famous citywide, these deep-fried chickpea balls are what keep the restaurant’s large and growing fan base coming back for exotic flavors that can’t be beat. Luckily, Bern has two locations. One is at Falkenplatz (Falcon Square) on Länggasse and the other is in the inner courtyard of the Kulturzentrum PROGR cultural center. Two spots that are sure to get lovers of savory Middle-Eastern cuisine salivating. The falafel balls are served with fried halloumi cheese made from cow, sheep and goat’s milk wrapped in a warm pita or on a plate with colorful salads. The chutney made by Pittaria’s founder Sami Daher enjoys true cult status. Its recipe is a well-guarded secret, with a flavor that is the perfect combination of sweet and spicy. Traditional meat dishes such as shish kebab, chicken and fish are also on the menu – with everything prepared fresh daily.

Pittaria

Äss-Bar

“Fresh from yesterday” is the innovative concept that has helped the Äss-Bar gain an enthusiastic base of regular customers within a very short time. The principle is as simple as it is plausible. Bread, sandwiches, pastries and cookies made the previous day are sold at reduced prices – all of the baked goods are perfectly edible and come from local bakeries and pastry shops. With this concept, the Äss-Bar team is making an effective and appealing effort to combat food waste, since a shocking one-third of all Swiss food unfortunately ends up in the garbage. Any items the partners of the Äss-Bar can’t sell are delivered the next day to the small basement shop on Marktgasse in the Old Town. This means that the assortment is different every day, and you’ll always find a sweet surprise or two waiting for you when you visit here. Those who are looking for something lighter – or want to buy some vegetables to cook up for supper – should pop into the “Gmüesgarte” right next door. It serves healthy soups, salads and smoothies, and anyone who doesn’t mind the fact that the zucchini might be a bit crooked or the carrots somewhat bigger than usual should take the opportunity to load up their basket with veggies to take home.

Äss-Bar

Da Rina und Da Nino

From a gastronomical perspective, the Eigerplatz (Eiger Square) exudes a healthy portion of Italianità with its two Italian eateries: Da Rina and Da Nino. Located just a short distance from one other, both score big with a culinary repertoire that even Nonna would describe as “buonissimo”. Does so much pizza and pasta so close together actually sound like a good idea? Oh, it does indeed, because it really boils down to personal taste, after all, as you decide which pasta is better or which ambiance is cozier. Both restaurants have their own distinct charm and specialties, making them worth the ride on the number 3 streetcar in the direction of “Weissenbühl”. Which of the two ristoranti would we choose? Lots of people consider the pizza dough at Da Nino to be the best far and wide. And fans of the Italian breakfast classic “cornetti con crema” make their way to Da Rina first thing in the morning for its authentic version. Allora, you simply have to visit them both in the end!

Lötschberg

Zeughausgasse is where Bern seems closest to the canton of Valais. The Lötschberg AOC restaurant is located here, and wine lovers can savor the best vintages from the neighboring canton and all over Switzerland. And of course, the menu has to feature authentic raclette and fondue cheese dishes. The decor is not just traditionally rustic; it also incorporates an urbane, modern interpretation of chalet style, attracting an eclectic mix of visitors from tourists to homesick Valais natives. Don’t forget to try the “Mönchsalat” (Monk’s Salad) with Tête de Moine cheese, boiled potatoes, caramelized sunflower seeds and a fabulous house sunflower-oil vinaigrette that you may be able to recreate at home but will definitely never attain that genuine “Lötschbergy” taste. Many of the cheese and sausage products with their AOP and IGP seals of approval that are served here can also be purchased directly from the restaurant. Our tip for sleepyheads: You can brunch here until 4:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

Restaurant Lötschberg

Restaurant Grosse Schanze

You won’t find a cheaper panoramic view anywhere. At Restaurant Grosse Schanze with its spacious glass cube design, guests can revel in a one-of-a-kind view over the city’s rooftops and all the way to the Alps – while enjoying excellent food at an affordable price. Lunch dishes start at 14.90 francs and are ideal for both vegetarians and meat-lovers. You can go ahead and serve yourself from the different food stations and choose your favorite spot to sit. In summer, the large terrace is the place to be and transforms into a relaxed sunning area in the afternoon. Anyone who likes to indulge in an extended afternoon tea will be pleased as punch by the large pot of tea and surprise selection of goodies for 19.60 francs. As soon as the after-work crowd arrives, the restaurant turns into a bustling meeting place for cocktails, while at sunset the view actually looks like it has been photoshopped.

Restaurant Grosse Schanze

Crêperie La Chouette

La Chouette is the perfect name for a perfect hangout for night owls. You can drop in at any time all night long on Saturdays and indulge in crêpe orgies until 6 a.m. However, the small, chic restaurant located on Bollwerk is also popular during the day among lovers of authentic French crêpe culture, so it always pays to reserve a table beforehand. Sweet classics with cinnamon-sugar or maple syrup are served up alongside modern creations with honey and ginger or vegan chocolate spread. Among the savory options, the seasonal specials always create a furor, with the “Mexicaine” featuring ground beef a definite hit among Chouette “repeat offenders”. The vegan crêpe with lentil curry and leaf spinach is worth more than just one tempting bite. La classe!

La Chouette

Kaffee Montag

As the name suggests, this café is the perfect place to chase away those Monday blues, but with a reputation as one of the most welcoming restaurants in Bern’s Old Town, Kaffee Montag, located on Gerechtigkeitsgasse, is ideal all week long. After all, its motto is “Fresh, different, surprising every day”. A high priority is placed on seasonal, organic ingredients as well as products from small, regional suppliers. During the week the “Brunch à la carte” served until 11:00 a.m. is very popular, whereas on the weekend a hearty breakfast buffet invites you to grab a plate and help yourself until 2:00 p.m. The lunch line-up features delicious salads and soups along with the tempting one-pot meal in a glass, which is also available as an eco-friendly take-away option. Coffee and cake are served in the afternoon (with homemade baked goods, of course), before Kaffee Montag punctually switches over to cocktail mode as people drop by after work. It also hosts the occasional well-attended concert.

Kaffee Montag

Hier und Jetzt

This restaurant’s name says it all. Translated as “Here and Now”, it’s a peaceful place to come and switch off, which is why its motto “Unhurried take-away” fits it perfectly. Many patrons like to take their time and eat their lunch on the spot at the small restaurant near Bubenbergplatz (Bubenberg Square), just a stone’s throw away from the train station. Of course, everything is also available as take-away. The dishes are vegetarian or vegan and are prepared fresh daily using seasonal ingredients (often organic). Wheat and spelt pasta with different sauces are part of the menu along with a creative selection of soups, salads and sandwiches. Our tip: Try the homemade mango lassi – and it tastes even better with a delicious little ginger-chocolate tart on the side.

Take-Away Hier und Jetzt

Lo Stuzzichino

This small restaurant on Rathausgasse is simple and unadorned, but guests don’t come to Lo Stuzzichino for the decor. The star of this show is the pasta, e basta! You can order it to go as well. From the dough and fillings to the sauces, everything is “fatto in casa”, i.e. homemade, which is just how it should be for a dyed-in-tomato-sauce Italian restaurant. The “fiocchi di pera”, a divine pasta dish with pear and cheese filling, are legendary. There are a few meat dishes on the menu, and of course you can’t forget the restaurant’s namesake stuzzichini: a variety of delicacies perfect for snacking on. But in the end, there’s always room for pasta.

See Lo Stuzzichino on Tripadvisor

Banh mi Bike

Grabbing a quick sandwich is definitely one of the most popular ways to eat lunch in Switzerland. And if we may be permitted to say so, also one of the dullest. A much more exciting way of getting your bread and filling is with Banh Mi Bike. It’s the brainchild of Anh Linh, who repurposed her pink bike into a tiny salesmobile with a trailer. She zooms around Bern and hawks her “banh mi”, the Vietnamese term for bread and synonymous with a national specialty: filled baguettes, the most common type of bread in Vietnam. Anh Linh fills them with grilled pork prepared according to a family recipe or with tofu and coconut-curry sauce as a vegan option, as well as pickled “do chua” julienned carrots, cucumber and irresistible home-made cilantro mayonnaise. Wanna bet that even cilantro-haters will be won over? Take a look at the website to find out where the appetizing bike will be in the summer of 2019.

Banh Mi Bike