The coolest pop-up bars in Bern

Mild summer nights, colourful parasols and refreshing drinks: these are the pop-up bars that are turning our heads this summer.

  • Tipp

    Bern’s pop-ups are usually only open in good weather. Therefore, we recommend checking the bars’ websites or social media accounts before visiting.

Summer bar in Bern’s Generationenhaus

This urban oasis – just a few steps from Bern main station – with its colourful tables, cosy lounge chairs and atmospheric fairy lights will put you right in holiday mood. It is a place for meetings and conversations, for reading the newspaper or playing ping-pong, for concerts, culture, and culinary delights. The centrepiece is the summer bar. Is there anything better than a cup of coffee in the morning sun, an «Apéroplättli» (aperitif platter) in between or a barbecue in the evening? However, there is no obligation to consume anything in this place. You can bring your own food to barbecue and use the fire rings on site. From June to September there is a lot going on besides the culinary delights: from lounge chair concerts to open-air cinema and theatre – there is something for everyone.

Take a look at their colourful program

Raum und Zeit (space and time)

If you are fed up with being in the office at 30 degrees in the shade, we recommend a bike ride to the Liebefeld Park. Lying on the pallet sofa under colourful parasols and watching the sun set over the pond – that is what a little time-out from everyday life can look like! You can make yourself comfortable in between the herb garden and the flower bed on the roof terrace of the shipping container. Should you get hungry from all your sunbathing, you can always order a burger. They are available either with patties made from Aaretal Duroc pigs or vegetable nuggets. In addition to freshly tapped beer, the drinks menu features in-house creations as well.

Forget about time

Lilly’s Libelle (Lilly’s Dragonfly)

This pop-up is located very close to the train station, on the Kleine Schanze. The pavilion on this small hill stands out with its parasols, palm trees, and a stylish bar with lots of plants. The whole place exudes a holiday feeling, and the trees provide you with soothing shade. Enjoy the specially created drinks and the matching, generous «Apéroplättli» (aperitif platters), and pinsas in all imaginable variations. The guests not only stay seated for a good while because of the excellent menu, but also because the furniture is so high quality and inviting. However, if there is no room, you can easily make yourself comfortable on the wall and enjoy the view.

Off to the city oasis

Bar8

High above the Länggasse’s rooftops you can find the pearl among Bern’s pop-ups: the inclusive Bar8. It only takes 160 steps or an elevator ride until guests can soak up the sun and celebrate moments of happiness. Cocktails, finger food, good people and rooftop concerts make for a particularly cosy atmosphere. So cosy in fact that we will happily stay for a drink. Or two. Or three... Especially nice to know: this summer bar is a joint inclusion project of the Blinden- und Behindertenzentrum Bern (the Bern Centre for the Blind and Disabled) and Provisorium 46, an inclusive restaurant. The roof terrace is open to everyone – not only in front of the bar, but also behind it.

To give you a foretaste

The bar in the Museum Park

Feel like sipping on a refreshing drink, munching on spicy momos or pizzas while philosophizing into the evening and enjoying a view of Bernese landmarks like the Kirchenfeld Bridge and the cathedral? Maybe you’ll even want to discuss the ideals of the samurai or the unleashing of the monetary system after a visit to the exhibitions? There is probably no better place for that than in the park of the Bern Historical Museum. Every Thursday, the sound of unplugged concerts will float through the park, and on Fridays, DJs will play relaxing lounge music. Oh, we will happily let our souls dangle in this cosy atmosphere, clap to the rhythm of the concerts and show our love to the artists on site.

Summer in the Museum Park

Kunsthalle Bar

Fancy an after-work beer under a green canopy, with a view of the UNESCO World Heritage Site and probably the most beautiful river in the world? That’s exactly what the summer bar designed by artist duo Lang-Baumann offers. What’s so special about it? The platform construction encloses the ancient lime tree growing next to the Kunsthalle. The shadow play in the evening light is absolutely unique! The bartenders conjure up creative drinks while you enjoy the dreamlike sunsets and the view of the Parliament Building. Our tip: be sure to order the «RedRuby» and enjoy an aperitif bite with it.

Go floating above the Aare

Bogen 17

If you want to get a breath of a bit of fresh sea air, we recommend a trip to Lake Wohlensee. Directly under the Wohleibrücke you’ll find Bern’s most iconic lakeside pub – Bogen 17. A colourful crowd gathers here under awnings and fairy lights. While stand-up paddles and rowboats glide across the water in the background, creative dishes are conjured up with a lot of passion and an eye for regional products. The «food-o-meter» painted on the wooden board shows the distance to the place of production: the salad, for example, comes from Hofen, just 700 meters away, and the homemade pasta is made from emmer and spelt, which are grown right next to Lake Wohlensee.

Relax under the bridge

Aarebar

At Bern’s turquoise vein – along the banks of the Aare between Marzili and Eichholz, where the locals flock to in swimming trunks and bikinis in hot temperatures – Alex, David and Lukas are opening up the flaps of their converted shipping container for the fourth time. The three likeable young gentlemen took hammer and drill into their own hands and made the dream of a summer paradise on the Aare a reality. For a culinary stopover, we recommend the legendary homemade iced tea or the arven schnapps «Flüssigs Houz» (liquid wood). These guys can also conjure up matching food, for example, the Simmental aperitif platter or in-house burgers made from regional ingredients.

To the bar on the Aare

Malso

What is our favourite, and well-deserved, after-work drink? Sometimes we like this, sometimes we like that. This pop-up bar is located on the Loryplatz and its three operators Rebecca, Sofia and Ladina feel exactly the same way. Which is why this lively location offers a varied and colourful menu. If you’re looking for a refreshment on a warm summer evening, you’ll find many Bernese specialties such as Simmentaler beer, Hanz Vodka or tonic water from Kandt waiting for you behind the bar. Children can serve themselves at the eye-catching, brightly coloured syrup bar so they don’t forget to tend to their thirst while having fun in the play box. Guests are also well catered for in culinary terms: the delicacies from the pizzeria next door can be savoured at the pop-up at any time.

Sometimes we like this, sometimes we like Malso

  • Tipp

    At Postparc, across from Welle7, the pop-up vibe is permanent. The Malso restaurant serves refreshing drinks and fine food from morning to evening. And they outdo themselves with varied events from yoga to the game Brändidog to salsa classes.

Peter Flamingo

Peter Flamingo is the cultural meeting place that made us fall head over heels in love with in 2017. Since then, the colourful bird regularly lands near the main university building, around the corner from the Schanzenwiese, where it takes up residence during the warm months. This pop-up trumps with delicious drinks, a cool look, and a cosy atmosphere – and you can fill your belly at the burger stand. We’re looking forward to hanging out there again, dancing into the evening at their small music events, and generally taking in a big dose of culture.

Put on your rose-coloured glasses

Trybhouz

After only three minutes on foot down the stairs from the Kornhausbrücke and over the Altenbergsteg, we can see the colourful pennants of the summer bar in the Altenbergpärkli fluttering from afar. Here you can experience Hawaii feeling in the middle of the federal city: many of the guests come here to watch the Aare surfers. The Trybhouz team mixes delicious Marzili Mules or specially created Spritz variations. Be sure to order one of the legendary halloumi burgers in sourdough bread and with a honey-mustard-rosemary sauce.

Let yourself just be

Park am Wasser (park by the water)

The gentle lapping of the passing Aare in your ear, a refreshing ginger spritz in your hand... Until September, the Dalmazimätteli – just a few steps away from the Marzilibad – is transformed into a small summer paradise. Here, Tom Weingart and his team invite you to linger, while they mix cool drinks and offer up tarte flambée and other delicious snacks. We can make ourselves comfortable on the terrace, order a second round of drinks (they are simply heavenly!) and observe the hustle and bustle along the Aare and on the lawn. The impressive balancing acts of professionals on the slackline or the contortions of practiced yogis will make you forget about time.

Off to the water!

«pinkLIME»

«I nime no e Campari Soda...» («I’ll have another Campari soda») It might not exactly be above the clouds, but at least far above the rooftops of Bern. On the rooftop bar of the Tertianum Résidence, just behind the Inselspital, 18 floors separate you from everyday life. In addition to Campari soda, there are of course other high- and low-percentage classics on the menu, as well as original creations like the homemade sodas and aperitif bites. Beer lovers and wine connoisseurs will also be happy up here! And what could be better than enjoying all these delicacies with a 360° panoramic view? We are already looking forward to seeing the dreamlike sunsets!

Will you come upstairs?

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