Le P'tit Central - The Lausanne Guide

For a passerby, Le P’tit Central is just another ordinary downtown café. But don’t let its unremarkable exterior fool you. Those who step through its woolen curtain find an intimate, charming space; a hidden treasure with an old-world flair.

Beautiful Portuguese tiles line the walls, their motif the story of Lausanne in 1850. It’s striking and weirdly reassuring to see just how familiar the images still are.

This blue and white canvas is an exotic and transporting backdrop for a Saturday morning coffee. But don’t trust us—rather, consult the clientele. Le P’tit Central seems always to be full when other nearby cafés sit empty. The terrace, especially, is bustling with an artistic and stylish crowd. In fact, it’s the closest thing we’ve found to a Parisian street café ambiance where red lipstick and nonchalance rule the day.

The terrace is often overflowing, unless of course to stop by around 8:30am on Saturday morning to get a picture…

If you happen down Rue Centrale one evening, this is also a great place to stop in for drinks and dinner. Reservations are recommended as the café has a full list of regulars and there’s limited space for the uninitiated.

We recommend the hamburger. It’s one of the best we’ve had in Lausanne, which is saying a lot for a city that has experienced something of a hamburger craze in recent years. The meat patty is small but packs a tasty punch.

We love this place because despite being so unique, it doesn’t seem to try too hard. If you’ve yet to pay P’tit Central a visit, add it to your list and let us know what you think!

Le P’tit Central
Rue Centrale 9
1003 Lausanne
021 312 80 75

Hours:
Monday: 7h30-19h30
Tuesday-Saturday: 7h30-00:00
Sunday: Closed

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